Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini

If you are looking for the best game day appetizer, look no further!  This Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini is the ultimate flavor combination.  Anytime I make this amazing appetizer, people are always asking for the recipe. What makes this recipe so delicious is the homemade cranberry bacon jam.  Don’t let this recipe scare you!  With a little preparation, you can put this recipe together pretty easily.

Recipe Ingredient Notes

To make cranberry bacon jam crostini, you will need the following ingredients:

Jam Ingredients

• Bacon
• Onion
• Salt
• Brown Sugar
• Red Wine Vinegar
• Cranberry Juice
• Dried Cranberries
• Salt and Pepper

Crostini

• Fresh parsley
• Baguette
• Smoked Cheddar Cheese

Equipment Needed

For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:

• Sheet Pan (Quarter)
• Skillet
• Aluminum Foil
• Chef Knife
• Spoon (Wooden)

How To Make Cranberry Bacon Jam Crostini

Jam Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400℉.
2. Cover a half baking sheet in foil and lay bacon in a single layer in the pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until crispy.
3. Remove bacon from the oven and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease. Use another paper towel to blot the top of the bacon to absorb grease.
4. Coarsely chop or crumble cooked bacon; set aside.
5. Heat 2 tablespoons of bacon fat from the baking sheet to a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cooked for 5-10 minutes, or until it begins turning golden brown.
6. Add salt, brown sugar and red wine vinegar and stir until combined.
7. Add cooked bacon, cranberry juice, dried cranberries and season with salt and pepper, as desired.
8. Stir and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the jam thickens and turns brown in color. Store jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Crostini Instructions

1. Preheat oven to high broil.
2. Place baguette slices in an even layer on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Top with sliced cheese and a tablespoon of cranberry bacon jam.
4. Place baking sheet in the oven and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
5. Serve warm.

Recipe Modifications

If you are short on time, you could use some precooked bacon from the store. It won’t be as good.  This recipe calls for using bacon grease to cook the onions, which adds extra flavor.

The Cranberry Bacon Jam can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days before being used.

Enjoy More Delicious Hot Appetizers

Whether meatballs, chicken wings, nachos, or quesadillas, there’s nothing to start out a party better than an appetizer.  Browse our comprehensive list of hot appetizer recipes.

• Baked Avocado Egg Rolls 
• Baked Crab Rangoon
• Baked Mozzarella Cheese Sticks 
• Baked Southwest Egg Rolls 
• Cheesy Garlic Texas Toast
• Classic Pigs in a Blanket 
• Cream Cheese Wontons
• Halloween Mummy Dogs
• Ham and Cheese Crescents
• Holiday Cheeseball Bites
• Parmesan Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms 
• Slow Cooker Mushrooms