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Thinly sliced, crusty baguette topped with roasted, sweet butternut squash, creamy whipped feta, shallots, za’atar and rich tahini. These Caramelized Butternut Squash Crostini are absolutely delicious and perfect as an easy Thanksgiving appetizer!
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii friends! How goes it?! Not to be all mushy, but I MISSED you guys!
Okay, so I won’t lie, it WAS nice having a few days away from zee blog. 😇
But I DID miss you!
Hopefully your Halloween was spook-tacular, and you got your fix of chocolate and candy, because today we are moving on to all things Turkey Day terrific.
Gobble gobble.
Well, correction. All things Turkey Day terrific MINUS stuffing, because of Boy’s crazy aversion.
AND minus the actual turkey. AGAIN.
All I could find were BIG ‘ole mamma-jamma cluckers. And a 10 pound turkey for just 2 people is beyond ridiculous. I mean, I like turkey, but I don’t like turkey THAT much.
If you have followed this blog for a length of time you know I had the same exact problem last year. Womp womp.
BUT, have no fear, my friends. I put together a round-up of AMAZING holiday mains last year to make up for it. So I’m going to push that same round-up on you this year. 🙂 From turkey and ham to big juicy roasts, that list will have you covered.
Go let your peepers take a gander. I will wait…..
You back?
Okay, sound the alarm and let’s ROCK Thanksgiving, my friends. Starting with this….
Caramelized Butternut Squash Crostini
These Thanksgiving crostini are legit delicious, my friends.
If you are one of those people who loves to stick with your uber traditional Thanksgiving meal, I urge you to take a few chances when it comes to the appetizers portion of your meal.
And specifically, take a chance with THESE.
These butternut squash crostini are a liiiiiiitle outside the box with the za’atar and tahini, but they are totally in the comfy, familiar zone with caramelized squash, feta and toasted carbs.
These orange beauties are a savory sensation, you guys.
Roasted, caramelized, sweet, veggie-candy-like butternut squash; creamy, cheesy, salty whipped feta, garlicky shallots, aromatic za’atar and rich, smooth tahini ALL lovingly arranged on a thinly sliced, crunchy, baked baguette.
Gah!! Appetizer HEAVEN.
Or if you’re like me around a tray of this butternut squash appetizer = dinner perfection. 😉
Table of Contents
What is crostini?
Crostini, which means “little toasts” in Italian, are a simple Italian appetizer consisting of small, thin slices of toasted or grilled bread and a topping.
The bread used for crostini is usually a baguette or ciabatta as both are crusty and can hold the weight of toppings without becoming soft and mushy.
The toppings for crostini are pretty limitless and can range from sweet (like this blueberry crostini) or savory (like the crostini topping you see here)
What is the difference between crostini and bruschetta?
While bruschetta and crostini both are types of bread preparations used in Italian antipasto, they are not the same thing.
Bruschetta is made by toasting whole, wide slices of sourdough type bread rubbed with garlic, while crostini are made from smaller, finer-textured bread such as a baguette.
Notes, Tips & Tricks for the best Caramelized Butternut Squash Crostini recipe:
- The whipped feta and tahini drizzle can be prepared a couple days in advance. Just keep them covered and stored in the refrigerator.
- If you want to make this butternut squash appetizer even easier where the prep is concerned, purchase the already diced butternut squash in the produce isle of your grocery store.
- Since the bread portion of crostini is pretty essential, make sure you purchase high quality bread. Go for a fresh baguette from a local bakery, or the bakery section of your grocery store. Slice the bread about ½’’ thick, you don’t want it too thick OR too thin. And DO NOT skip brushing the bread generously with oil before baking.
Amp up the appetizer portion of your Thanksgiving with these Caramelized Butternut Squash Crostini. I guarantee they will be a crowd pleaser!
Until Monday friends, Cheers – Thanksgiving crostini.
