If you’ve come from our French onion soup recipe, you’re probably wondering what to do with the other half of your baguette. Well, you’ve come to the right place, because this is the definitive use for half a baguette. Or a whole baguette, if you can’t resist having double the slices! Let’s dive into our decadent Gruyere-stuffed baguette slices recipe!
Inspired by harvest season in Paris, this recipe uses only a few ingredients and is simple to make, but is decadent. Using dried dates, a quick dressing, shredded Gruyere and Swiss cheeses, and half a baguette sliced into 8 pieces, this appetizer is my go-to for when I need something quick but impressive!
Step 1: Gather ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Our star ingredients are freshly shredded Gruyere and Swiss cheese, half a sliced baguette, and diced dates. Simple enough! And the dressing is simple as well, consisting of equal parts balsamic reduction and olive oil, as well as a teaspoon of Italian seasoning. The dressing is versatile, tasting great on salads, sandwiches, and on our focaccia!
Because the dressing is central to the flavor, your choice of olive oil matters. If you’re wondering how to choose a bottle, see our olive oil guide.
Step 2: Assemble the baguette slices
On a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper or a silicone liner, space the baguette slices out so that they are not touching. Using a basting brush, brush the balsamic dressing over the baguette slices. Cover the top of the baguette slices in diced dates, and then top with as much shredded cheese as the slices will handle! Don’t worry about the shreds that fall onto the pan. We’ll come back for those later! Decadent Gruyere-stuffed baguette slices come together really quickly, making them the perfect appetizer for your next party!
Step 3: Bake
Bake your decadent Gruyere-stuffed baguettes slices at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 7 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Don’t let them bake for too long, or the bread will be too crunchy to eat easily!
Step 4: Serve!
There are as many ways to plate these as there are creative cooks like you! Our favorite way is to line the toasts up on a rectangular serving tray. Then, the cheese that fell onto the baking sheet and got crunchy in the oven? We crumble that over top of the cheeses to create a contrasting texture to the soft dates and gooey cheese! We finish it off by drizzling some of the sweet balsamic reduction over the top of the toasts in an aesthetically-pleasing way. Et voila, you have an appetizer in just 15 minutes!
Did you give this recipe a try? Let us know how it went in the comments! Do you need to make this recipe later? Click the button in the recipe card to pin this recipe to your boards in Pinterest so you never lose it!
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Decadent Gruyere-stuffed baguette slices
Equipment
- 1 cookie sheet
- 1 silicone cookie sheet liner or parchment paper
- 1 basting brush
Ingredients
- ½ baguette slices
- 6 dates diced
- ½ cup Gruyere & Swiss shredded
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic reduction
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange the baguette slices on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.½ baguette
- Mix olive oil, balsamic reduction, Italian seasoning, and salt (if using) in a small cup. Using a basting brush, brush the mixture over the baguette slices.2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic reduction, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt
- Top the baguette slices with diced dates, and then top with Gruyere and Swiss. Don't worry about shreds that fall off onto the baking sheet, they'll be a crunchy topping later!6 dates, ½ cup Gruyere & Swiss
- Bake for 7 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and arrange on a serving tray. Crumble the crunchy cheese over top of the slices, and drizzle some extra balsamic reduction over top!
