10 Minute Cheese & Pear Crostini Appetizer for the Holidays
on Dec 04, 2017, Updated Feb 02, 2025
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If you need a quick and delicious appetizer that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser, try this 10 Minute Cheese & Pear Crostini Appetizer recipe! Made with toasted walnuts, fresh pear and balsamic vinaigrette, it’s absolutely delicious!
*This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Crystal Farmsยฎ Cheese. All opinions are mine.*
10 Minute Cheese & Pear Crostini Appetizer for the Holidays
This pear crostini recipe has two tasty flavor combinations – Crystal Farmsยฎ Sharp Cheddar and Crystal Farmsยฎ Shredded Gouda. Both ways are delicious, so try them today and let me know your favorite! Pear appetizer recipes are some of my favorite types of appetizers. Oh who am I kidding. It’s the cheese! Cheesy appetizers are my favorite! Especially when they’re easy to make and somewhat healthy. I hope you’ll love this delicious combination of fresh fruit, delicious cheese, and fabulous bread as much as I do.
Let’s make this Pear Appetizer Recipe with Cheese, Fruit & Nuts
First, move an oven rack to the top position and preheat your broiler. Cut a baguette into 20 thin slices and place on a baking sheet. Do not line with parchment paper – I learned the hard way that it can catch on fire if it’s too close to the broiler!! Carefully brown the bread for 1-2 minutes and then flip the bread and broil the reverse side until golden brown, about 1 – 1 1/2 minutes more. Set the bread aside.
Peel, core and coarsely chop pear, and then put it in a medium sized bowl. Toast walnuts briefly over medium high heat and then add them to the pear. Next, add the vinaigrette and toss to mix. At this point, I recommend splitting the pear/walnut/vinaigrette mixture evenly in two bowls and adding 1/4 cup Crystal Farmsยฎ shredded gouda to one bowl, and 1/4 cup Crystal Farmsยฎ shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the other. You can cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours at this point, if you’d like to prep ahead for dinner or a party.
I used Crystal Farmsยฎ shredded cheese for this recipe. Crystal Farmsยฎ is one of the largest cheese brands in the country, and located in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, they’re not too far from me! You can find their cheese, which is made by cheese lovers for cheese lovers, in the refrigerated dairy section at the grocery store.
When you’re about ready to serve the pear crostini, spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of the topping over each bread slice. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes to melt the cheese. Plate up the beautiful little bread appetizers one a serving platter and enjoy!
Do you like pear appetizer recipes? Here’s a printable version of this one!
Pear & Gouda Crostini with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Crostini
- 1 loaf French bread, cut into 20 thin pieces
- 1 large, ripe pear, diced fine
- 1/2 cup finely chopped and toasted walnuts
- 1/2 cup Crystal Farmsยฎ Shredded Gouda cheese, Crystal Farmsยฎ Sharp Cheddar is also very delicious!
- 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette
Balsalmic vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons stone ground mustard.
- 1 clove garlic, minced.
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Put an oven rack in the highest position and preheat the brolier to high. Slice the baguette into 20 thin slices.
- Place the slices on a baking sheet and broil until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Pay careful attention to the bread as it broils so it doesn't burn.
- Carefully turn the bread slices and broil the other side about 1 to 1 1/2 more minutes. Set bread aside.
- Peel, core and finely chop the pear and place it in a medium sized bowl. Toast the walnuts and then add to the diced pear. Add the cheese and the vinaigrette, then toss to mix. If making ahead, cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.ย
- Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of the topping over each bread slice. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes to melt the cheese. Place the crostini on a serving platter an enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you liked this appetizer recipe, you may like these too:
Baked Camembert with pomegranates and hazelnuts
I’d like to try the Shredded Asiago & Parmesan blend!
I want to try the shredded Cracked Black Pepper Cheddar.
Yum! Those look so good! I would love them. I would have to say I love their gouda cheese!
I’d most like to try the Finely Shredded Asiago & Parmesan Cheese.
