Bruschetta Board

How to make bruschetta with all of the bruschetta topping ideas and bruschetta combinations. Bruschetta is the perfect party appetizer and party food!

I am obsessed with making bruschetta boards for parties. There are so many bruschetta variations you can put together and they always look so impressive.

I have made so many charcuterie boards in the past, like this Meat and Cheese Charcuterie Board or my Italian Charcuterie Board and as much as I love them, sometimes it is easier to serve  a variety of bruschetta that are already put together so people can just grab and eat, instead of assembling.

What is bruschetta?

Bruschetta (pronounced broo-skeh-ta) is a classic Italian antipasto (like an appetizer, it’s the first course of the Italian meal). Made with toasted or grilled bread, it is topped with olive oil, garlic, and salt.

Since it is typically served chilled, it is the BEST in the summer! A bruschetta board can have many different toppings of cheeses, meats, fruits, and spices. No matter the toppings, bruschetta is the perfect snack, brunch, or appetizer.

Classic bruschetta ingredients

No bruschetta board is complete without a classic tomato bruschetta. The most popular topping is a salsa-like mixture of fresh and traditional Italian ingredients.

• Tomatoes: I opt for a dryer tomato, like a roma tomato, so that the bread doesn’t get too soggy. Fresh tomato really makes all the difference, so try to buy your tomato close to when you’ll be making the bruschetta.
• Extra-virgin olive oil: Regular olive oil will be fine too if you don’t have extra virgin. The oil gives the bruschetta a deeper flavor that ties together all of the ingredients.
• Fresh basil: Basil might be my favorite part! The flavorful herb brings an earthy and distinctly Italian taste to the mixture. I have found that the easiest way to chop basil is by layering leaves on top of one another, rolling them together into a tube-like shape, then slicing them so that they resemble thin ribbons.
• Salt: Salt brings out all the flavors of the other ingredients. It can also help dry out the tomatoes a little bit. It enhances the simple flavors of the bruschetta.

Some other toppings that I love are minced garlic mixed in with the tomato mixture, or a balsamic glaze sprinkled over the top of the bruschetta.

Bruschetta Topping Ideas:

Although the tomato and olive oil mixture is one of the most popular bruschetta toppings, it definitely isn’t the only one! Here are 16 other topping ideas to include in your bruschetta board.

1. Red tomato, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic glaze
2. Prosciutto, fig jam, mascarpone cheese
3. Sweet and spicy pepper jam, goat cheese or mascarpone, salami
4. Yellow heirloom tomato, fresh mozzarella or burrata cheese, basil, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic
5. Ricotta cheese or mascarpone, dates, pistachios, local honey
6. Salami, pesto, or Boursin cheese
7. Burrata cheese, crispy bacon, sliced heirloom tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil
8. Mascarpone cheese, fresh strawberries, lemon zest, local honey
9. Brie cheese, honey crisp apples, fig jam
10. Chopped tomato, extra-virgin olive oil, basil, sea salt
11. Salami, fresh mozzarella cheese, roasted red peppers
12. Ricotta cheese, dried apricots, prosciutto
13. Pesto, fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes
14. Blackberries, mascarpone cheese, local honey, lemon zest
15. Warm artichoke spread, salami
16. Piquillo pepper or roasted red peppers, goat cheese

Feel free to experiment with these combinations! My go to “formula” for bruschetta is bread, a cheese, and another topping of sort (fruit, vegetables, meat, nuts, herbs, glazes, or a mixture of those).

What type of bread should I use for bruschetta?

When making bruschetta, I suggest picking up a loaf of French baguette, French white sourdough loaf for larger pieces, or a soft French bread. If you are toasting the bread, you can use a French baguette since that usually has a crunchy, tougher exterior. If you aren’t toasting your bread, I suggest a softer white French sourdough loaf. You can cut the bruschetta into halves or thirds, if you use a larger piece of bread.

What is the difference between Crostini and Bruschetta?

You can also refer to bruschetta as crostini. Crostini is typically served with a crispier, crunchier bread and is usually toasted in the oven with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil or butter than bruschetta but can be topped with the same ingredients.

Types of Cheeses for Bruschetta:

• Fresh Mozzarella
  Burrata Cheese
  Ricotta Cheese
  Brie
  Goat Cheese
  Mascarpone Cheese
  Whipped Feta Cheese
  Boursin Cheese
• Cream Cheese
  Cheese Cubes
  Basil Pesto

Types of Meats, Vegetables, and Fruits for Bruschetta:

Good food is a must and a Bruschetta Bar and Charcuterie Board is your ticket to a successful party.

If you have ever been to Postino’s, they are known for their bruschetta boards. They offer unique flavor combinations that are way more than just tomato, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. I am including a list of toppings ideas for your bruschetta appetizer board and mouth watering flavor combinations.

There are so many different topping ideas for bruschetta and crostini. Here are some of my favorite breads, cheeses, meats, spreads, fruits, vegetables, and more.

French Baguettes, French sourdough loaf, or Soft French Bread, sliced 
Crackers (Butter Crackers, Sea Salt Waffle Crackers, or Wafer Crackers)

Vegetables:

Grape Tomatoes
Heirloom Tomatoes
Roasted Peppers
Fresh Basil

Meats:

Prosciutto
Salami
Bacon
Olives

Fruits:

Dates
Blackberries
Strawberries
Apples
Dried Apricots
Dried Cranberries

Nuts and Spreads:

Pistachios
Almonds
Honey
Fig Spread (Dalmatia)
Pepper Jam
Hot and Sweet Chili Jam 
Sweet and Spicy Pepper Jam

Related recipes

If you love hosting, boards are the prettiest and easiest way to entertain your guests! Check out these boards and platters for your next party.

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Bruschetta Board Combinations: 

Can use sliced French baguettes or crackers.

Fresh Mozzarella + Tomatoes + Basil + Extra Virgin Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar
Fig Jam + Prosciutto + Ricotta or Mascarpone Cheese
Ricotta + Dates + Pistachios
Blackberries + Mascarpone Cheese + Honey + Lemon Zest
Burrata + Sliced Heirloom Tomatoes + Bacon + Olive Oil
Pepper Jam + Goat or Mozzarella Cheese
Brie + Apples + Fig Jam
Roasted Red Peppers + Fresh Mozzarella Cheese + Salami
Mascarpone or Cream Cheese + Strawberries + Lemon Zest + Balsamic Glaze
Ricotta Cheese + Dried Apricots + Prosciutto
Pesto + Tomatoes + Fresh Mozzarella