Smoked Salmon Appetizer Crostini with Cream Cheese

This easy Smoked Salmon Appetizer Crostini with Cream Cheese is a must-have for brunch, parties, and celebrations! Layered with a bright and herby cream cheese spread, smoked salmon, and shallots, these cute canapés will be loved by everyone.

A classic brunch wrapped up in one delicious canapé

If you’re looking for a buttery, creamy appetizer that’s packed with fresh flavors, look no further than this recipe! It’s a simple, yet elegant canapé that’s perfect for special events, baby showers, brunch parties, and more!

This crostini appetizer is creamy and herbaceous, just like my Smoked Salmon Dip, but captures everything you love about bagels and lox for brunch in one tiny bite. Each crostini is layered with an herby, lemony cream cheese spread, cold smoked salmon, and topped with shallots. Assemble them in a few minutes, then serve and enjoy!

Cold smoked salmon vs hot smoked salmon

There are 2 kinds of smoked salmon to choose from: hot smoked salmon and cold smoked salmon. The right choice is cold smoked salmon!

Cold smoked salmon is usually cured before smoking and never smoked above 80ºF. This process results in light and delicate pieces of fish that taste buttery. It’s the perfect pairing to cream cheese!

You don’t want to use hot smoked salmon because of its overpowering flavors. It’s usually smoked at 140ºF, which gives it a flaky texture and smoky flavor. Hot smoked salmon is better off being used as a topping on grain bowls, salads, or with your eggs.

Smoked salmon crostini ingredients

This smoked salmon cream cheese appetizer is made with 6 easy to find ingredients. Even though they’re simple, the combination transforms into well-balanced bites! This is what you need:

Cold smoked salmon

Cold smoked salmon is light, soft, and delicate and pairs perfectly with cream cheese and bread. Packaged cold smoked is usually available in the seafood or deli section at most major grocery stores. For the very best salmon, head to your local deli that specializes in bagels and lox. 

Cream cheese

Before mixing your herby cream cheese spread, set the cream cheese out on the counter so it can soften. There’s nothing worse than trying to mix hard cream cheese with fresh herbs!

Hefty and rich cream cheese gives this appetizer some real ‘umph’. If you’re eyeing the whipped cream cheeses, step away! Whipped version is light and airy, which just doesn’t have the same impact as the regular stuff.

Dill

I strongly recommend using fresh dill! The fresh flavors (compared to dry dill) can really take this appetizer from good to great.

Lemon juice and zest

The lemon gives the cream cheese spread and crostini bite some nice brightness. Depending on how many people you’re serving, you’ll likely need 1 to 2 lemons.

Salt and pepper

To help balance the flavors in the cream cheese mixture.

Crostini

Tiny toasted baguette slices act as the plate for our creamy spread and smoked salmon. Crostini is easy to make at home using a baguette and olive oil. Toast ‘em up, store them a week ahead of time, then enjoy whenever you need an easy appetizer!

How to make smoked salmon appetizer crostini

These easy canapés are so easy to make without needing any fancy tools. They’re ready to eat in 4 simple steps:

Tips and tricks

Use these tips to make the best smoked salmon appetizers for the party:

Make them extra fancy!

For an extra special presentation, add the cream cheese to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Layer the salmon on the crostini first, then pipe the herby mixture on top. Garnish with sliced shallots, dill, lemon zest, or capers and enjoy!

Make ahead tips

There are a few ways you can prepare the elements of this appetizer ahead of time so you don't get stuck in the kitchen during the party:

• Crostini - Bake and store the crostini in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week ahead of serving.

• Cream cheese spread - Mix everything together and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

• Assembling the smoked salmon appetizers - Don’t assemble the appetizers until 1 hour before the party. Store them on a plate lined with a lightly damp paper towel and cover with plastic wrap. This way, the crostini stays nice and crisp.

Recipe