This Cream Cheese Strawberry Bruschetta Spread with Balsamic Reduction is a super easy appetizer that presents beautifully leaving a lasting impression on your taste buds and your eyes!
It’s 2 days post 4th of July and my heart is still filled with pride living in this great nation. We had one of the best celebrations this 4th with our kids and great friends. We joined old childhood friends of mine from middle school that I have stayed close with all these years later. We have so many memories of cheering on the high school football cheerleading squad together, competing in cheer tournaments as an undefeated squad, dating, parties, weddings, baby showers and now raising children and balancing family and careers. We’ve been there for it all. It’s pretty special to have friends that have seen it all and been there to experience it with you. Our children played together this 4th and had a blast swimming, having water balloon fights, doing fireworks, barbecuing, even celebrating a birthday. There weren’t even any catastrophes between the kids, as many as there were! …ok maybe one near miss, like when my 2-year old decided she would eat the popper snappers AND the wood shavings instead of throwing them to the ground!!! That was a little scary, I’m not gonna lie. (insert horrified emoji) When the heat became too much for the kids to handle they dipped back in the pool and watched the dads shoot huge fireworks over the lake. It was pretty perfect. Nothing beats this nation we live in and the freedom it provides for us. I’m so grateful for my many blessings of being an American, having a large family, freedom to practice my religion, receive an education and have a career. We are such a blessed nation! Really. “Whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”
This beautiful appetizer is made up of softened cream cheese with sliced strawberries and basil sprinkled on top. The dark balsamic reduction adds a rich, tangy sweetness that is undeniably addicting. By adding a little drizzle of balsamic reduction the dish becomes more elegant. Believe it or not, a balsamic reduction is super easy to make! Just 2 ingredients and a little time to condense is all you need. Ready to try!? You can do it!
Ingredients
- 10 strawberries, sliced or chopped
- 1/4 C fresh basil, chopped
- 1 8-oz bar cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 C balsamic vinegar
- 2 T sugar
- 1 box Triscuits (original) or GF cracker
Instructions
- Pour balsamic vinegar and sugar into saucepan. Stir to combine over medium heat. Bring to a boil and casually watch it. When balsamic glaze has reduced by half (about 20 minutes), remove pot from burner and let cool.
- Place strawberries and basil on top of softened cream cheese. Drizzle balsamic reduction on top leaving additional glaze in small bowl for additional dipping.
Notes
**You can store your balsamic glaze in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. Make your reduction ahead of time for even faster preparation of this appetizer!