I want to try the three pepper cheese, particularly on a grilled cheese sandwich.
The Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar sounds really good!
I’d really like to try the shredded Garlic Jack Cheese
I’d like to try the Crystal Farms Shredded Asadero.
I’d like to try the 6 cheese Italian.
These crostini look delicious! Thery’re perfect for entertaining too.
Thanks, Julie! They are perfect for entertaining. Easy to make and delicious! ๐
Gouda is my favorite cheese, so I’d want that!
I’d like to try the Shredded Gouda cheese!
I would like to try the Mexican Taco cheese shreds
I’d like to try the cracked black pepper cheddar slices.
I would love to try the shredded goulda!!!! or shredded Muenster!!
Love to try the Crystal Farms Shredded Pizzeria cheese.
Those look so good! I would love them. I would have to say I love their sharp cheddar!
I would choose the marble jack cheese
ID like to try their cheddar jack block .
I’d like to try the Havarti Cheese Block!
I was unaware that they made Ricotta, I’d like to try it.
I should totally make these just to have while watching television, because they look delicious!
i would like to try the Shredded Cheddar Jack Cheese
I’d like to try some of the 6 Cheese Italian blend!
I would like to try the Shredded 3 Pepper Cheese
I would love to try the gouda or sharp cheddar!
I’d like to try their Crystal Farms Havarti Cheese.
Thanks for the contest.
I would like to try the marble jack cheese
I’d like to try the 3 pepper cheese.
The Crystal Farms Shredded Mexican 4 Cheese is a favorite!
Not gonna lie this post left me freaking hungry! everything looks awesome and I haven’t even had dinner yet! Wish I could have some right now. I would love to try the marble jack cheese just sounds so yummy!!
I absolutely love all the cheeses! I would like to try Crystal Farms Shredded Asadero it is one type of cheese Iโve never tried before.
The Mexican Taco cheese sounds good!
I would like to try the Shredded Quesadilla cheese blend.
I want the Cheddar cheese so I can make cheesy hashbrowns! Yummy!
I would like to try the shredded Wisconsin garlic jack cheese.
I would love to try the Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar.
I would like to try the sharp cheddar
The Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar is what I would like to try. I love all kinds of cheese.
I want to try the bacon cheddar, havarti, and gouda blocks.
I’d love to try the Crystal Farms Gouda Cheese
Love to try the Crystal Farms Shredded Muenster
I’d like to try the Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese!
I would like to try the Crystal Farms Smoked Cheddar.
I’d like to try the shredded three pepper cheese
I’d like to try the Gouda
Oh Holy Cow they have Crystal Farms Muenster Cheese. I just love the creamy taste.
Today I’d like Crystal Farms Shredded Asiago Cheese
The wisconsin sharp cheddar.
The Shredded Quesadilla cheese sounds amazing!!
Shredded Muenster!!
I’d like to try the Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
I want to try the Crystal Farms Shredded Mac & Cheese!
I’d be interested in trying the Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar.
Crystal Farms Shredded Wisconsin Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese.
I’d like to try the Shredded Mac and Cheese blend.
The 6 cheese Italian, pretty sure I can do a lot with that
So many choices of cheese! Cheddar wins.
Today the Crystal Farms Finely Shredded Asiago & Parmesan Cheese.
I would love to try their shredded Muenster cheese!!
The shredded pepper jack cheese.
I love all cheese
Chedder cheese block
I would like the shredded sharp cheddar!
I want to try the 6 cheese Italian
would love to try the Crystal Farms Havarti block cheese!
Kathryn C
I’d like to try the cracked pepper cheddar slices
the 6 cheese Italian.
I’d like to try the Havarti.
The Horseradish Cheddar sounds really good to me.
Crystal Farms Monterey Jack Cheese
I love cheese! All Cheese! YOU SHALL NOT MAKE ME CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM!!
Really, I have yet to find a cheese I did not like and would love to try them all.
I would try the finely shredded cheddar cheese.
I want to try the Crystal Farms Shredded Oaxaca.
This looks super yummy.