• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Marisa Moore Nutrition
  • Home
  • About
  • Work With Me
    • Speaking
      • Worksite Wellness
    • Spokesperson
    • Writing
    • Consulting
      • Business
      • Consumer
    • Students and Interns
    • Disclosures
  • Media
    • Recent Media
    • Media Archives
  • Blog
    • Monday Morsels
    • All Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Beverage Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Entrees
    • Sandwiches
  • Books
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Recipes / Pear Crostini with Honey Hazelnut Goat Cheese

Pear Crostini with Honey Hazelnut Goat Cheese

December 2, 2016 by Marisa Moore

319 shares
Pear Crostini with Honey Hazelnut Goat Cheese

Need a healthy holiday appetizer? This sweet and savory Pear Crostini with Honey Hazelnut Goat Cheese is an easy yet elegant appetizer that’s perfect for a party or brunch!

pear-goat-cheese-crostini

Happy December!

If you’re like me, you can’t believe we are in the middle of the holidays and the end of the year is almost here. I’m working to finish the year strong, prepare for a busy first quarter of 2017 and importantly spend quality time with my family and friends. Of course, this all involves food!

One of my favorite things about the holidays is the variety of appetizers and mini desserts that pop up. From parties to brunch, there are so many little bites to try – some more indulgent than others. To balance out the cookies and other treats, I like to add something a bit healthier to the table. This pear crostini does the trick!

Add this easy Pear Crostini w/ Honey Hazelnut Goat Cheese to your holiday spread! Click to Tweet

Many people worry about weight gain during this time of the year. I don’t.

Chances are you’ll put on an extra 1-2 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day – not the 10-pound rumor floating around the internet. In fact, you can enjoy everything about the holidays without gaining a pound.

Healthy Holiday Appetizer Pear Crostini

Create a healthier holiday spread

Here’s my 3 part formula for creating a healthier holiday spread:

1 – Work with what’s in season. Seasonal fruits and vegetables deliver the best flavor and nutrition during these cooler months. Apples often steal the spotlight this time of year but there are other options. 

Pears are sweet, fragrant and juicy this time of year. I used Comice pears, which deliver true pear flavor with a crisp texture. Pears pair well with sharp cheddar cheese and work in a variety of dishes from salads to pear crisps and crumbles.

 

2 – Keep it colorful. Greens, beets, vibrant winter squash, pomegranates, grapes, cranberries, and other fruits add a punch of color and festivity to the simplest recipes. When working with a blank canvas (hello there pale pear crostini!), add fresh herbs like tarragon, rosemary or thyme to play up the color.

 

3 – Indulge a little. There’s no reason to avoid the foods you love. Just eat a little less. Find a few good swaps. In this recipe, I used goat cheese. Goat cheese is creamy, flavorful and decadent but lower in calories than many spreads. It’s the perfect complement to sweet, fresh fruit.

Bread is off-limits to some but not me. These little toasts get a pass. Try a whole-grain baguette and slice it as slim as you’d like!

 

BONUS: Be flexible and have fun. Add a drizzle of honey, caramel or a balsamic glaze to make your dish come alive and nurture your inner artist in the process.

 

pear-goat-cheese-hazlenut-crostini

These last few weeks of the year can also be a stressful time for some. If you need to put together a quick, better for you appetizer, that’s another reason to try this recipe. It takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish.

What are your quick and healthy holiday recipes? I’d love to hear about them in the comments or over on Instagram.

Cheers to a healthy and happy holiday!
Follow Me on Pinterest!

Healthy Holiday Appetizer - Pear Goat Cheese Crostini
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Pear Crostini with Honey Hazelnut Goat Cheese

This sweet and savory pear crostini makes an easy yet elegant appetizer for your holiday party!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time15 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: healthy appetizer
Servings: 16
Calories: 107kcal
Author: Marisa Moore, RDN

Ingredients

  • 2 medium pears, thinly sliced (I used Comice)

Crostini

  • 1 small baguette, sliced into about 16 slices
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Goat Cheese Spread

  • 4 oz. goat cheese at room temperature
  • ¼ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts plus more for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon honey plus more for garnish
  • 2 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon plus more for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Brush each side with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake 7- 10 minutes, until lightly toasted. Remove and let cool.
  • In a small bowl, stir softened goat cheese, honey, hazelnuts and tarragon just until blended.
  • Spread the goat cheese mixture evenly onto the crostini. Top with pear slices.
  • Arrange the crostini on a serving platter. Drizzle lightly with honey then sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts and tarragon. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcal

 

Pin this recipe for later.

Pear Crostini with Honey Hazelnut Goat Cheese

319 shares

Filed Under: Appetizers, Blog, Recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kaleigh @ Lively Table

    December 03, 2016 at 10:44 am

    All of my favorite things in one! I’m definitely making these beauties!

    Reply
  2. Renee | The Good Hearted Woman

    November 21, 2018 at 2:06 pm

    5 stars
    Such a great app – easy to make, tasty, and indulgent but not dangerous. Pears & goats cheese make such a delicious pairing, too.

    Reply
    • Marisa

      November 21, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      All true! I’m in love with the flavor combo!

      Reply
  3. Jamielyn

    November 21, 2018 at 2:14 pm

    5 stars
    These look DELICIOUS! The perfect holiday appetizer!

    Reply
    • Marisa

      November 21, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Yes. It comes together in no time!

      Reply
  4. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

    November 21, 2018 at 2:16 pm

    5 stars
    I agree with all your tips on how to keep the extra pounds from attaching to my midsection — but with crostini like this– and a glass of wine, it’s easy to see how my will power will wane…

    Reply
    • Marisa

      November 21, 2018 at 3:30 pm

      Yes. These definitely make for some nice noshing with a glass of wine!

      Reply
  5. Chichi uguru

    November 21, 2018 at 2:26 pm

    5 stars
    This is an intersection combination of flavors I would love to try.

    Reply
    • Marisa

      November 21, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      I hope you get to try it out. It’s a nice flavor combo!

      Reply
  6. Adriana Lopez Martin

    November 21, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    5 stars
    Wow, this is perfect; I enjoy pears and goat cheese as a pairing. This appetizer is a perfect little bite for a party or to enjoy as a snack.

    Reply
    • Marisa

      November 21, 2018 at 3:30 pm

      Thanks! They’ve been a hit as a party appetizer!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Marisa Moore

Hi! I'm Marisa, a registered dietitian nutritionist living in Atlanta, GA. I use this blog to share (mostly) vegetarian recipes, credible nutrition information and a peek into my Southern roots and travels!
Read More >

Popular Now!

Healthy-ish Pear Oatmeal Muffins

Moon Milk

Fresh Peach & Pecan Baked Oatmeal

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Cookies

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Marisa Moore, MBA.RDN.LD. | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist | Food and Nutrition Consultant | Speaker | Writer | Spokesperson

Copyright 2019 · Marisa Moore Nutrition · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy