Cranberry Goat Cheese Appetizer
Posted Nov 09, 2017, Updated Jun 25, 2024
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This cranberry goat cheese appetizer is made with 8 ingredients in 20 minutes. It’s a simple & delicious holiday starter to serve on Thanksgiving or at a Christmas party!
This cranberry goat cheese appetizer is a delicious starter perfect for the holidays.
A mixture of cranberries, pecans, balsamic vinegar and rich fall spices sit atop a log of creamy goat cheese for an appetizer that will keep you coming back for more.
Plus, it is made with 8 ingredients in 20 minutes so it’s perfect for last-minute guests.
Thanksgiving is a day-long event for us. My entire family gets up early to run a Thanksgiving day 5K. Then we drink hot chocolate and watch the parade while we start cooking (check out all my favorite Thanksgiving recipes). However, due to waking up early & running, we get hungry and need some appetizers while dinner cooks, and this recipe is a favorite.
Cranberry Goat Cheese Appetizer: Substitutions
As always I recommend making this recipe exactly as written! However, if you must make some substitutions, here are a few possibilities!
- Maple syrup. Honey can be used in place of maple syrup.
- Pecans.ย Walnuts are a great substitute.
- Salted Butter. unsalted butter or olive oil are both good substitutes.
- Granulatedย Sugar.ย white sugar or organic cane sugar are both good choices.
- Goat cheese. Use an 8 oz log of goat cheese. You can choose a flavored variety, plain, or even one with a touch of honey.
How to Make Goat Cheese Appetizer
Let’s walk through how to make this recipe, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Chop the pecans. If using whole peans make sure to chop them into small, bite-sized pieces.
Divide the ingredients. Both the maple syrup and the cranberries are divided. This is because some of the cranberries are completely mashed, while others are left whole. The “saucy” mashed berries hold together the whole berries and pecans, so this is an important step.
Toast Pecans
Begin by cooking the pecans, granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt, stirring oftne until the pecans are coated and begin to brown, about 3-4 minutes
Once they are lightly browned, remove the pecans from heat and spread on wax paper to cool.
Make the Cranberry Topping
While the pecans are cooling, make the topping by combining 2 tablespoons maple syrup and balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until combined (about 30 seconds).
Then, add ยฝ cup of fresh cranberries and cook on medium heat for about 3 minutes until you begin to hear them pop, stirring occasionally.
Once the cranberries begin to pop, mash them with a potato masher or fork.
Continue cooking until the mixture begins to thicken and resembles jelly.
Then, add the remaining 1 Tablespoon maple syrup and ยฝ cup cranberries and stir to combine.
Continue cooking and stirring occasionally until the mixture becomes thick and the cranberries just begin to pop (do not mash them this time).
Remove the mixture from heat and gently stir the toasted pecans into the cranberry mixture. Then, let the mixture stand at room temperature or in the refrigerator until cooled, or until ready to serve.
Prepare in Advance
You can also transfer the cranberry mixture to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Then, you can quickly assemble the appetizer and serve it cold.
Assemble
Carefully spoon the cooled cranberry mixture on top of the goat cheese log, spreading it evenly.
Serve
Serve the goat cheese appetizer with your favorite crackers. This recipe can be served chilled or with the cranberries at room temperature.
We love serving it as an appetizer to our favorite holiday recipes.
Store
This recipe stores well! Keep it in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 5 days! Snack on it after your guests have left, or use it on top of a salad like this kale salad or brussel sprouts salad (so good).
Goat Cheese Appetizer Recipe FAQs
Yes. To do this, make the cranberry mixture and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. Then, either warm the mixture slightly or serve it cold on top of your favorite goat cheese log.
Up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
You can eat this with just about any variety of crackers. We like thick hearty crackers that hold up well to dipping. Here are some suggestions: wheat thin crackers, woven wheat crackers, small crostinis.
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Cranberry Goat Cheese Appetizer
Ingredients
Toasted pecans:
- ยผ cup raw pecans (chopped)
- ยฝ Tablespoon salted butter
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- โ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch fine sea salt
Cranberries
- 1ย Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 3ย Tablespoons pure maple syrup (divided)
- 1 cup fresh cranberries (divided)
Goat Cheese
- 8 ounces goat cheese
- Crackers for serving
Instructions
Toast Pecans:
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper or a silicone baking mat, set aside.
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat
- Add pecans, granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt and stir to combine.
- Cook, stirring often until the pecans are coated and begin to brown, about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and spread on wax paper to cool.
Cranberry Topping
- In a small saucepan over medium heat add 2 Tablespoons maple syrup and balsamic vinegar and heat until combined (about 30 seconds)
- Add ยฝ cup of fresh cranberries and cook on medium heat for about 3 minutes until you begin to hear them pop, stirring occasionally.
- Mash the cranberries with a potato masher or fork.
- Continue cooking until the mixture begins to thicken and resembles jelly.
- Add the remaining 1 Tablespoon maple syrup and ยฝ cup cranberries and stir to combine.
- Continue cooking and stirring occasionally until the mixture becomes thick and the cranberries just begin to pop (do not mash them this time).
- Remove mixture from heat and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes or until ready to serve.
Assemble
- Place the log of goat cheese on a cheese board or serving plate.
- Gently stir pecans into the cranberry mixture.
- Carefully spoon the mixture on top of the goat cheese log, spreading it evenly.
Serve
- Serve either slightly warm/room temperature or chilled, with your favorite crackers.
Video
Notes
- Maple syrup.ย Honey can be used in place of maple syrup.
- Pecans. Walnuts are a great substitute.
- Salted Butter. unsalted butter or olive oil are both good substitutes.
- Granulatedย Sugar.ย white sugar or organic cane sugar are both good choices.
- Goat cheese. Use an 8 oz log of goat cheese. You can choose a flavored variety, plain, or even one with a touch of honey.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What would you suggest to replace either the pecans or walnuts with since a few of us in our family have nut allergies?
I made this today and it was divine! I cooked the cranberries all at the same time (mashed most of them) – just personal preference. Also added just a smidgen of dried powdered rosemary to the cranberries as they were cooking. Incredibly easy and got rave reviews. Thanks for sharing!
I can imaging these flavors blending perfectly. I also love the contrast of creamy cheese with tart cranberries
Love goat cheese… Love Balsamic… Love Cranberries… Love Maple… and especially love Pecans! You bring it all together here for me. Great appetizer for a dinner party! Way to go. I am always looking at pecan recipes and this one is an absolute winner! Congrats!
Yum! Balsamic!
Definitely want to have this on the menu for Thanksgiving! Such a delicious and beautiful appetizer!
This looks SO GOOD! Great party appetizer for the Holidays!
Love this idea and these photos are beautiful, btw!! I can’t wait for all the holiday platters. We already had our Thanksgiving in Canada but Christmas isn’t too far away!
Drooling over the balsamic, maple, cranberry combo… so good!! Perfect to pair with cheese and crackers.