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Don't wait for a special occasion to make these little guys. They're only slightly fussy, but really beautiful, and you're totally worth it.
These crostini count on the lovely, mild, salty Kite Hill ricotta for the base. You'll season that with molasses and maple syrup for an earthy sweetness. (A double batch will yield enough for the crostini and plenty left over to use as filling for cinnamon rolls. Just sayin'.) The ricotta is pricey stuff, but you'll balance that out by using the widest-available—and therefore most affordable—root veggies for your topping.
Those diced carrots and thinly sliced onion are roasted in a touch of spicy mustard and tamari. Neither salty condiment will be assertive in the finished product, but they provide subtle balance to the natural sweetness you'll pull out of the veg so that the whole bite has some depth.
Plus, what doesn't taste great on toasted baguette?
Sweet & Savory Carrot Crostini with Vegan Molasses-Maple Ricotta
yields about 12 crostini
2-3 carrots (6 oz total weight), peeled, trimmed, and cut into small 1/4-inch dice
1/2 small (or 1/4 large) onion, very thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup slices)
1 TBSP whole grain Dijon-style mustard (or plain stone-ground mustard)
1 tsp reduced-sodium tamari
4 oz Kite Hill ricotta
1 1/2 tsp molasses
1 tsp maple syrup (grade B preferred)
12 generous half-inch-thick baguette slices (from about half a baguette)
Heat oven to 400.
Toss carrots and onion with mustard and tamari. Cook 30 minutes, tossing after 15, until onions are golden and carrots are tender.
Meanwhile, use a mixer to beat the ricotta with the molasses and maple syrup for two minutes, until well combined and fluffed a bit, stopping halfway to scrape down the bowl. Set aside.
When the carrots and onions are done, transfer them to a dish to let cool a bit. Switch to the oven's broiler and toast the baguette slices on one side until golden, watching carefully to avoid burning. Let cool on a rack.
Divide filling evenly among the toasted bread slices (use a generous dollop of ricotta for each, but you may still have a bit left over, depending on the width of your baguette) and serve at room temperature.