Description
These Christmas Smoked Salmon Crostini are elegant and easy-to-make appetizers featuring crispy baguette slices topped with a creamy dill and lemon cream cheese spread, cold smoked salmon, and garnished with capers and fresh dill. Perfect for holiday parties or festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1-2 baguettes, enough to get about 30-35 ¼ inch slices
- Olive oil spray
Cream Cheese Spread
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened (not melted)
- 1 small lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 fresh garlic clove, crushed
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Topping and Garnish
- 8 oz cold smoked salmon
- Capers, for garnish
- Fresh dill sprigs, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for toasting the baguette slices.
- Slice and Arrange Baguette: Cut the baguette into ¼ to ½ inch thick slices to yield about 30 to 35 pieces. Arrange these evenly on a baking sheet.
- Toast Bread: Spray both sides of the baguette slices lightly with olive oil. Bake in the preheated oven for about 9 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through baking, until they are golden brown and crisp.
- Cool Crostini: Remove the toasted slices from the oven and set them aside to cool completely.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Spread: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with chopped dill, lemon juice, crushed garlic, and a pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Mix until all ingredients are uniformly blended.
- Optional Piping: For easier topping, spoon the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag and set aside.
- Assemble Crostini: Once the crostini have cooled, arrange the slices on a serving platter. Place a slice of cold smoked salmon evenly on each crostini.
- Add Cream Cheese Topping: Pipe or spoon a small dollop of the cream cheese mixture atop the smoked salmon on each crostini.
- Garnish: Decorate each crostini with a few capers and a sprig of fresh dill for a festive look and extra flavor.
- Serve: Serve immediately and enjoy your elegant Christmas smoked salmon crostini.
Notes
- For a smoother cream cheese spread, ensure the cream cheese is softened but not melted before mixing.
- Using a piping bag for the cream cheese mixture creates a neater presentation, but you can also use a small spoon.
- Adjust garlic and lemon juice quantities to taste for balance between tanginess and pungency.
- For gluten-free option, substitute baguette with gluten-free bread slices.
- Serve crostini shortly after assembly to maintain crispness of the toasted bread.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crostini
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
