These Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini combine smoky bacon, sweet cranberries, melty cheese, and crunchy bread for the perfect festive appetizer. They’re impressive, make-ahead friendly, and always the first to disappear at holiday parties!
Looking for more holiday bites? Try these Crockpot Little Smokies, this homemade Rotel Dip, or these Mini Quiche next!
Every holiday party needs that one appetizer everyone talks about, and these Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini are it. They’re bite-sized, elegant, and always disappear fast!
The flavorful bacon jam is smoky, sweet, tangy, and savory from brown sugar, maple, balsamic, cranberries, and coffee.
The jam is spooned onto baguette slices with melty cheese for a gooey, salty, crunchy, sweet appetizer that looks fancy, but is so easy to make.
The bacon jam can be made ahead of time, so all you have to do is toast the bread and assemble before serving!
Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini ingredients:
- Bacon: Use regular-cut (not thick-cut) so it crisps up nicely and mixes evenly into the jam. Chop it small before cooking to save time later.
- Aromatics: A medium yellow or white onion works best for a sweet, mellow base. Freshly minced garlic add the best flavor.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar works. This caramelizes with the bacon for that sticky, sweet finish.
- Cranberry juice: Use 100% juice (not a cocktail blend) for the boldest cranberry flavor.
- Dried cranberries: They plump up as the jam simmers and give chewy pops of tartness.
- Maple syrup: Real maple syrup adds sweetness and a slight maple flavor.
- Balsamic vinegar: Brings everything together with a tangy, slightly sweet flavor. You can swap with red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar if that’s all you have.
- Coffee: Just a splash deepens the flavor. You won’t actually taste coffee!
- Baguette: A fresh, crusty baguette is perfect. Slice it thin so each piece crisps up but still holds the toppings.
- Butter: Just a little brushed on the bread gives it that golden brown crunch in the oven.
- Cheese: Smoked cheddar adds bold flavor, Gouda gives creamy richness, and Havarti melts super smooth. Any good melting cheese you love will work.
- Walnuts and parsley: Optional, but add the perfect finishing touch!
How to make this easy Bacon Jam Crostini:
Get ready to have people beg you for this recipe at every function! Don’t forget to check the recipe card for the full recipe.
- Cook chopped bacon until browned.
- Then sauté onion and garlic in a little bacon fat.
- Add bacon back in with sugar, cranberry juice, dried cranberries, maple syrup, balsamic, and coffee.
- Toast baguette slices with a little butter until golden.
- Top each toasted slice with cheese.
- Add a spoonful of bacon jam and place in the oven to melt.
Tips for the perfect crostini appetizer:
- Cook the jam low and slow: A gentle bubble helps it thicken into a sticky, jam-like consistency without burning.
- Make the jam ahead: Make the bacon jam up to a week ahead. Toast the bread and prep your garnishes earlier in the day. When guests arrive, all you need to do is top the crostini with cheese and jam, then bake until warm and melty.
How to store Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini:
Assembled crostini are best fresh, but leftovers can be reheated in the oven at 350℉ for a few minutes to re-crisp the bread.
Serving suggestions:
These crostini are made for holiday parties, but they’re not too fancy for casual get-togethers, game nights, or wine-and-cheese boards!
If serving them for a party, line them up next to these other elegant appetizers:
Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
Cranberry Bacon Jam:
- 1 lb bacon, (finely chopped)
- 1 medium onion, (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic, (finely minced)
- ½ cup brown sugar, (lightly packed)
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brewed coffee, (hot or cold)
Crostini:
- 1 baguette, thinly sliced (you'll get about 20 slices)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 10 slices good quality cheese, (cut in half) smoked cheddar, havarti, or gouda recommended
- toasted chopped walnuts, for garnish
- fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Cranberry Bacon Jam
- In a large saucepan, cook the bacon until nicely browned. Remove from pan, saving about 2 tablespoons bacon fat. (Drain the rest off)
- In remaining bacon fat, cook the onions over medium heat until translucent. Add garlic and cook about a minute until fragrant.
- Add bacon back to the pan with the brown sugar, cranberry juice, cranberries, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and coffee.
- Cook over medium-low heat (a gentle bubble), for about 30 minutes until thickened and syrupy (there shouldn't be a lot of liquid remaining). Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired and set aside. (This can easily be made ahead and stored in the fridge, but you may need to warm it before spreading!)
Crostini:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Lightly butter one side of each bread slice, and place on baking sheet with the butter face down. Place pan in the oven for 3-4 minutes, until the bottom is lightly toasted. Flip bread slices and top with cheese. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of bacon jam on top of cheese and place in the oven for 4-5 minutes, until the bacon jam is warmed through and the cheese is melted.
- Top with chopped walnuts and parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
The bacon jam can be made up to a week ahead, which reduces your prep at the time of your even.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Tag @thereciperebelVariations and Substitutions
- Nut-free: Skip the walnuts or swap for toasted pumpkin seeds.
- Different cheese: Try brie for ultra-creamy or sharp white cheddar for extra tanginess.
- Spicy kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the jam.
- Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free baguette or crackers instead!
Can I assemble crostini ahead of time?
It’s best to assemble just before baking so the bread doesn’t get soggy. Keep the jam and cheese ready, then top and bake at the last minute.
Shae says
Would brie be a good replacement for the smoked cheddar?
Ashley Fehr says
I think that would work great!
Camie says
I love this recipe!! I’ve been making this for about 3 years for holidays! I use Irish cheddar cheese-yum!
Can you freeze this jam?
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Camie! I haven’t tried it myself but a quick google search tells me that you can freeze bacon jam. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Camie says
I forgot to let you know how freezing went and it worked out just fine! This recipe was requested yet again for another holiday appetizer!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you for sharing!
Lori says
Can this be made with turkey bacon?
Ashley Fehr says
I don’t think it would work well because you need the fat to make the jam
Linda Hadaway says
When do you add the dried cranberries? Read the recipe several times, and can not find where you add them.
Ashley Fehr says
It’s right in step number 3 🙂
Jacqueline Young says
I have made this recipe for every Thanksgiving and now I make just the jam and add it to hamburgers. Every.single.time. I make it, people ALWAYS ask for the recipe! So delish!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jacqueline! I need to try it on burgers!
Karla Escolas says
I got all the ingredients to make this for Thanksgiving, hoping for a different and exciting new app to wow everyone with. So i followed the instructions to make a head of time and 45 mind before ppl were to arrive, i pulled the jam from the fridge and it wad hard as a rock! Couldnt get the jam out to complete, i was so disappointed.
Ashley Fehr says
I’m sorry to hear that! A quick warm in the microwave or on the stove top should have fixed that.
Jennifer Nebeker says
Can you replace the coffee with something else? I don’t drink coffee. Thank you
Ashley Fehr says
You can replace it with water