Pineberries are a strawberry variation with white and pink coloring and a similar flavor. You can swap them into almost any strawberry recipe and make something new. That's how I developed this pineberry bruschetta (or crostini) recipe.

Recipe

Pineberry bruschetta (crosini) appetizer toasts with goat cheese and honey, on a gray tabletop

Pineberry bruschetta with goat cheese & honey

Veronica T

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Prep Time5

Total Time25

Calories67

Servings slices

Ingredients

1 baguette cut into 24 ½-inch slices
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon sea salt
10 ounces pineberries (typical size sold in stores)
4 ounces goat cheese
1-2 tablespoon honey

Instructions

TOAST BAGUETTE SLICES

Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (optional for cleanup).
Cut baguette into 24 slices, about a ½ inch thick. Brush both sides of each slice with olive oil. Sprinkle a small pinch of sea salt on the top side. (You might have some oil and salt leftover)
Bake for 5 minutes, the bottom side will crisp up and turn golden. Flip, then continue baking for another 5 minutes. Remove and let cool.

PREPARE PINEBERRIES

While the baguette toasts, prepare the pineberries. You can chop them into small pieces or thinly slice them for a pretty arrangement.

ASSEMBLE

Spread goat cheese on the top of each slice. Drizzle with honey. Top with pineberries.

Notes

Goat cheese: buy spreadable (not crumbled) goat cheese. Let it soften to room temperature for easier spreading. Flavored goat cheeses also work really well, from honey-flavored to herbal. Most goat cheese is sold in 4-ounce packs, which is what I developed the recipe for.

Pineberries: Often sold in 10-ounce containers. This recipe can easily accommodate a pound (16 ounces) depending on what's available. You can also mix and match pineberries and strawberries to add volume as needed.

Honey: I really like wildflower or orange blossom honey for this bruschetta recipe - but plain honey also works.

Nutrition

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Toasting bruschetta & crostini

For most of my life, I toasted baguette slices in the oven, face up, without oil. They browned a bit and I quite enjoyed them. Then I came across a simple technique of toasting them with olive oil and a pinch of salt - and I'm never going back.

When toasted with olive oil, the bread transforms into a crispy, crunchy, extra tasty base for bruschetta or crostini. They turn a golden color and look similar to those little snack toasts you can buy in a box at the grocery store.

Most of the time the terms bruschetta and crostini and used interchangeably as the differences are quite nuanced. It's hard to say which one this recipe technically falls under, but either way it's delicious.

The toasts can be made in advance and stored in a sealed container or zip top bag on the counter. They will retain their crunchiness for a couple of days. They do not store well once assembled with the goat cheese and pineberries - but if you do have leftovers, put them in the fridge.

Pineberries in a bowl on a blue towel, ready to be prepped for bruschetta or crostini

Using pineberries

I really love using pineberries for appetizers like this when guests come over. They make such a cute presentation without much fuss. They are a great conversation starter too.

Pineberries can sometimes be found at local farmers markets, usually starting in April in warmer climates, but not until May until cooler areas. They overlap with strawberry season.

I've been able to buy pineberries at several different grocery stores as well, including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Safeway, and Jewel. They often show up as early as March when they are shipped in from Florida and California.

If you don't have enough pineberries, you can mix in strawberries as well. It will still be a stunning looking appetizer.

Other ingredient notes

As noted in the recipe, flavored goat cheese and honey can both add unique variations to this pineberry bruschetta.

A honey or herb flavored goat cheese will pair well with the pineberries and honey. You could also make your own whipped goat cheese and mix in red strawberries (for a spreadable pink cheese!), basil or mint for a complimentary flavor, or lemon juice for an acidic punch.

Flavored honey can also add an interesting twist. My personal favorites for this bruschetta are wild flower and orange blossom. Either of these can usually be found at grocery stores, and almost always at a farmers market or specialty shop from a local beekeeper.

Add any other flavors that sound good to you! A few options could be toasted walnuts or pistachios, basil, mint, or lemon balm. You could also replace the honey with a thick, syrupy balsamic vinegar, following a recipe like this one for strawberry goat cheese bruschetta.

More seasonal recipes

If you're looking for other ways to use pineberries, browse through over 75 strawberry recipes and just swap them in. They are interchangeable as long as the color doesn't matter. For example, pineberry jam can turn an unappetizing color, so you might want to add in at least some red strawberries to turn it a nice pink color.