This easy cranberry goat cheese log combines tangy goat cheese with dried cranberries, apricots, and toasted nuts for a sweet and savory holiday appetizer. Ready in minutes, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any festive gathering.
🎉 Easy Cranberry Goat Cheese Log – A Festive Holiday Appetizer
Need a quick and elegant appetizer that feels special but takes just minutes to make? This cranberry goat cheese log is the answer. It’s creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and beautifully festive — everything you want in a holiday appetizer.
With just a handful of ingredients, this goat cheese appetizer comes together effortlessly. A soft chèvre log is coated in a mixture of tart dried cranberries, sweet apricots, toasted almonds, and a hint of cinnamon. The result is a sweet and savory goat cheese log that looks stunning on any cheese board or holiday spread — but is deceptively simple to make.
🧀 What Is Cranberry Goat Cheese?
Cranberry goat cheese is typically a soft, creamy goat cheese log rolled in dried cranberries or a mix of dried fruit and nuts. It’s a classic holiday goat cheese appetizer that’s as flavorful as it is visually appealing. The tang of the goat cheese pairs perfectly with the tart-sweet cranberries, and the texture contrast from chopped nuts or fruit adds a festive, gourmet touch.
You’ll often find store-bought versions around the holidays, but homemade versions taste fresher, are easy to customize, and take only minutes to prepare.
🧀 What Makes this Goat Cheese Appetizer Special
- Minimal ingredients — just a few pantry staples needed.
- Sweet + savory balance — creamy tangy goat cheese meets tart cranberries, crunchy nuts and cinnamon spice.
- Make‑ahead friendly — assemble in advance, chill, and serve when guests arrive.
- Works for many occasions — whether it’s a holiday spread, casual get‑together or an everyday snack.
🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need
- Goat cheese log (chèvre) – Soft, tangy, and spreadable. Use plain for best results.
- Dried cranberries – Tart and slightly chewy, they’re essential for that classic flavor.
- Dried apricots – Add sweetness and balance to the cranberries’ tartness.
- Sliced almonds (or pecans) – Lightly toasted for added crunch and nuttiness.
- Ground cinnamon – Adds warmth and a subtle spice note.
- Crackers, crostini, or fresh fruit – For serving. Choose gluten-free options if needed.
👩🍳 How to Make a Cranberry Goat Cheese Log
- Chop and toast: Toast the almonds lightly in a skillet or oven, then coarsely chop them along with the dried cranberries and apricots.
- Mix coating: In a shallow bowl or on parchment, mix the chopped cranberries, apricots, nuts, and cinnamon.
- Roll the log: Gently press the goat cheese log into the fruit and nut mixture, rolling and pressing until fully coated.
- Chill and serve: Wrap the coated log in parchment or plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with crackers or fresh fruit.
🔁 Variations & Serving Ideas
- Swap almonds for pecans, walnuts, or pistachios for a twist.
- Use dried cherries in place of cranberries for a slightly different tart-sweet balance.
- Add a pinch of orange or lemon zest to the coating for a citrusy lift.
- Pair with apple slices, grapes, or figs for a fresh, gluten-free serving option.
🥄 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- This make-ahead holiday appetizer can be prepared up to 2–3 days in advance. Wrap tightly and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- For the best flavor and texture, let the log sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
- Leftovers? Spread on toast, stuff into dates, or crumble over a salad.
✅ Why This Is the Best Goat Cheese Log for the Holidays
This easy cranberry goat cheese log is not only beautiful and delicious, it’s the kind of recipe that makes hosting stress-free. It takes less than 15 minutes to make and can be prepared ahead of time.
Perfect as a Thanksgiving appetizer, Christmas cheese board centerpiece, or a simple addition to your next gathering, this goat cheese log with cranberries is festive, flavorful, and always a crowd favorite.
More Easy Appetizers:
Cranberry Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- ¼ cup/30g dried cranberries, finely chopped
- ¼ cup/30g dried apricots, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup/30g sliced almonds, finely chopped
- One 10.5 ounce/298g goat cheese log
- Assorted gluten-free crackers for serving
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, mix chopped dried cranberries, dried apricots, cinnamon and almonds.
- Roll goat cheese log in mixture, gently pressing fruit and nut mixture into all sides.
- Refrigerate goat cheese until ready to serve (can be prepared few days ahead of time).
- Place log on platter and serve with crackers.
Notes
Variations:
- Use pistachios, pecans or walnuts instead of sliced almonds.
- Use dried cherries instead of dried cranberries or a
combination of both. - Use orange zest instead or lemon zest instead of cinnamon.
Storage:
Store prepared cranberry goat cheese log in an airtight container in the fridge.
Dietary Info:
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Egg-Free
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 140mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 6g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
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