Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls Recipe
Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls are a delightful appetizer perfect for entertaining. Creamy goat and cream cheese blend smoothly with honey and chili flakes, then are rolled in a flavorful mixture of chopped dried cranberries, herbs, crumbled bacon, and roasted pecans for a burst of sweet, savory, and crunchy textures in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes (for roasting pecans if done at home)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 mini cheese balls 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz goat cheese, at room temperature
- 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon dried chili flakes
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Topping
- ⅔ cup dried cranberries (Craisins recommended)
- ½ cup fresh parsley, lightly chopped
- ½ cup fresh chives, lightly chopped
- 10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup roasted pecans, lightly chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the cheese mixture: In a large bowl, combine goat cheese, cream cheese, honey, chili flakes, and kosher salt. Use an electric mixer to blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Cover the bowl and place it in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm up the mixture slightly.
- Make the topping: Place the dried cranberries in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the fresh parsley and chives and pulse 6-7 times until finely chopped as well. Add the crumbled bacon and chopped roasted pecans and pulse again until the entire topping mixture is finely chopped. Be careful not to over-process to preserve texture. Transfer this mixture to a wide shallow bowl or plate.
- Form the cheese balls: Remove the cheese mixture from the freezer. Using a small ice cream scoop or spoon, form mini bite-sized cheese balls from the mixture.
- Coat with topping: Roll each cheese ball in the cranberry-pecan topping mixture, pressing gently if needed to help it adhere fully to the surface.
- Serve or store: Serve immediately as a festive appetizer, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Roasting pecans: You can buy roasted pecans or roast them yourself by placing whole pecans on a cookie sheet and baking at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes. Let cool before chopping.
- Make ahead: Prepare the goat cheese mixture in advance and refrigerate covered until ready to assemble. Prepare topping and coat cheese balls on the day of serving.
- Yield adjustment: This recipe makes about 24 mini cheese balls. For fewer servings, halve the ingredients to make about 12 cheese balls.
Keywords: cranberry pecan goat cheese balls, appetizer, finger food, holiday appetizer, cheese balls, party snack, no-cook recipes, easy appetizers
