Creamy, tangy and so easy to make too! If your looking for a tasty appetizer to impress your guests this holiday season, then this is it!
It’s no secret that I love a good appetizer party. And I’m always such a sucker for any type of bruschetta or fun crostini idea. So you can bet this balsamic blackberry bruschetta with whipped ricotta recipe was right up my alley! It’s sweet, creamy, bursting with juicy blackberries and fresh basil and all nestled on top of a perfectly toasted french baguette slice! Trust me loves, your guests won’t be able to get enough of these babies!
Ingredients
- French baguette: French bread has a very mild taste which pairs perfectly with the ricotta and tangy blackberries. You can also use sourdough or a whole wheat baguette too.
- Olive oil: I used Sprouts Extra Virgin Olive Oil of Italy for this recipe. (I love using this olive oil for all of my recipes because it has a rich full bodied taste which gives my recipes that extra special something. Sometimes I’ll even drizzle it over my soups or meats for a finishing touch.
- Salt: Adds flavor to the crostini and compliments the tangy blackberries.
- Whole milk ricotta: Adds creaminess.
- Honey: Adds some sweetness to the ricotta. (A little goes a long way!)
- Balsamic vinegar: Helps to elevate the blackberries’ flavor.
- Blackberries: Gives your crostini that poop of juicy flavor!
- Fresh basil: Adds some freshness to your crostini.
How to make your own crostini
I personally love making my own crostini instead of buying them becasue then I can make them as crispy or as soft as I want. Sometimes when I buy them from the store they can be too hard to bite making them very diffuclt to eat. By baking them myself though, I’m able get them perfectly crisp on the outside while still soft and chewy in the middle!
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice your baguette into 1/2 in slices and place them on the baking sheet.
- Rub the tops of your baguette slices with a little olive oil and sprinkle them with salt.
- Bake your crostinis for 5 minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness. Let them cool completely before adding your toppings.
*Tip: Make your crostinis the day before you plan to serve them to help cut down your prep time!
How to make balsamic blackberry bruschetta
I’ll be completely honest with you, I could probably eat this bruschetta all on it’s own, by the spoonful… It’s THAT good loves! And it’s only 2 ingredients!
- 2 cups blackberries
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Place the balsamic vinegar and 1 cup of your blackberries in a sauce pot and heat it over medium high heat.
- Mash the blackberries with a fork and let the sauce simmer for 1-2 minutes or until it starts to thicken. (It should look like a thick paste.)
- Pour the mashed blackberries over the remaining cup of blackberries and stir them together. Place the blackberries in the fridge to cool until you’re ready to serve. (Sometimes I’ll cut the remaining blackberries in half if they’re too large.)
Why add balsamic vinegar to your blackberries? It helps to elevate their flavor and really makes them stand out against the creamy ricotta.
How to make honey whipped ricotta
Yet another topping I could eat by the spoonful! 😉 This easy whipped ricotta is sweet, cool and creamy and so simple to make too. (Try spreading it on bagels or toast for a delicious decadent breakfast!)
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Place the ricotta and honey together in a food processor and blend until it’s light and fluffy. (You can also whipped them together with an electric hand mixer too!)
- Store the ricotta in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
*Note: I tried making this recipe with part skim ricotta and it didn’t come out nearly as fluffy as the whole milk ricotta did.
I hope you all enjoy this recipe just as much as I did!
More recipes like this:
- Roasted Grape, Goat Cheese & Basil Crostini
- Italian Chopped Salad Flatbread
- Summer Melon Salad with Prosciutto & Mozzarella
- Grape & Feta Kale Salad
[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings – I love seeing what you create!]
Balsamic Blackberry Bruschetta with Whipped Ricotta
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 2 cups blackberries
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Fresh basil, sliced thin
- Honey (to drizzle over the top)
- 1 french baguette, sliced into
- 2 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil of Italy
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
To make the crostini:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Rub the olive over one side of your baguette slices and place them on the sheet. Sprinkle your slices with salt to taste then bake them for 5 minutes. Set them aside to cool when done.
To make the bruschetta:
- Add 1 cup of blackberries and 1 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar to a sauce pan and heat them over medium high heat. Mash the berries with a fork and allow the sauce to simmer for 1-2 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Then pour the sauce over the remaining cup of blackberries and stir them both together. (Sometimes I'll cut the remaining blackberries in half if they're too large.) Set aside to cool.
- Add the ricotta and 1 Tbsp honey to a bowl and whisk them together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Place the bowl in the fridge to chill.
To assemble the bruschetta:
- Take a crostini and layer it with a small amount of your whipped ricotta and balsamic blackberries. Drizzle the bruschetta with a little honey sprinkle fresh basil on top. Serve immediately!
