Description
An easy and elegant appetizer that combines creamy goat cheese, sweet and spicy bacon, and crunchy crostini, perfect for entertaining during the Holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pack of thick-cut turkey bacon
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 baguette
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 4 or 8-ounce log of goat cheese
- Maple syrup, honey, or hot honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Begin by placing an oven rack on the center row and preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare baking sheet: Line a large rimmed baking sheet with either aluminum foil or parchment paper. Place an oven-safe baking rack on top of the foil in the pan.
- Mix the spice rub: In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, black pepper, water, and cayenne pepper until combined.
- Prepare the bacon: Lay the turkey bacon slices on your prepared sheet pan in a single layer. Generously coat both sides with the brown sugar mixture.
- Bake the bacon: Place the tray of bacon into your oven and let it bake for 15 minutes. After that, flip the slices and continue to bake for another 10-15 minutes until crispy.
- Cool the bacon: Once done, remove the spicy candied bacon from the oven and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
- Make crostini: Increase the oven’s temperature to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the baguette into 1/2 inch slices and lay them cut side down on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Brush the tops lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake the crostini: Place the crostini in the oven for 7-10 minutes until they’re crisp and golden brown. Once done, remove and allow to cool for 30 minutes.
- Assemble the appetizer log: Place the goat cheese log on your serving dish. Break the cooled bacon into small pieces and press them into the cheese log.
Notes
You can prep the bacon a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Leftover assembled logs can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 log
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 30mg