This Make Your Own Bruschetta Bar guide will give you all the tips and tricks you need to make an impressive appetizer board that will be the star of your party! With tons of topping ideas, you can build your own bruschetta bar with endless combinations. It’s perfect for entertaining and parties!
Need a last minute idea for a Christmas appetizer this year??? Try this make your own bruschetta bar! It’s extremely easy to throw together and I promise it will be the gathering spot at your party!
The pictures you see here are for a basic bruschetta bar with very familiar ingredients. But you can make it as complicated or simple as you like. Either way, guests will love how they get to customize their own food, and you will love seeing them engaged the whole party long!
Why you’ll love this build your own bruschetta bar:
- There are so many options when it comes to a bruschetta bar, so just let your imagination run wild. I have included lots of topping ideas, but you can easily substitute ingredients to make it your own.
- Everyone can customize their food and eat exactly what they like! It’s perfect for picky eaters and just as fun for everyone else who wants to try a bit of everything.
- It’s really simple to make your own bruschetta bar look beautiful and inviting. Use my tips and you’re sure to succeed.
Ingredients and topping ideas:
The ingredients you will need for your bruschetta bar are completely up to you. The sky is the limit. Start with a basic sourdough and ciabatta baguette, as well as olive oil to brush the bread with. Then choose your toppings, cheeses, and wines.
TOPPINGS: Choose as many or as few as you’d like. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Traditional tomato basil bruschetta topping (one of my favs!)
- Roasted peppers
- Sun dried tomatoes or grape tomatoes
- Olives of all sorts
- Marinara sauce
- Pesto
- Fruit, such as green pears, fresh apples, or grapes
- Honey (honey with comb is especially fun)
- Marinated artichokes
- Bacon jam
- Pepper jelly
- Cold cuts, such as prosciutto, capocollo, or salame calabrese
- Caramelized onions
- Roasted mushrooms
- Fresh basil, thyme, or rosemary
- Balsamic vinegar
CHEESES: Aim for 2-3 cheese options and **allow about 3 ounces of cheese per person***
- Parmesan
- Fresh mozzarella (a must in my opinion)
- Fresh goat cheese (another must)
- Blue cheese
- Fresh ricotta cheese
- Brie
WINES (optional): The wines you choose will depend largely on the cheeses you choose. So, after choosing your cheese, research which wines will pair well.
How to make your own bruschetta bar:
STEP 1: Prepare ingredients, preparing as much ahead as possible.
Make all of your spreads, cut your cheeses and meats, and prep the toppings the day before. Leave the fresh fruit, bread, and anything else that won’t hold well overnight until the day of serving.
STEP 2: Create labels for each topping or spread so your guests will know what each one is.
STEP 3: Assemble the Build Your Own Bruschetta Board (I suggest setting everything up 30 minutes before your guests come so that the cheeses can come to room temperature).
Start with a cutting board, tray, or other surface. I like to put my spreads and some toppings in an assortment of bowls, then place those around the board. Then I take my other ingredients and place them directly on the board, filling in the gaps to make it look very full. Make sure to leave room for the last minute ingredients (see step 4).
STEP 4: Prep the last minute ingredients. This includes grilling or toasting your bread, cutting apples or other fruit, and warming the brie cheese (if using). Then add them to the board right before guests arrive.
Tips for making your own bruschetta board:
- Slice few pieces of each cheese and lay them beside the larger piece on the board.
- Include a few slices of bread on the tray, then place the rest in a bowl or basket next to the board. This makes it feel inviting.
- Keep things grouped together to create an Instagram worthy appetizer board!
- To make it slightly easier, ask your guests to bring a topping or spread to include on the board.
FAQs:
Two loaves of bread should serve 10-15 people. The amount of toppings you need depends entirely on which toppings and how many you choose. I would aim for about 3 ounces of cheese per person, then adjust the other ingredients based on how many you are serving and how many toppings you have.
Prep as much ahead as you can so that your event is as stress free as possible! Wrap each topping or spread in plastic wrap and store overnight in the fridge. The only things you should leave for the day-of are the bread, apples, and anything else that might brown or dry out overnight.
You can serve this during the holidays, for a baby or bridal shower, for a summer party, during the big game, or for a graduation celebration. There are endless possibilities for when to serve this!
Other appetizers for entertaining:
- How to Make a Vegetable Tray
- Make Your Own Cheese Board
- How to Make a Fruit Tray
- Honey Garlic Sausages
- Pepperoni Pizza Sliders
- Simple Blender Salsa
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Make Your Own Bruschetta Bar
Ingredients
Bread
- 1 ciabatta baguette
- 1 sourdough baguette
- Olive oil for brushing bread slices to grill or toast
Topping Ideas: Choose any toppings
- Traditional tomato basil bruschetta topping
- Prosciutto
- Capocollo
- Salame Calabrese
- Marinara sauce
- Pesto
- Sundried tomatoes
- Grape tomatoes sliced
- Caramelized onions
- Roasted mushrooms
- Olives of any kind
- Fruit: green pears, apples, grapes, etc.
- Honey (with comb is especially fun)
- Bacon jam
- Pepper jelly
- Balsamic vinegar
- Fresh basil, rosemary, or thyme
Cheeses: Choose any cheeses and serve 3 oz per person
- Fresh goat cheese rolled in freshly chopped herbs
- Fresh mozzarella
- Blue cheese
- Ricotta cheese
- Brie cheese
- Parmesan cheese
Wine
- Wine of choice (optional)
Instructions
Day Before Prep
- Make all of your spreads, cut your cheeses and meats, and prep the toppings the day before. Or you can buy your favorite toppings ready from the store. Leave the fresh fruit, bread, and anything else that won't hold well overnight until the day of serving.
- If desired, create labels for each topping or spread so your guests will know what each one is.
Assemble
- 30 minutes before guests arrive, assemble the bruschetta board. This gives the cheese time to come to room temperature and reach peak flavor.
- Start with a cutting board, tray, or other surface. I like to put my spreads and some toppings in an assortment of bowls, then place those around the board. Then I take my other ingredients and place them directly on the board, filling in the gaps to make it look very full. Make sure to leave room for the last minute ingredients.
Last Minute Ingredients
- Cutting apples or other fruit, warm the brie cheese (if using), and prep any other last minute items. Add them to the board.
- Grill your bread right before guests come so it will be fresh. Just slice your baguette on a slant so you create more "real estate" for the toppings 🙂 Brush each side with olive oil and place on a hot grill pan. Grill each side for 2-3 minutes or until dark golden marks appear. Use some of the bread slices to fill in the empty spaces in your bruschetta bar and place the rest in a dish to set beside.
Notes
- Don’t forget the serving utensils, plates, and napkins.
- Slice few pieces of each cheese and lay them beside the larger piece on the board.
- Include a few slices of bread on the tray, then place the rest in a bowl or basket next to the board. This makes it feel inviting.
- Keep things grouped together to create an Instagram worthy appetizer board!
- To make it slightly easier, ask your guests to bring a topping or spread to include on the board.
This is a wonderful idea! I love doing anything that involves spreads – especially cheese. I did a bagel bar last Friday which was super fun too.
I also post about recipes so I will definitely do a post on my attempt at this 🙂
Thank you so much! I love the idea of a bagel bar!! I would love to see pics if you make this!
These photos are absolutely stunning Malinda! And I could dig right into that board!
Thank you so much Julie!! It means a lot!!