Butternut Squash Crostini Appetizer with Crispy Sage

This Butternut Squash Appetizer is a standout appetizer for the holiday season!

Made with creamy goat cheese, flavourful butternut squash and crispy sage

Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas or a gathering in between, it’s a stunning appetizer for this time of year!

If you loved my viral goat cheese & fig jam appetizer, you’re sure to love this butternut squash crostini.

Butternut squash is sauteed with butter, maple syrup and cinnamon and then layered on softened goat cheese; it’s truly divine! Topped with walnuts and crispy sage for crunch, it’s balances wonderfully with the sweetness of the squash. It’s a great Thanksgiving appetizer or to enjoy for any Fall or Winter get-together.

Why you’ll love this butternut squash crostini

• It’s so simple to make so it’s perfect for any gathering!
• Instead of roasted butternut squash, the squash is sauteed which takes much less time.
• It uses all seasonal ingredients which are easy to find at the grocery store.

Ingredients needed to make this appetizer

Butternut squash: small cubes of butternut squash are the base flavour and cooked until fork tender.

Butter: melted butter is the base for the topping for this appetizer as the sage and walnuts are sauteed in it to start.

Maple syrup: helps give the butternut squash the most delightful flavour.

Balsamic vinegar: the balsamic vinegar helps cut the sweetness of the butternut squash, bringing together the sweet and savory flavours and almost creating a balsamic glaze when mixed with the maple syrup.

Seasonings: salt, pepper and cinnamon flavour the butternut squash as it cooks.

Goat cheese: soften goat cheese at room temperature so it’s spreadable; it’s the base for this holiday appetizer

Sage: fresh sage leaves are crisped up in melted butter for the tastiest topping!

Walnuts: chopped walnuts add the perfect crunch; if you have allergies however see below for substitutions.

Step by step process to make this perfect butternut squash appetizer

Step 1: Make the crostini: Preheat the oven to 400°Fahrenheit. Use a bread knife to slice a baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Brush the sliced baguette with olive oil on one side and place in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 minutes until toasted. Set aside.

Step 2: Make the butternut squash: To a small frying pan melt butter over medium heat. Once the butter melts and starts to bubble/sizzle, add the walnuts and sage leaves. Cook for a few minutes until the sage is crispy. Set the walnuts and sage aside on a paper towel lined plate and season with a pinch or two of salt.  Leave any butter that’s left in the frying pan – use this for the butternut squash.

Step 3: To the same pan, add the cubed butternut squash and season with salt, pepper and cinnamon. Saute on medium heat for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until the butternut squash is fork tender. Once fork tender, add in the maple syrup and balsamic vinegar and cook for another minute. Remove the butternut squash from the heat and let cool slightly.

Step 4: To assemble the appetizer, spread the softened goat cheese on a low plate and then top with the butternut squash mixture, chopped walnuts and crispy sage. Enjoy with crostini (or crackers if desired).

Expert tips for making this butternut squash appetizer

• I recommend using fresh sage leaves rather than dried sage for this appetizer; the fresh sage is a must to crisp up in the pan with the walnuts.
• Don’t forget the pinch of salt on the crispy sage and walnuts! It adds the best savory note when paired with the sweet squash.
• With the goat cheese at room temperature, it will be very spreadable. However, if you prefer you can whip the goat cheese in a food processor to make it super smooth and creamy too.
• If serving this at a dinner party, make the butternut squash ahead of time, about an hour before serving and it can rest at room temperature before assembling with the softened goat cheese.
• If you don’t have maple syrup, you can substitute with honey.

FAQ

What if I don’t like goat cheese?
You could try softened cream cheese or whipped ricotta cheese in place of goat cheese.

Are there any substitutes for the walnuts?
Pecans or almonds are a tasty substitute for the walnuts. If you can’t use nuts, you could try using pumpkin seeds or just omit the walnuts altogether.

Can I make this recipe dairy free?
Try making this with a dairy free cheese of choice that’s similar in texture to a goat cheese.

What about making this gluten free?
Try using your favourite gluten-free bread; there’s some delicious gluten-free baguettes at local stores!

Storage

I recommend you enjoy this great appetizer the day it’s made. If there are leftovers, you can store in the fridge for up to two days.

More appetizer recipes to love from the blog:

Easy Pear & Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizer with Honey

Garlic & Herb Cheese Holiday Appetizer

Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer with Fig Jam & Pecans