Goat Cheese Crostini with Candied Walnuts and Caramelized Onions

Goat cheese crostini with candied walnuts and caramelized onions – we're getting fancy here! Or are we?

This mouthful of an appetizer (literally and figuratively) is actually an extremely simple and quick way to impress your guests if you're entertaining, or your own family if you enjoy a little appetizer before your meal. I know we sure do!

I love me anything you can plop on top of a piece of bread. I also love bites that exhibit a friendly balance of sweet and savory. If it pairs well with cheese, then it pairs well with me. That's what I always say. Well, no… I don't always say that but the sentiment remains. Ya girl loves her cheese and I feel no shame about it!

Related:
Tomato Bruschetta with Garlic and Basil

I only really discovered just how much I love goat cheese in the past couple of years. There is something sooo yummy about the way the cheese blends with the sweetness of the candied walnuts. They go together in such a way that the nuts don't taste overwhelmingly sweet, but at the same time… the sweetness comes through in such a mouthwatering way. Does that make sense? The power of balance, I tell ya! The caramelized onions also truly make this appetizer.

I love to entertain and when it comes to appetizers, I often have a hard time deciding what I want to make. This inevitably results in me making multiple apps because you never know who is going to want what. And the larger the group, the more options I convince myself I need (who am I kidding, I feel the same way when it's just a double date). When I find myself in this predicament I tend to opt for the simpler dishes rather than spending too much on complicated ones. This recipe is one of those. It honestly takes just 20 minutes to make, from toasting the crostini to caramelizing the onions and candying the walnuts (assuming you do them all at the same time).

Pile your toppings on high and you've got yourself an easy appetizer that tastes much more complicated than it actually is. Enjoy!

If you're looking for similar recipes, try my Tomato Bruschetta with Garlic and Basil (a Life She Lives favorite!).

Print Recipe

Goat Cheese Crostini with Candied Walnuts and Caramelized Onions

Prep Time

20 minutes

Servings

Ingredients

• 1 French baguette
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 4 oz goat cheese softened
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp butter (or 1 tbps butter + 1 tbsp olive oil)
• 1 onion sliced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp balsamic vinaigrette
• salt to taste

Prep Time 20 minutes Servings Ingredients 1 French baguette 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4 oz goat cheese softened 1 cup walnuts 1/4 cup sugar 2 tbsp butter (or 1 tbps butter + 1 tbsp olive oil) 1 onion sliced 2 tbsp butter 1 tsp balsamic vinaigrette salt to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Soften goat cheese at room temperature.
2. Cut the baguette into 1/4-1/2-inch slices. Arrange on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil and season with salt to taste. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
3. Cut an onion into thin slices. To caramelized, melt 2 tbsp butter (or 1 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp olive oil) in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and 1 tsp balsamic and cook until browned and fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 10-15 minutes.
4. To candy the walnuts, melt 2 tbsp of butter in a small saucepan. Add 1/4 cup sugar and 1 cup walnuts. Coat evenly and cook for 5-8 minutes, until the mixture is browned and slightly sticky. Be careful not to burn.
5. Spread a dollop of softened goat cheese on each crostini. Top with caramelized onions and candied walnuts*. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

*Candy the walnuts right before you are ready to use them. They harden as they cool which may or may not be to your liking.

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