After my whipped blue cheese crostini with roasted grapes were such a hit with my family, I just had to try the same creamy blue cheese base with another one of my favorite fall fruits – figs.
And these fig and whipped blue cheese crostini appetizers turned out to be just as much of a crowd-pleaser!
What I especially love about this recipe is how elegant these crostini look.
The vibrant purples and reds of the figs look so beautiful against the bluish cheese base, and when topped with walnuts, maple syrup, and a few sprigs of arugula, they look like something straight out of a fancy restaurant.
These are the perfect party appetizer to make when you want to serve something a little fancier but don’t want to work too hard!
What You’ll Need
- French baguette: sliced and toasted for the crostini base.
- Whipped blue cheese: a smooth mix of blue cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, and spices.
- Fresh figs: sliced thin for toppings.
- Walnuts & maple syrup: to add some crunch and a bit more sweetness.
- Arugula: optional, but makes the platter look extra beautiful.
How to Make These Fig and Whipped Blue Cheese Crostini
We’ll start by making the whipped cheese base.
Blend the blue cheese, cream cheese, half of the sour cream, freshly ground pepper, a few sprigs of thyme, and a tiny pinch of nutmeg in a food processor.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl a couple of times until the cheese mix becomes smooth and creamy. To get that perfect consistency, you’ll need to do this three or four times.
If the cheese still feels too thick after a few rounds, add the rest of the sour cream and blend again a couple of times until smooth.
Slice the baguette diagonally into 20 pieces so you get slightly larger toasts. Grill them under the broiler for a few minutes until the edges turn golden and crisp.
Slice figs into thin slices so you can lay them neatly over the crostini.
To assemble, spread about a teaspoon of whipped blue cheese on each toasted baguette slice. Top with a slice of fig, drizzle lightly with maple syrup, and garnish with crushed walnuts.
If you’re serving them at a party, arrange the crostini on a platter with arugula leaves for a prettier presentation.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It looks really fancy but is actually very simple: The crostini are elegant enough for a holiday party table, but they are very easy to assemble, and the whole thing comes together in under 20 minutes.
- If you want something that impresses your guests, this is it: The toasts look super cute with the fresh figs and arugula adding a ton of colors to the platter.
- You’ll get a bunch of different flavors in just one bite: The crunchy toast, soft and creamy cheese, and slightly sweet figs all taste absolutely amazing together!
- Perfect for parties: Because these crostini look so pretty, they’re a great appetizer for dinner parties, wine nights, or even end-of-the-year festivities during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Tips for Success
- Use ripe figs for the sweetest flavor and best texture.
- Toast the bread well so it stays crisp under the toppings, but be careful not to burn it – it takes just a few minutes to get that golden color.
- Take time whipping the cheese so that it becomes completely smooth. It will take a couple of rounds of scraping the bowl and mixing again, but it’s important to blend until you get that creamy, spreadable texture.
- Drizzle maple syrup over the figs, but don’t add too much, or it will overpower the fruit.
- Serve soon after assembling, so the crostini will look their best and won’t lose their crunch.
📌 Fig and Whipped Blue Cheese Crostini Appetizers (Recipe Card)
Ingredients (Makes 20 crostini)
- 1 French baguette
- 4 fresh figs
- 3.5 oz blue cheese
- 1.7 oz cream cheese
- 1–2 tablespoons sour cream
- Fresh thyme, to taste
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Black pepper, to taste
- Handful of walnuts, crushed
- Maple syrup, for drizzling
- Arugula, for serving
Equipment
- Food processor
- Baking tray
- Knife + cutting board
- Serving platter
Instructions
- To make the whipped cheese, blend blue cheese, cream cheese, half the sour cream, black pepper, a few sprigs of thyme, and a tiny pinch of nutmeg in a food processor. Scrape down the sides and blend several times until smooth and creamy. If the mixture is too thick, add the remaining sour cream and blend again.
- Slice the baguette diagonally into 20 pieces for slightly larger crostini. Toast under the broiler for a few minutes until edges start to get golden and crisp.
- Cut fresh figs into thin slices so you can lay them flat over the crostini.
- Spread about 1 tsp of whipped blue cheese on each piece of toast. Top with a slice of fig, drizzle with maple syrup, and sprinkle with crushed walnuts. Arrange on a platter over arugula leaves for a prettier presentation.