Mini Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Balls Recipe
These Mini Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Balls are a delightful and elegant appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or casual entertaining. Creamy goat cheese and cream cheese are blended with warm cinnamon and honey, then rolled in a vibrant mix of dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and fresh parsley for a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and nutty flavors. Easy to prepare ahead and serve with crackers or crostini, these cheese balls are sure to impress your guests with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 mini cheese balls 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 10 oz goat cheese
- 6 oz cream cheese
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons honey, plus extra for garnish
- ½ cup diced pecans
Coating
- 1 cup diced dried cranberries
- 1 cup diced pecans (remaining 1 cup)
- ½ cup minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, beat together the goat cheese, cream cheese, cinnamon, and 3 tablespoons of honey until the mixture is light and fluffy. This ensures that the cheese balls will have a creamy and smooth texture. Fold in ½ cup of the diced pecans to add crunch and flavor.
- Prepare the Coating Mixture: Line your countertop with parchment paper. In the center of the parchment, toss together the remaining 1 cup diced pecans, dried cranberries, and minced fresh parsley. This colorful and flavorful coating will give the cheese balls a beautiful presentation and great texture.
- Form and Coat Cheese Balls: Using a large cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out rounds of the cheese mixture and gently roll each ball in the cranberry and pecan coating on the parchment paper to evenly coat. Continue this process until all the cheese mixture has been formed into mini balls and coated.
- Chill: Place the coated cheese balls in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. They can be made up to two days in advance, which makes preparation easy for entertaining.
- Serve: Before serving, optionally drizzle the cheese balls with extra honey for added sweetness and shine. Serve them with crackers, warm crostini, or simply on their own with a toothpick or pretzel stick for easy snacking.
Notes
- Make the cheese balls up to two days ahead to save time on the day of your event.
- Store the cheese balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.
- Use a large cookie scoop to ensure uniform size for even coating and presentation.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice vibrant color and freshness; you can adjust the quantity based on preference.
- For a nut-free alternative, substitute pecans with seeds such as sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
Keywords: goat cheese balls, cranberry pecan cheese balls, holiday appetizers, easy party snacks, no cook cheese balls