XOXO
Cheyanne
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How to make Caramelized Butternut Squash Crostini appetizers at home👇
Caramelized Butternut Squash Crostini
Ingredients
- Butternut Squash:
- 2 Cups Butternut Squash – peeled and cut into small cubes
- 2 TBS Unsalted Butter , melted
- 1 TBS Light Brown Sugar , packed
- Whipped Feta:
- 8 ounces Good Quality Feta Cheese – at room temperature, crumbled
- 3 ounces whipped cream cheese , at room temperature
- 1 TBS+ ½ tsp Lemon Juice , divided
- 1 TBS Heavy Cream
- Crostini:
- 1 Baguette – sliced thinly on the diagonal
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil , for brushing
- 3 ½ TBS Tahini
- 1 Clove Garlic – minced
- ½ tsp Honey
- 1 Shallot – thinly sliced
- Za’atar , to taste
- Fresh Parsley – roughly chopped (optional)
- Kosher Salt and Ground Black Pepper , to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up.
- Roast the squash: Place the butternut squash cubes on baking sheet and drizzle with butter and sugar. Season generously with salt and pepper. Toss all the ingredients together with your hands and spread out in a single layer. Transfer to the oven and roast, stopping to turn the squash a few times with a spatula, for 40-50 minutes or until the squash is tender beginning to caramelize.
- And toast the bread: On a separate baking sheet, arrange the baguette slices and brush generously with oil. During the last 10 minutes of butternut squash roasting, add the crostini to the oven. Bake baguette slices until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
- Meanwhile, prepare the whipped feta: Place the feta and cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until cheeses are mixed. Add in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/8 tsp pepper. Continue to process, scraping down the sides as necessary, until feta is whipped and creamy. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Prepare the tahini: In a small bowl combine the tahini, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, garlic, honey, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk until creamy and combined, adding a bit of water if a thinner consistency is desired.
- Assemble the crostini: Arrange the crostini on a serving platter. Spread with whipped feta and top with a spoonful or two of butternut squash and a few slices of shallots. Drizzle with tahini. Sprinkle with za’atar and parsley (if using). Serve and enjoy.
Notes
1. The whipped feta and tahini drizzle can be prepared a couple days in advance. Just keep them covered and stored in the refrigerator. 2. If you want to make this appetizer even easier where the prep is concerned, purchase the already diced butternut squash in the produce isle of your grocery store. 3. Since the bread portion of crostini is pretty essential, make sure you purchase high quality bread. Go for a fresh baguette from a local bakery, or the bakery section of your grocery store. Slice the bread about ½’’ thick, you don’t want it too thick OR too thin. And DO NOT skip brushing the bread with generously with oil before baking.
Nutrition
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Judith
I made a riff on these with za’atar and goat cheese. Thanks for the squash-piration!
https://aluminumfoiledkitchen.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/zaatar-butternut-squash-crostini/
Cheyanne Bany
Goat cheese sounds PERFECT! So glad I could provide inspiration!! Cheers!
Beeta @ Mon Petit Four
Oh man, these look INCREDIBLE! I love this big chunks of glorious butternut squash. And whipped feta? heck yes.
Cathy | whatshouldimakefor.com
cheese, bread and all the trimmings?! yes! what a great way to dive into Thanksgiving!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
I totally understand Boy’s crazy aversion to stuffing – because I share it too – besides with OH SO totally scrumptious appetizers like these lying around, I (for one) can guarantee that stuffing aversions would so NOT be conquered because it would be much more fun and satisfying to chomp on these! I’ve never had lemon flavored whipped feta before, but can see how amazing a bed it is for that sweet, perfectly roasted, Caramelized Butternut Squash!
Keri @ Fashionable Foods
Why is it so dang hard to find a small Turkey?! There should certainly be small Turkey’s available for us bloggers! Plus, Kyle kind of hates Turkey, so around here it would be just me trying to eat a 10 pounder. Definitely not happening! Anywayyyy, this butternut squash crostini looks FAB! That whipped feta is to-die-for and I need this in my life ASAP. Perfect holiday app if you ask me – heck, I wouldn’t even miss the turkey if I had this! Pinned!
Megan – The Emotional Baker
I never really have appetizers, but I should change things up and give this a try. I’m sure I’ll devour this crostini since I love cooking with butternut squash!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
Oh my gosh Cheyanne, i don’t think I’d need the turkey if I had these babies on Thanksgiving!
All That I’m Eating
This sounds amazing! I bet the squash and the feta work so well together.
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I love this idea! I love crostini and this is a fresh new way for a delicious appetizer! You sure do come up with the best ideas! Love it!!!!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
Dude! These flavors are awesome. Super creative. I love za’atar and I’m always looking for new ways to use it. And of course, I love crispy little toasts! Perfect for Thanksgiving. I can’t believe it’s only three weeks away. Yikes! I’m so unprepared. But I’m sure I’ll pull it all together in the end. Lol.
