This quick and easy cranberry goat cheese is perfect for holidays, parties and everyday snacking! With a few simple ingredients you can enjoy an easy appetizer that never fails to please and makes entertaining a breeze.
Need a quick and easy appetizer that’s perfect for parties, holiday dinners or just everyday snacking? Cranberry goat cheese is the answer. It’s the kind of appetizer you can throw together ahead of time in just minutes but always looks elegant and inviting on a party platter.
While it’s easy to worry and stress about appetizers when you’re the host, it’s usually the simplest snacks that guests enjoy most. Set out a bowl of roasted nuts, a dip or a cheese board and everyone’s happy. Keep this cranberry goat cheese log recipe in your back pocket for an effortless appetizer you can depend on during the holiday season and beyond.
What is Cranberry Goat Cheese?
Made with creamy goat cheese and tart cranberries cranberry goat cheese is an easy way to dress up a plain log of goat cheese. You only need a handful of ingredients that can easily be adapted or customized to your preferences. A fresh goat cheese log is rolled in a mixture of finely chopped dried fruit, nuts and seasonings until completely coated. It’s an unbeatable sweet and savory combination that never fails to please. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
Ingredient Notes:
(Here are a few notes about the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. As always find the full list of ingredients and directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- Goat Cheese – You’ll need a plain log of fresh goat cheese.
- Cranberries – Choose naturally sweetened dried cranberries if possible. You can also use dried cherries.
- Dried Apricots – The addition of dried apricots tames the dried cranberries tartness and adds a subtle sweetness that complements the goat cheese.
- Sliced Almonds – I like the combination of cranberries with almonds but you could also use pecans, pistachios or walnuts.
- Cinnamon – A bit of cinnamon adds spice and pairs well with the tart cranberries. Feel free to substitute orange zest if you’d like.
How to Make Cranberry Goat Cheese:
(Here are the basic steps and some helpful tips on how to make the recipe. Find the full directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- You’ll start by lightly toasting the almonds, then finely chopping them along with the cranberries, apricots and cinnamon.
- Place the mixture in a shallow dish or on a piece of parchment and firmly roll the goat cheese log so as to coat it on all sides.
- Wrap the goat cheese log and place it in the fridge until needed.
All you need are your favorite crackers and you are ready to serve!
And cranberry goat cheese isn’t just for the holidays, enjoy it spread on toast for breakfast or crumbled in a salad any day of the week.
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.
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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