Cranberry Bacon Pecan Crostini with Gorgonzola Appetizer Recipe

Our Rural Mom kitchen is filled gourmet goodness right now!  Thanks to ALDI, I have all the ingredients I need to create a delicious appetizer and to share my thoughts, experiences and recipes inspired by this terrific grocery store!

Do you know what I like even better than a fabulous gourmet appetizer during the holidays?  One that is super easy to prepare and inexpensive to make like this cranberry bacon pecan crostini! When I can whip up a great-tasting crowd-pleaser that doesn’t bust my holiday budget, you can believe there’s a whole lot of merriment in my Rural Kitchen… along with a lot less stress and time saved that I can use to enjoy the holiday celebrations even more!

One of my favorite appetizers to create is a savory crostini with a touch of sweet. Though it is a gourmet treat and sounds complicated, crostini is simply the fancy term for French baguette slices that have been brushed with olive oil (and often seasoned) and baked.  They are so easy to prep and ready in minutes, but oh-so-wonderful to enjoy! Crostini can be topped with any variety of toppings, the sky is truly the limit!  I love selecting ingredients I already know I like paired and then adding a bit of seasonal flair.  For example, using cranberries in the Cranberry Bacon Crostini with Gorgonzola appetizer recipe I’m sharing today.

Once I have an idea of the flavor pairing, the next step is to find gourmet ingredients that won’t drain or strain my holiday budget.  This is one of the many reasons I turn to ALDI during the holiday season (and throughout the entire year.) I trust that I can find quality produce and products to help make my recipes shine and savings that help me keep my grocery costs manageable.

The quick, easy and delicious appetizer I’ve created takes about 15 minutes total to prep and cook, cost less than $10 and uses 100 percent of ingredients that I found at our local ALDI store.  With the exception of the bread, you will have plenty of leftovers ingredients to create another round if desired.  Just purchase another French baguette to double the recipe and save even more!

Cranberry Bacon Pecan Crostini with Gorgonzola
Makes approximately 3 dozen

Ingredients

1 loaf Specially Selected French Baguette
1 Specially Selected Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese
1 bag Dried Cranberries
1 box Appleton Farms Fully Cooked Bacon
1 6 ounce bag Southern Grove Pecan Halves
Carlini Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cut French baguette loaf into thin (1/4-inch) slices.

Place baguette slices into a large mixing bowl.  Drizzle 1 Tablespoon of olive oil over bread.  Toss lightly to coat bread with the oil.  Repeat three times (using a total of 4 Tablespoons of olive oil.)

Place olive oil-coated baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer.  Bake for 5 minutes.

While baguette slices are baking, cut pre-cooked bacon slices into thirds.

When baguettes are finished baking, remove from oven.  Top each baguette slice with a cut slice of bacon.  Top each slice of bacon with a pecan.  Sprinkle dried cranberries over each slice.

Return baguettes to oven and cook for 5 minutes.  Remove from oven. Allow to cool for 2 minutes.

Sprinkle Gorgonzola cheese over warm crostini.  Serve and enjoy!

Note:  This appetizer may be served warm or cooled.  I prefer it served warmed, but when it is cooled, the crostini takes on a nice crunch!  Leftovers may be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.  Re-heat by warming in the oven or in a toaster oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes.

Looking for more holiday recipe inspiration?  Check out the ALDI Test Kitchen Appetizer and Snack ideas at https://www.aldi.us/en/recipes/holiday/appetizers-snacks/

Also be sure to check out our Candy Cane Fudge recipe made with ALDI products at https://ruralmom.com/2014/12/get-ready-for-holiday-baking-with-aldi.html

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Yum

Cranberry Bacon Pecan Crostini with Gorgonzola Appetizer

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 loaf Specially Selected French Baguette
• 1 Specially Selected Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese
• 1 bag Dried Cranberries
• 1 box Appleton Farms Fully Cooked Bacon
• 1 6 ounce bag Southern Grove Pecan Halves
• Carlini Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cut French baguette loaf into thin (1/4-inch) slices.
3. Place baguette slices into a large mixing bowl. Drizzle 1 Tablespoon of olive oil over bread. Toss lightly to coat bread with the oil. Repeat three times (using a total of 4 Tablespoons of olive oil.)
4. Place olive oil-coated baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 5 minutes.
5. While baguette slices are baking, cut pre-cooked bacon slices into thirds.
6. When baguettes are finished baking, remove from oven. Top each baguette slice with a cut slice of bacon. Top each slice of bacon with a pecan. Sprinkle dried cranberries over each slice.
7. Return baguettes to oven and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Allow to cool for 2 minutes.
8. Sprinkle Gorgonzola cheese over warm crostini. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

This appetizer may be served warm or cooled. I prefer it served warmed, but when it is cooled, the crostini takes on a nice crunch! Leftovers may be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Re-heat by warming in the oven or in a toaster oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes

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