Cranberry Goat Cheese Log
This easy Cranberry Goat Cheese Log is a beautiful goat cheese appetizer, rolled in a spicy fresh cranberry relish and crunchy pistachios, that is perfect for the holidays.
This delicious recipe is a awesome cheese appetizer inspired by our fresh cranberry salsa and love of all things goat cheese. This simple holiday appetizer is packed full of flavor with creamy goat cheese wrapped in tart fresh cranberries mixed with citrus zest, and a little heat from a finely diced jalapeno. We’ve even added some pistachios for a bit of crunch.
It’s a perfect addition to the holidays because you can make it a few days ahead of time and put it out with some cheese and crackers when you’re ready to entertain.
If you love cheese appetizers as much as we do you have to try our classic cheese ball, dried fruit baked brie, and pesto cream cheese spread !
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What You’ll Need
- Goat cheese – I know goat cheese can be controversial. You either love it or you hate it. We happen to love it! If you don’t you can still make this recipe, just substitute cream cheese for goat cheese.
- Cream cheese – We’ve added a bit of cream cheese to cut some of the sharpness of the goat cheese and to make it a little smoother.
- Pistachios – These crunchy salted pistachios add just the right amount of texture to the coating. Buy shelled pistachios if you want to save yourself some time!
- Fresh cranberries – These tart little berries are the perfect addition to any holiday meal. We use them in our cranberry sweet potato casserole, and my grandma’s cranberry fluff, and cranberry jello salad.
- Jalapeño – We want just a little spice, not too much. To help remove some of the heat from the jalapeno make sure to remove the ribs ( the white lines inside the jalapeno, and the seeds.
- Cilantro – This goes in the cranberry relish and in the cheese for a nice herb flavor.
- Green onions – The green onions go great with the cheese and give it a nice herby flavor mixed with the cilantro.
- Citrus zest – Orange and lime zest add to the bright flavor of this cheesy appetizer.
- Honey – The honey is in the cranberry relish and the cheese mixture. It helps to cut some of the tanginess and add just a hint of sweetness.
Instructions
Step 1 – Make the cranberry relish. We modified our fresh cranberry salsa to make this delish relish that coats your goat cheese. Start by putting the cranberries in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Do not puree you want to have small pieces of cranberry.
Place the chopped cranberries into a medium bowl and add finely diced jalapenos, cilantro, green onions, orange zest, lime zest, and honey. Stir to combine and set a portion of it aside to use in the cheese log. Then store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
Step 2 – Mix Cheese Ingredients. In a separate bowl combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, cilantro, green onions, the cranberry relish you set aside earlier, and honey. Stir together until well combined and smooth.
Step 3 – Form the log. Spread a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface and scoop the cheese mixture onto it making a straight line approximately 8 inches long.
Roll the cheese up tightly in the plastic wrap to form it into a smooth, cylindrical shape.
Place the cheese in the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour to allow it to firm up.
Step 4 – Drain the cranberry mixture. When the cheese has firmed up remove it and the cranberry mixture from the fridge.
Pour the cranberry relish into a fine mesh strainer and press to remove the excess liquid. If you don’t have a fine mesh strainer you can line a regular strainer with heavy duty paper towels or cheesecloth. Wrap around the cranberry mixture and squeeze to remove excess moisture.
Add the chopped pistachios to the cranberry mixture and stir together.
Step 5 – Add the cranberry and pistachios to your cheese log. Place 2 pieces of plastic wrap on a flat surface with the long edge overlapping about 3 inches. Make sure the pieces are long enough to cover the cheese log.
Spread cranberry mixture on the plastic wrap in a thin layer (enough that there are no bare spots) in a rectangle as long as the cheese log and about 6 inches high.
Unwrap your cheese log and place it on the mixture. Roll it up using the plastic wrap so that the cranberry mixture wraps around the cheese. Press tightly to get the cranberries and nuts to stick to the cheese.
Unwrap and serve or store in the refrigerator with the plastic wrap around it for up to 3 days.
What to Serve with It
You can serve your cheese with crackers and fresh fruit such as apples, figs, and pears as an addition to a delicious cheese tay or pair it with meat such as prosciutto on a charcuterie platter. You can cut sliced of fresh bread or toast the slices for a little extra crunch. You can even spread your cranberry and pistachio goat cheese on a warm bagel for an amazing start to a holiday morning.
Looking for More Appetizers?
- Mexican 7 Layer Dip
- Italian Antipasto Skewers
- Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Chicken Artichoke Dip
- Quick and Easy Antipasto Skewers
- Crab Ball Appetizer
- Tuna Avocado Sushi Cups
- Parmesan Puff Pastry Pinwheels
- More appetizers…
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Cranberry Goat Cheese Log
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Shelled and salted pistachios, chopped
- 6 ounces Fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained
- 1 Jalapeño, ribs and seeds removed, minced
- 1/2 cup Cilantro, finely chopped and divided
- 1/2 cup Green onions, finely sliced and divided
- 1 tablespoon Orange zest
- 1 tablespoon Lime zest
- 2 tablespoons Honey, divided
- 8 ounces Goat cheese, room temperature
- 4 ounces Cream cheese, room temperature
Instructions
- Add cranberries to your food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Do not puree you want to have small pieces of cranberry.