Kushi
One of the best and creative crostini recipe. Looks so beautiful and delicious!
annie@ciaochowbambina
Woman after my own heart! Crostini? Yes! Feta? Yes! Butternut Squash? Yes! Za’atar? All the yeses! I can taste it in my dreams!! Love this, my friend! Pinned!
Marissa
I happen to have Za’taar that I’ve been meaning to use, just bough tahini yesterday and we’ve been getting GOBS of butternut in our CSA…These look so good, Cheyanne! I get what you mean about a 10 pound turkey being a little silly for 2 people, but who needs it when you can be filling up on flavor bombs like this?
Stacey @ the sugar coated cottage
I feel you on the turkey size, they’re huge! I love these crostini’s. Who needs turkey when we have these ? Great combination of sweet and savory! Pinned. Take care.
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
Wow, this is such a great combination of some of my favorite ingredients! I’ve made whipped ricotta but have never tried whipped feta! This would be perfect for Thanksgiving.
Demeter | Beaming Baker
Oh my gosh. GURL. Your photos are killin’ it! Those first two shots just made my eyes bug out of my head (yes, it was VERY attractive). I MISSED you too! Was totally gonna send out search helicopters and have all kinds of skywriters make an announcement that I was lookin’ for my bestiest bestie. But you’re back, so everything is good now. <3 Since it's just you two for Thanksgiving, and just us two for Thanksgiving, we should have a HUGE meal over facetime with all of your goodies and some of my goodies. Can we include like 25 servings of this crostini? 😉 Sound good? Can't wait to see what other turkey day awesomeness you post! Mwah! xoxo
Medha
Feta is definitely my favorite cheese and I am such a huge fan of it in its whipped form- also loving the caramelized squash!
Ashley@CookNourishBliss
Okay first, I LOVE this crostini!! Just too many good things happening here! You should come make this for me on turkey day k?? 😉
haha oh man, I keep thinking about the huge turkeys – this year it’s just us and my in-laws and none of us are big turkey people (I mean, we like it and will make it because, thanksgiving, but let’s be honest it’s ALL about the sides!).
Stephanie | The Foodie and The Fix
Boy has an aversion to stuffing?? Say it ain’t so! I can’t even imagine going without stuffing on turkey day! It might even be my favorite part… These gorgeous apps sound amazing, Chey! I’m obsessed with Za’atar and am always looking for great new places to use it. All of the flavors here are beyond perfect and I think these might just be on my menu this year. For reals. So pinned, obviously. 😉 I could totally see making a whole meal out of these babies, sign me up! XO
Ben Maclain
We’ve missed you too, Chey! But you know what? I was going to make some butternut squash crostini too soon. I think I won’t be making it this fall – I don’t want you think I’m copy cating you. Well, my version wouldn’t be as fancy as yours anyways:) I do like you used tahini in here; that sounds great. But wait. Where’s bacon, Chey? Where’s bacon?
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
Dear Cheyanne – these crostini appetizers are gorgeous. Glad you skipped the bird. It’s overrated. It’s all about the delicious apps and the sides anyway. I love love love butternut squash and this recipe is so incredibly tempting!!! Forget the rest. I’ll take this delicious crostini AND a spoonful of homemade cranberry sauce. AND pumpkin pie. Yep. I want the pumpkin, even if you don’t! Ha ha. Love the tahini with the whipped feta. What a treat. You’ve got me thinking all holiday now. Which is good, I’m a procrastinator. Thanks for a great little app here and wish I could drop by to help you eat them up! Cheers to a great weekend my friend! XO
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
These are just fabulous! Love the caramelized squash and the whipped feta and well … pretty much everything about these 🙂
Kevin | Keviniscooking
You’ve got the flavor sensation thing happening with these beauties. Love that whipped feta and tahini drizzle. I am definitely one to shake it up on the expected (heck look at today’s post) and love your crostini appetizer. I could make a meal out of appetizers alone, so much fun and variety. 🙂
Gaila
Girl! sounds like something I should try! this is on my list! pinned! I don’t like Turkey that much either but somehow I end up roasting it every year!! so bring it on baby!
