Marri Honey, Comté and Toasted Almond Crostini

Some of the best things to serve with drinks are also the simplest.

A crisp piece of bread, a slice of good cheese and a thoughtful finishing touch are often all that is needed.

Comté is a firm cow’s milk cheese from the Jura region of France.

Aged for several months or longer, it develops a savoury, nutty flavour with subtle notes that can range from butter and toasted hazelnuts to caramel and fruit. Its smooth texture softens beautifully when warmed, making it especially good for crostini. Gruyère or Manchego also works well if Comté is unavailable.

These crostini bring together the nutty character of aged cheese, the crunch of toasted almonds and the rounded sweetness of Marri Honey. They feel special enough for entertaining, but are wonderfully easy to make when a quiet cheese night at home sounds better than cooking a full meal.

Marri Honey, Comté and Toasted Almond Crostini

Makes: 8–10 crostini
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 8–10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 small baguette

• 120g Comté, Gruyère or Manchego

• Marri Honey

• 2 tablespoons toasted almonds, roughly chopped

• Freshly ground black pepper

• A little olive oil

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

2. Slice the baguette and arrange the pieces on a baking tray.

3. Brush each slice lightly with olive oil, then toast until crisp and golden.

4. Add a thin slice of Comté or your chosen hard cheese to each crostini.

5. Return them to the oven briefly, just until the cheese begins to soften.

6. Add a small drizzle of Marri Honey.

7. Finish with toasted almonds and freshly ground black pepper. Serve while warm.

Why Marri Works with Aged Cheese

Comté, Gruyère and Manchego all have salty, savoury flavours that become nuttier as they mature.

Marri Honey has enough fullness to stand beside these stronger flavours, adding a smooth, rounded sweetness without making the bite feel overly sweet.

The toasted almonds echo the roasted notes in the cheese, while black pepper provides a gentle contrast and keeps the pairing firmly on the savoury side.

Serve these crostini on their own with drinks or add them to a board alongside baked Brie with Southern Yate Honey and Jarrah, Gorgonzola and pear bites.

Our honey and cheese pairing guide has more ideas for matching honey with soft, hard and blue cheeses. You can also taste all three suggested varietals with the Honey For Cheese Pairing Flight, available in our Cheese & Entertaining collection.