I made these for the first time on a weeknight when I needed something to bring to a friend’s place and had about 20 minutes and half a wheel of brie in the fridge. They went over embarrassingly well for how little effort was involved. That’s the thing about brie — it’s doing most of the heavy lifting. You’re just helping it along.
A good toaster oven is genuinely perfect for crostini because it gives you that direct top-heat intensity without heating up your whole kitchen. The baguette crisps on the bottom, the brie goes all bubbly and soft in the middle, and the pear edges get just a little bit golden. All in one small tray. It’s the kind of thing that looks like you planned ahead.
The brown butter and garlic step sounds fussy but it takes maybe four minutes and it makes the base taste rich and savory instead of just buttery. I’d skip the browning if I was in a real hurry — regular melted butter is still great — but it’s worth it when you have the time. The honey at the end isn’t optional in my opinion. That sweet-salty contrast with the flaky salt is the whole point.
You’ll want a toaster oven baking sheet that fits your machine properly so the crostini have room to toast evenly without crowding. Depending on your tray size, you might do this in two batches — and that’s fine, the second batch will be just as good as the first.
Toaster Oven Crispy Brown Butter Roasted Garlic and Honey Brie Crostini with Sliced Pear and Walnuts
Toasty baguette slices get topped with melty brie, sweet roasted pear, crunchy walnuts, and a drizzle of honey — all done in under 25 minutes in your toaster oven.
Ingredients
Crostini
Instructions
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Preheat your toaster oven to 400°F on the bake setting. Line your toaster oven tray with foil for easier cleanup.
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Melt the butter in a small saucepan or in a microwave-safe bowl. If you have an extra minute, brown it: cook it over medium heat, swirling occasionally, until it smells nutty and turns golden. It makes a real difference. Let it cool for a minute, then add the garlic halves and let them sit in the warm butter for about 5 minutes. Fish the garlic out and discard it — you just want the flavor, not chunks of raw garlic on your toast.
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Lay the baguette slices out on the lined tray in a single layer. Brush each one generously with the garlic butter. Slide the tray into the toaster oven and toast for 5 to 6 minutes, until the edges are just starting to go golden. Pull them out.
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While the bread is toasting, toss the pear slices with the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Push the bread slices slightly together to make room (or do this in two batches if your tray is small). Lay the pear slices flat on one half of the tray in a single layer. Return the tray to the oven for another 4 to 5 minutes, until the pears are just softened and slightly caramelized at the edges.
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Pull the tray out again. Top each crostini with a slice of brie — don't skimp — then one or two pear slices, and a scatter of chopped walnuts. Sprinkle on the black pepper.
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Return to the toaster oven for 4 to 5 minutes, keeping an eye on things after the 3-minute mark. You want the brie fully melted and starting to bubble, and the walnuts lightly toasted. The brie moves fast once it gets going.
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Transfer to a plate or board. Drizzle honey over the top right away — it'll run into all the melty bits — then finish with flaky sea salt and the fresh thyme if you're using it. Eat them warm. They don't hold well, but honestly they never make it that far anyway.
Notes
Brie straight from the fridge takes longer to melt, so let it sit out for 10 minutes before you start. If your toaster oven runs hot, check at 3 minutes during the final bake — brie can go from perfectly melty to pooled on the tray pretty quickly. Swap the pear for a crisp apple if that's what you have. A thin smear of Dijon under the brie is not a bad idea at all. Walnuts can be swapped for pecans. This works just fine under a regular oven broiler too, though the timing will be shorter — watch it closely.
Nutrition
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Written by
Emma is a home cook who loves coaxing big flavor out of a toaster oven — from crispy roasted vegetables to easy weeknight dinners and sweet treats. She develops and tests Toastera's recipes for small-appliance kitchens.
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