Description

These Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Balls are a delightful and easy-to-make appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or any party. Creamy goat cheese and cream cheese blend together with a hint of garlic powder and seasoning, then rolled in a mixture of tart dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, fresh parsley, and chives for a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Serve chilled with pretzel sticks or toothpicks for a crowd-pleasing bite-sized treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese Mixture

10 oz goat cheese (chevre), softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and black pepper to taste

Coating

1/2 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

Serving

Pretzel sticks or toothpicks, for serving (optional)

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Instructions

Mix Cheese Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, cream cheese, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring all ingredients are well incorporated.
Chill the Mixture: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and place it in the refrigerator to chill for 20 to 30 minutes. This step firms up the cheese mixture, making it easier to shape into balls.
Prepare the Coating: In a shallow bowl, mix together the finely chopped dried cranberries, pecans, chopped fresh parsley, and chopped fresh chives. This mixture will add flavor and texture to the cheese balls.
Form Cheese Balls: Once the cheese mixture is firm, use a small cookie scoop or spoon to portion the mixture into approximately 1-inch balls. Roll each ball between your hands to create a smooth, uniform shape.
Coat the Cheese Balls: Roll each formed cheese ball in the cranberry-pecan-herb mixture, pressing gently to ensure an even coating all around.
Chill or Serve: Arrange the coated cheese balls on a serving platter. You can serve them immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Add Serving Sticks (Optional): Just before serving, insert pretzel sticks or toothpicks into each cheese ball for easy grabbing by guests.

Notes

For best results, soften the goat cheese and cream cheese to room temperature before mixing.
You can substitute the pecans with walnuts or almonds if preferred.
Make sure to finely chop the cranberries and nuts to help them stick better to the cheese balls.
These cheese balls can be made a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
For a festive presentation, add a light drizzle of honey over the finished balls just before serving.