Blackberry, Brie, & Basil Toast

While there are few things I like more than bread and butter, I can’t complain about the decked out toast recipes that are making their way to restaurant menus, Pinterest boards, and the pages of my favorite food magazines recently. Even the most complicated toast recipes are still just that – toast. Whether you are smearing your toast with avocado, soft cheeses, or chutney, the odds are it will be easy to make and easier to eat. That’s my kind of recipe.

This blackberry, brie, and basil toast was inspired by an appetizer I enjoyed at a wedding a few years ago. One of the appetizers served during cocktail hour was crostini topped with brie, a fresh blackberry, a basil leaf, and a drizzle of honey. The flavor combination is one I will never, ever forget (obviously, since I’m writing about it years later). I enjoyed more of those little bites than I would care to admit and to this day it’s one my favorite quick appetizer recipes.

When the Test Kitchen was working on toast recipes, I told them about this delectable delight and they decided to make our own version for the blog.

First, toast a few thick slices of whole grain bread (honey wheat or semolina would be delicious as well) in your Hamilton Beach® toaster. Spread a mixture of  blackberry jam and balsamic vinegar on top, then layer with thick slices of brie and a few fresh blackberries. Drizzle each slice of toast with a little honey and sprinkle fresh basil on top.

This toast is best in the spring and summer months when blackberries are seasonal and plump, but you could enjoy it any time of year by omitting the fresh blackberries and using extra jam. The tangy balsamic vinegar and the tart, juicy blackberries are the perfect match for the creamy brie. This toast is delicious any time of day and after you try it, you’ll find yourself making it over and over for both family and friends. It’s the toastess with the mostess.

The Hamilton Beach® Keep Warm 2 Slice Toaster was built with an optional keep warm setting, this toaster beeps when ready, then keeps your toast warm for an extra 3 minutes without over-toasting.