- Place the chopped cranberries into a medium bowl and add finely diced jalapenos, ¼ cup cilantro, ¼ cup green onions, orange zest, lime zest, and 1 tablespoon honey. Stir to combine and set ¼ cup aside. Then place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- In a separate bowl combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, ¼ cup of cilantro, ¼ cup of green onions, ¼ cup of cranberry relish, and 1 tablespoon honey. Stir together until well combined and smooth.
- Spread a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface and scoop the cheese mixture onto it making a straight line approximately 8 inches long. Roll the cheese up tightly in the plastic wrap to form it into a smooth, cylindrical shape.
- Place the cheese in the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour to allow it to firm up.
- When the cheese has firmed up remove it and the cranberry mixture from the fridge.
- Pour the cranberry relish into a fine mesh strainer and press to remove the excess liquid. If you don’t have a fine mesh strainer you can line a regular strainer with heavy duty paper towels or cheesecloth. Wrap around the cranberry mixture and squeeze to remove excess moisture.
- Add the chopped pistachios to the cranberry mixture and stir together.
- Place 2 pieces of plastic wrap on a flat surface with the long edge overlapping about 3 inches. Make sure the pieces are long enough to cover the cheese log.
- Spread cranberry mixture on the plastic wrap in a thin layer (enough that there are no bare spots) in a rectangle as long as the cheese log and about 6 inches high.
- Unwrap your cheese log and place it on the mixture. Roll it up using the plastic wrap so that the cranberry mixture wraps around the cheese. Press tightly to get the cranberries and nuts to stick to the cheese.
- Unwrap and serve or store in the refrigerator with the plastic wrap around it for up to 3 days.
Sounds delicious! And I love the idea of a healthy snack subscription service…will have to look into NatureBox. Thanks for sharing!
Yummy! I love goat cheese, honey, nuts, and dried fruit so obviously this is a perfect combination for me. It seems so French. Oooh la la.
Lol I love looking like I made something fancy when it only took me 5 min.
I love quick, easy and tasty appetizers and this looks like it the bill perfectly. I bet this would be the first thing that would be polished off.
I am the worst when it comes to appetizers so when I see one like yours that is easy and undoubtedly tastes good, I’m all over it. Thanks for the idea.
Mmm … this looks amazing! Goat cheese is one of my favorites, too. My husband isn’t the biggest fan, so more for me;)
This sounds so good and simple. My kind of recipe. Pinning.
I think I just found an appetizer to bring to Thanksgiving. Thank you! #weekendretreatlinkpart
Saw this on #FoodieFridays. What a wonderful idea! Pinned it!
looks so delicious!!! perfect for holiday parties!
OMG your recipes look so great !!!!
Thanks!
Yum! I love goat cheese and this looks fancy but also easy to make!
Wow this looks so yummy! I love your input of making it into a log, very cool ! 🙂
Oh my gosh, that looks REALLLLLLLY yummy!
Wow! This is so simple! I’m pinning this to my appetizer board.
It really is, literally took minutes to make. I want to thank you Barb for all the nice comments, retweets, etc that you have given us. Every week we look forward to your comments. They truly mean a lot to little ole bloggers like us. Thank you for all the support you have given us since we started just a few months ago. -Melinda
This recipes is something I really want to give a try. Will be pinning for upcoming holiday family get together. Thank you!
I have been wanting to try nature box for some time now… this looks like my kind of app– easy but healthy… but yummy- thanks for sharing!
I love goat cheese. This looks so simple and yet so tasty. I love all the flavors involved in this recipe. Thank you for linking up with #FoodieFridays
This appetizer looks great and I am definitely gonna check out the Nature Box. Thanks!
OH im so bringing this to my inlaws Christmas party! Thank you!
This looks super yummy! I’ve never had goat cheese. But, this makes me want to try it.
Try it Shantha, I always thought I wouldnt like it and one day I tried it and I was in love! I use it all the time now it is my favorite!
The dried fruit and nuts look great! I’ve never had goat cheese before, however, this combination looks great!
I’ve recently tried a honey flavored goat cheese and loved it. This sounds so much better though with all the nuts and fruit pieces. I will definitely be looking into Nature Box.
Hmmm interesting to say the least… lol I’m not a goat cheese fan, however you make this look kinda tasty looking! LOL
I think it would be great over brie or on cream cheese too!
If the taste of the goat cheese appetizer is as good as it looks…WOW. I can’t wait to taste this cheese dish. It looks very flavorful with the different colors of the nuts and fruits. Thanks for sharing.
I just found you via the SITS FB page. I am totally making this for Thanksgiving!
–Elena
acasarella.net
Love it! Pinned! Genius!!
That looks really tasty!
Found you at throwback Thursday.
Seriously love this! Looks sooo good!
Thanks Alice, it was delish!
Seriously! This looks so good. Pinned and tweeted. Lou Lou Girls
Yep, I could totally eat this! I don’t use goats cheese enough, but when I do…..yum!!!!
Thanks for linking up to Marvelous Monday on Smart Party Planning.