Description

These Goat Cheese Balls are a delicious and elegant appetizer that’s perfect for any party or gathering! Creamy goat cheese is combined with dried cranberries, coated in a crispy pecan crust, and drizzled with honey for a sweet and savory treat.

Ingredients

Units Scale

10 ounces goat cheese (plain, honey, or herbed), at room temperature
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup raw pecan halves
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 large egg
Honey, for drizzling

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Instructions

Combine and Roll: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine goat cheese and cranberries, mixing until evenly distributed. Roll the mixture into 18 balls (about 1 ¼ inches each).
Make Pecan Crust: Grind pecans in a food processor or crush in a zip-top bag. Combine ground pecans with panko, salt, and thyme in a shallow bowl.
Coat and Freeze: Beat the egg in a separate bowl. Roll each goat cheese ball in the egg, then in the pecan mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Freeze for 30 minutes to harden.
Bake: Preheat oven to 470°F (243°C). Arrange frozen goat cheese balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
Serve: Immediately transfer to a serving plate. Let cool slightly, drizzle with honey, and serve.

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Reheat gently in the oven at 350°F (177°C).
Freezing: Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 ball
Calories: 130
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 200mg
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 5g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 30mg