Goat Cheese and Cranberry Pecan Balls Recipe
These Goat Cheese Balls are a delightful and elegant appetizer combining creamy goat cheese and cream cheese with a touch of cinnamon and honey. Rolled in a vibrant mixture of pecans, dried cranberries, and fresh parsley, they offer a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors. Easy to prepare and sure to impress, they’re ideal for holiday gatherings or anytime you want a sophisticated snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 20 cheese balls (1-inch each) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces soft goat cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons honey (from the ¼ cup total)
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans (from the 1⅓ cup total)
Coating
- ¼ cup honey (remaining from the ¼ cup total)
- 1 cup chopped pecans (remaining from the 1⅓ cup total)
- ¼ cup minced fresh parsley
- ¾ cup dried cranberries, chopped
Instructions
- Build a foundation: Using a hand or stand mixer, beat together the soft goat cheese, softened cream cheese, cinnamon, salt, and 2 tablespoons of honey until the mixture is light and fluffy. Fold in ⅓ cup of the chopped pecans until well combined to add texture and flavor.
- Make the coating: In a small bowl, mix together the minced fresh parsley, chopped dried cranberries, and the remaining 1 cup of chopped pecans. This vibrant mixture will serve as the flavorful coating for the cheese balls.
- Make the truffles: Using clean hands, shape the cheese mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball carefully in the cranberry-parsley-pecan mixture to coat all sides evenly. If the mixture feels too soft to handle, refrigerate the balls for about 15 minutes to firm them up before coating.
- Chill: Place the coated goat cheese balls on a flat, non-stick surface such as a cutting board. Chill them in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to set before serving, allowing the flavors to meld and the texture to firm up perfectly.
Notes
- For best results, use cold cream cheese softened just enough to blend smoothly without becoming too runny.
- You can prepare these goat cheese balls a day ahead and store them covered in the refrigerator.
- Serve with crackers, toasted baguette slices, or fresh vegetable sticks for an elegant appetizer presentation.
- Adjust the amount of cinnamon to taste for a more or less pronounced spice note.
- If you prefer a nut-free version, substitute the pecans in the coating with extra dried fruit or seeds.
Keywords: goat cheese balls, cheese truffles, appetizer, holiday appetizer, savory snack, pecans, cranberries, no-cook appetizer
