I hope the next time you’re sipping your favorite wine and need the perfect accompaniment, you remember this recipe for Roasted Grape Crostini!
So I wanted to call it: Roasted Grape Crostini with Ricotta, Mascarpone, and Fresh Thyme, but it’s a title that’s a bit too long for the video…
Harsh realities of the cutting room floor…
This video, which you’ll see later in the post, CCB’s second, Winter Sunset Cocktail was my first, was another family effort. With Dom behind the camera, and Luc editing, it’s become a family endeavor that’s too much fun not to engage.
Have you guys had the pleasure of eating roasted grapes?
What results after a light massage of olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh thyme, and high heat is, well, a thing of beauty.
Can you imagine it?
They’re sweet and melty and wine-y.
Then, when set atop crispy golden crostini that’s been smeared in ricotta and mascarpone… just one word comes to mind…
Fuggedaboutit!
I had the idea to combine ricotta and mascarpone because together they create a sweet, light topping.
Adding ricotta to mascarpone achieves a less heavy, more creamy spread. And because I’m going for a crostini that’s on the sweeter side, I didn’t want ricotta exclusively. Win-Win.
INGREDIENTS:
- seedless black grapes
- olive oil
- salt and cracked black pepper
- fresh thyme
- small dense loaf of Italian bread
- fresh ricotta
- mascarpone
- minced fresh thyme
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Place grapes on baking sheet.
- Toss with 3 Tbsp. olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh thyme sprigs.
- Roast for 15 – 20 minutes until grapes are fragrant and softened. Remove from oven.
- When grapes are slightly cooled, remove from stems and set aside.
- Meanwhile, slice the Italian bread into 1/2-inch thick slices.
- Place on a baking sheet and drizzle both sides with remaining olive oil.
- Bake bread for 5 – 7 minutes in the 400 degree oven until golden and crispy.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta with mascarpone and stir until smooth and creamy.
- To assemble crostini, slather the bread with the cheese mixture, top with roasted grapes, season with salt, pepper, and minced fresh thyme.
COOK’S NOTES:
- I left the grapes on the stems for the purpose of photos, but feel free to remove them before roasting. They’re much easier to handle.
- When serving, cheese can be on the colder side or room temp – whatever your preference. Dom actually popped the entire prepared crostini in the microwave for about 10 seconds, and that was also a delectable bite!
The perfect autumn nibble!
Buon Appetito!
Roasted Grape Crostini
Description
I hope the next time you’re sipping your favorite wine and need the perfect accompaniment, you remember this recipe for Roasted Grape Crostini!
Ingredients
- 1 pound seedless black grapes, rinsed
- 4 – 5 Tbsp. olive oil (divided)
- Salt and cracked black pepper to taste
- 3 – 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 small dense loaf of Italian bread
- 1/2 cup fresh ricotta
- 1/2 cup mascarpone
- 4 tsp. (or more) minced fresh thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Place grapes on baking sheet.
- Toss with 3 Tbsp. olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh thyme sprigs.
- Roast for 15 – 20 minutes until grapes are fragrant and softened. Remove from oven.
- When grapes are slightly cooled, remove from stems and set aside.
- Meanwhile, slice the bread into 1/2-inch thick slices.
- Place on a baking sheet and drizzle both sides with remaining olive oil.
- Bake bread for 5 – 7 minutes in the 400 degree oven until golden and crispy.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta with mascarpone and stir until smooth and creamy.
- To assemble crostini, slather the bread with cheese, top with roasted grapes and season with salt, pepper and minced fresh thyme.
This post was originally published here March 8, 2016. The recipe remains the same but I’ve updated the photographs and text.
I would like to take this to my next book club meeting and just wondering how early can this be prepared. Any risk of the bread turning hard or soggy?
I recommend packing each element separately, then building the crostini when you’re ready to serve them. Enjoy!
I’ve only had roasted grapes a few times but they’re always so good! These would be such a great appetizer!!
So perfect for the season…I’ve made them for the holidays and they’re always a hit! Thanks, Katherine!
I kinda like the long name, but, yeah… who wants to be yelled at by the SEO tool? Lol. Annie, what a fun idea to roast grapes! I’ve never had the pleasure of eating a roasted grape… but now I have to try it! 🙂 I just love that this video was a family effort. Hearing about how close-knit your family is always gives me good vibes. <3 Oh, it would be hard not to remember this beautifully made, lovingly made crostini–if I'm sipping some wine or just dreaming about delicious foods. 🙂 Thank you for another visual delight! Pinning! xo
Hahah! Yep – who needs that kind of trouble? Not I! So happy you like this and even happier that I may play a small role in the inclusion of one more roasted grape eater to the Roasted Grape Eater Club of America! 😉 Thanks, my friend! 🙂
I’ve never tried roasted grapes, but now I’m wondering where they’ve been my whole life! These little crostini look absolutely delicious, Annie.
You need to get to the bottom of that! 🙂 I hope you try them, soon! They are delish!! Thanks, Danielle!
I love crostini, this looks fabulous Annie! Great job on the video 🙂
Thanks, Manali! 🙂
Annie, I have had the sheer joy of enjoying roasted grapes all by their lonesome and my salivary glands are in full on drool production mode as I look at these appetizers! Love the combo of the crusty bread with ricotta/mascarpone and roasted grapes! Awesome video BTW!
Awh! Thanks so much, friend! This has quickly become a favorite of ours! 🙂
Annie, love these roasted-grape-crostini and I LOVE your video!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Alice!! I appreciate that! 🙂
Love the music on your video, Annie! SO cute. And this crostini looks amazing. What a cool flavor idea!
Thanks, Mir!! It’s a happy little tune, isn’t it?! 🙂
Wow, these are exquisite, that color is unbelievable! These would be so delicious for an appetizer as long as I could refrain from eating all them on the way to the party, lol. Take care.
It is a perfect app for parties! Let someone else pack them up and hide them…it’s the only way they’ll make it to their destination! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Love the video! You are so right — there are so many more elements to creating a video than a photo and it is so helpful to have multiple people involved! Maybe your fam can come help me create my videos … haha! I’ve never tried roasted grapes before but I bet they’re amazing and I love the texture of roasted grape tomatoes so I bet I’d love these! Pinning 🙂
We would love to help! That would be too fun! You need to try yourself a roasted grape or two! I believe you will love it! Thanks, dear!
Seems like a perfect breakfast or dessert idea. So nice! Let me try to make it soon :).
Oh yes! Perfect any time!! Thanks, Agness!
It is time to roast some grapes! These crostini look amazing! Awesome video!
Crostini is perfect any time, isn’t it? Thanks, friend!
I love red grapes! In fact, I snack on them almost every night 🙂 But I never thought to serve them as crostini – this is a brilliant idea! Salty, sweet, creamy, crispy – girl… you’ve covered it all!
Oh yeah!!! We got it covered! 🙂 Thanks, friend!!
Aaw, so fun! I loved your video, Annie! I’m glad you guys are having a blast and get to spend quality time together too 🙂 These are the cutest apps! I’ve never tried roasting grapes before definitely love that idea! Sounds perfect with the ricotta and mascarpone!
Thanks, Kelly! I highly recommend roasting grapes! I think you’ll like them! 🙂