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For this Creamy Spinach Dip Crostini, I take a blend of cream cheese, spinach, Parmesan, and pesto, and pile it onto a garlic-butter-toasted French baguette that I sprinkle with pepitas and more Parmesan. What I get is a crispy, crunchy, cheesy appetizer that disappears in minutes. It’s an easy, elegant finger food I can prepare in about 20 minutes.
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Pin ItCrunchy and Creamy Spinach Dip Crostini
I don’t know why I’ve never thought of this before. I love spinach dip, and I love crusty French bread; clearly, the two seem like a match made in heaven. So I’ve combined them to create this creamy spinach dip crostini appetizer. I take frozen spinach and blend it with cream cheese, pesto, and Parmesan cheese to create a rich, flavorful topping that I pile onto slices of French bread toasted with homemade garlic butter. The combination is completely out of this world.
With just 20 minutes of prep, this appetizer is one of my go-tos for entertaining, game day, surprise guests, or sometimes just to munch on while I prepare dinner. I usually get about 8 servings per loaf of bread, but it depends on how big your bread is and how thick you cut the slices.
Tips for Beginners
- Use a serrated knife to cut the bread. I find this type of knife cuts through bread easily without any tears.
- Drain the spinach well. Once the frozen spinach has thawed, remove as much of the moisture as you can. You don’t want it to dilute the flavor of the spread.
- Store-bought works. If you don’t have any pesto on hand, pick up a container at the grocery store. You could also use store-bought garlic butter to spread on the bread.
Creamy Spinach Dip Crostini Appetizer
Ingredients
- 1 loaf La Brea Bakery Reserve French Demi-Baguette sliced into ½ inch slices
- 2 tbsp salted butter melted
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
- 1 8 oz. box frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained
- 4 oz. light cream cheese
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp basil pesto
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
Optional Toppings
- pepitas and shaved Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray. Lay the bread slices in a single layer on the baking sheet.1 loaf La Brea Bakery Reserve French Demi-Baguette
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, garlic, and parsley.2 tbsp salted butter, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1 tbsp fresh parsley
- Brush each top side of bread liberally with the butter mixture. Take ½ cup grated Parmesan and sprinkle it over the top of each bread slice.1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Bake in the oven for 5-6 minutes or until toasty and starting to brown on the edges. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- In a blender or food processor, blend the spinach, cream cheese, lemon juice, pesto, salt/pepper, vinegar, and remaining ½ cup Parmesan cheese. Blend until as smooth as you like.1 8 oz. box frozen chopped spinach, 4 oz. light cream cheese, 1 tsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp basil pesto, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- Spoon 1 tbsp of the spinach dip onto each piece of bread and sprinkle with a bit more grated Parmesan.
- Place under a broiler for 3-4 minutes or until the spinach mixture is hot and bubbly and the bread is toasted to your liking.
- Garnish with pepitas or shaved Parmesan (optional). Enjoy!pepitas and shaved Parmesan for garnish
Becky’s Tips
- I find a serrated knife the best to cut through bread.
- Squeeze as much moisture out of the spinach as you can.
- If you don’t have any homemade pesto, use store-bought. You could also use store-bought garlic butter.
- Store leftovers for up to 3 days and reheat under the broiler.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Store
Store uneaten crostini in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Note that the bread will get soft as it sits in the fridge. Reheat under the broiler to melt the cheese and warm the bread through.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving this crusty crostini appetizer for game days, backyard BBQs, or any other celebration, though I don’t need an excuse to whip it up, as it’s a great snack to munch on while I prepare dinner. When I am entertaining, I like to have an assortment of finger foods to offer, so I’ll often whip up a batch of bacon wrapped shrimp or crockpot chicken wings to have on hand as well. And, just so I have enough food on hand, I’ll make animal-style fries.
More Bread-Based Appetizers Recipes To Try
- Peach and Strawberry Bruschetta is a combination of sweet fruit, creamy goat cheese, and tangy balsamic vinegar.
- Garlic Bread Pizza comes together with homemade garlic butter, pizza sauce, and our favorite toppings.
- In this Cheesy Artichoke Bruschetta, I bake creamy, cheesy artichoke dip onto toasted bread.