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
This sounds amazing…Yet another great idea for butternut squash. With an appetizer like this who needs turkey anyway..haha. Pinning this one 🙂
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen
I’m a vegetarian, so I’m all about the sides for Thanksgiving, Cheyanne – and I love this. Yum, yum, yum – whipped feta is the best and the roasted butternut squash is the perfect topper. Appetizer heaven is right! Love it!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
I love your walk on the wild side with this creative Thanksgiving appetizer, girlfriend! If you don’t want to mess with a whole turkey this year, feel free to come on over to our big fat crazy feast! We’ll have stuffing, but Boy doesn’t have to eat it. That leaves more for us, right?!?! 🙂
Kelly
The apps and sides are my favorite part about Thanksgiving so I would be all over this plate while everyone else can have their turkey! Love the caramelized butternut squash and whipped feta! Gimme gimme!! 🙂
Anu – My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
OMG!! I would have never thought of combining butternut squash with whipped feta. But this combo sounds like the best combination ever, Cheyanne. This looks like an innovative and pretty looking crostini. And za’atar takes it to the next level. SO YUM. Hope you had a great Halloween. Cheers. 🙂 <3
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
What an awesome combo of flavors in these delicious little crostini Chey! These would definitely be a hit as a Thanksgiving appetizer!
Bummer you can’t get a smaller turkey. I’ll probably be doing just a small turkey breast this year and a small side of stuffing. (Sorry Boy!) Can’t wait to see what other fabulous holiday recipes you’ll be sharing. Happy weekend!
Sues
I still can’t with the no stuffing. I just can’t. But I CAN with these. Like a million times over can. The colors, the flavors, everything. I could and would totally make a meal out of them. And a spoon would not be necessary for me to eat that whipped feta right out of the bowl!!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Butternut squash AND whipped feta together? Why have I never thought to put those 2 together? Although, I hardly every make whipped feta, as it never makes it in to the dish I have made it for – I jsut eat it all.
I love za-atar too!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice
I’ve never made my own turkey before, and I don’t plan on doing so unless I absolutely have to (or when my family stops hosting dinner haha). Until then, it will be all sides and apps for Thanksgiving on my site, too. And my husband doesn’t like stuffing either, SO CRAZY! But I do know that he would love this crostini, and so would I. Such a great idea to caramelize the squash! And that whipped feta…mmmm! Looks so good, Cheyanne! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food
OMG! I love the idea of whipped feta! You genius you! Unlike boy, I’m ALL about that dressing and I do adore turkey and, yes, hubby and I will cook (and have) a small turkey for both of us….mind you, we are eating it for countless meals and maaaaay end up freezing some, but still……..hehehe. You know that Canadian Thanksgiving is over. However, there’s no excuse not to make these delicious bites and dive right in. Plus, they would be awesome for Christmas, right? Wishing I had, like 10 of these in front of me right now!! Pinned, of course. Have a lovely, cozy weekend, Chey! xo
CakeSpy
OMG!! Whenever I see za’atar my taste buds perk up. This looks like such a creative and delicious use for it. I love the idea of squash and za’atar. And the cheese just brings it all together in flavor harmony!
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table
Oh no!!! I somehow remember from all the way last year that you told us about an awesome turkey recipe that you couldn’t post because you’d already had more than enough turkey and buying another big one for just the blog would be wasteful. Totally get it. But now I’ve been waiting a FULL year for that deliciousness! I’ve got a week of leftover turkey recipes planned soon, so you know, I think you should rethink this whole thing 😉
However, this delicious little app might make up for it! My parents are definitely traditional when it comes to the regular spread at Thanksgiving, so I get in all my fun experiments ahead of time. But appetizers – appetizers are always open for trying new things and I LOVE tahini and za’atar. I can’t wait to try these delicious crostini! Definitely a great way to kick off Thanksgiving!
Have a wonderful weekend! XO
Angie@Angie’s Recipes
Sensational! Butternut is my another favourite squash, besides hokkaido. I love that you have calamelized them and the pairing with feta is excellent..plus sexy golden Fall colour, Cheyanne.
Miriam – londonkitchendiaries.com
What a beautiful starter for a festive dinner! Very much like the addition of Za’atar & Tahini and the butternut squash is such a classic that works so nicely with what’s to follow! Thanks for sharing! Have a lovely weekend!
Summer
Enticing ♥ Nice photos too ♥