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An easy tomato bruschetta loaded fresh basil, toasted garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top of a crispy crostini schmeared with creamy goat cheese — I make it often, especially during the summer, but equally as delicious during the winter!

Don’t you love a vibrant, eye catching, flavor-FULL appetizer? The mix of nutty balsamic with fresh sweet tomatoes, warmed with a garlic infused oil oil brings out the best flavors in this easy cherry tomato bruschetta!

If you love recipes that use tomatoes, you might love these from: Fresh Roasted Veggie Pasta, Best Italian Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes or these easy The Best Homemade Sloppy Joe’s.

Pinterest image of white bowl with grape tomato bruschetta with leaves of basil, and french bread baguette slices

Kapow! Wow! Amazing! That’s what your mouth will say when you bite into this scrumptious appetizer. It’s fresh and bright, and you will be asked for the recipe every time.

grape tomatoes in red, yellow and orange in a carton on a cutting board with a bowl of cut up tomatoes behind and a french baguette.

How to make your own crostini

Buy a couple of fresh baguettes and slice them about ¼ inch thick, 1 – 1½ baguettes is usually the right amount, it never seems like there is enough bread.
Or you can cheat and use the slicer in the bakery section of your grocery store; it slices the baguette super neat, nice and even.
Lay out sliced crostini’s on a 1/2 sheet baking pan, and using a basting brush, “paint” the olive oil over the top of the bread slices then sprinkle with a little sea salt.
Broil on the middle rack, watch closely so you don’t burn them, set the timer initially for 2 minutes, then every one minute until they are done to your liking.
Good thing my hubby likes them a little crisper. Toast until lightly brown crispy, not like the first dark batch on the left, but more like the lighter on the right.

Plate full of toasted crostini slices (sliced french baguette)

Key Ingredients & Substitution Tips

This is one easy and simple recipe, but there are a few tips for substitutions if you need them.

FRESH CHERRY OR GRAPE TOMATOES | Personally I like using gold and red, the contrast in colors is fabulous! Cherry or grape tomatoes work great in this bruschetta!
FRESH GARLIC | In this recipe, fresh is best, but in a pinch, use jarred or frozen garlic as well, but please be careful when tossing into the hot oil.
OLIVE OIL | I like using a high quality extra virgin olive oil, you don’t want an overly strong flavor coming through, just enough to enhance the garlic.
BALSAMIC VINEGAR | I use dark balsamic in this dish typically, but you could also use white balsamic and even red wine vinegar as a substitute.
CROSTINI | Either make your own (recipe included in recipe card) or purchase store bought crostini’s which is a fancy name for baguette slices toasted with a little olive oil.
FRESH BASIL | While not necessary, the bright pops of color, along with the lovely flavor that fresh basil imparts is amazing!
GOAT CHEESE | This I believe, makes the appetizer, a little log of plain goat cheese for people to schmear onto the crostini is sublime!

How to make bruschetta

How to make tomato basil bruschetta, these ingredients scream fresh and flavorful!

Cut tomatoes into quarters and place into bowl. Aren’t they beautiful, so full of color, even in the middle of winter.

Sliced grape tomatoes on cutting board with knife.

In a small pan, heat olive oil on medium, then carefully place minced garlic into the hot oil.
Stirring or swirling constantly, it will burn quickly, so watch closely. How I love my cast iron pans!

minced garlic simmering and toasting in a cast iron pan with wooden spoon.

Just as a few pieces start turning brown, just a minute or so, remove from heat.

toasted garlic in olive oil in cast iron pan with toasted crostini in background.

Let cool slightly and then pour (still warm, not hot) over tomatoes

Pouring toasted garlic and olive oil over fresh sliced grape tomatoes in glass bowl

Pour in a couple glugs of balsamic vinegar.

Pouring balsamic vinegar over garlic and tomato mixture

What does Chiffonade mean?

Chiffonade is a fancy word for roll up and thinly slice, first stack 3-4 basil leaves on top of one another.
Roll into a little cocoon, then using a sharp knife slice into small shreds.

basil leaves stacked on cutting board, hand holding ends. — ..then you roll them into a little cocoon and slice little “shreds”.

Rolled stack of basil leaves thinly sliced with knife in background. — Mix into the tomato mixture gently and viola, you have an amazing appetizer.

Be sure to take a taste and if needed, add a little more sea salt, but taste before adding too much.

Mix together and allow to sit on the counter (or fridge if not serving for awhile) allowing the flavors to marry.

How to serve Cherry Tomato Bruschetta

Serve with crispy crostini slices and a small log of goat cheese (let sit at room temp while you make your bruschetta).

Schmear some of that creamy goat cheese onto the crostini and then spoon on a healthy spoonful of tomato bruschetta with juices on top.

hand holding crostini smeared with goat cheese and topped with bruschetta mixture.

You can also purchase the slightly firmer goat cheese crumbles and mix them directly into the bruschetta mixture. Excuse me while I go eat some! Manga!

Other ways to use bruschetta

Try spooning this mixture on top of grilled chicken, or over a hot bowl of pasta. YUM!

Recipe inspired by The Pioneer Woman’s Bruschetta.

More great appetizer recipes:

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About Kathleen Pope

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.

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