This Honey Goat Cheese Ball Appetizer is made with many of my go-to cheese board ingredients: smooth, creamy cheese, sweet dried fruit, crunchy nuts, and fresh herbs. And they’re all rolled together into a bite-sized snack!
About this Appetizer
What if I told you that you could taste the wonderful flavors of your favorite charcuterie board in just one bite?
I promise, it’s not too good to be true. These goat cheese balls were inspired by a holiday favorite charcuterie board, but they can be enjoyed any time of year.
Slice with a knife and spread on a cracker or piece of bread, pair with your favorite meat, or simply take a bite—either way, cue the taste bud confetti! This Honey Goat Cheese Ball Appetizer is such a fun recipe you can use in any way you’d like.
And if you’re looking for more tasty appetizers to serve at your next gathering, also check out these Asparagus and Bacon Puff Pastries, Bacon Wrapped Apples, this Spinach and Roasted Tomato Dip, or this Cream Cheese Garlic Dip.
Recipe Ingredients
I purchased all of the delicious ingredients for this Honey Goat Cheese Ball Appetizer recipe from Trader Joe’s. Pick them up on your next run and give these cheese balls a try!
- Goat Cheese: You’ll want to use 1 small log for this recipe. So creamy and easy to shape into balls! I used honey goat cheese, but plain will also do because we will add additional honey anyway.
- Cream Cheese: We include cream cheese with the goat cheese to make these balls easier to form. I used half a block of plain cream cheese. You could use a flavored one if you want to add more flavor.
- Mint Leaves: Mint and goat cheese, people. It’s a combo you don’t want to sleep on! We’ll use about 3 tablespoons of finely chopped leaves in this recipe.
- Dried Mango: You can get bags of dried mango at most grocery stores. Even dried, it has a deliciously sweet flavor.
- Pistachios: I used these honey roasted ones. So yummy!
- Honey: To add some more sweetness and stickiness to hold our balls together.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and alternatives
The best part about these goat cheese balls is that you can put in whatever ingredients and flavors you like!
Don’t like mango? Try a different dried fruit like peaches, apricots, or prunes. I wouldn’t recommend using fresh fruit, however. I haven’t tested it, but I’d be weary about the moisture content.
Not into mint? Try dried basil or thyme. If you want more of a sweet flavor, you could omit the herbs all together. But the combination of fruit/cheese/herb is truly divine!
Love the idea, but not sure on the flavors? Stick to flavors you like. I recommend using a flavored cream cheese and building from there. What ingredients do you think would pair well with the flavor you chose? If you choose something sweet, add something savory or vice versa!
How to Make This Recipe
- In a mixing bowl, fold together cream cheese and goat cheese until combined.
- Finely dice mint leaves, dried mango, and pistachios. Add to the cheese and fold. Pour in honey. Fold again.
- Put the mixture the fridge and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Take bowl out of the fridge. Have your serving plate ready. Spray your hands with a bit of cooking spray. This will prevent the cheese from sticking to your hands while we roll the ingredients into balls.
- Roll cheese into equal-sized balls. This recipe will make approximately 10.
- Serve your Honey Goat Cheese Ball Appetizer with crackers and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
These must be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They also should not be left out for more than 4 hours.
When you’re ready to roll the cheese mixture into balls, spray your hands with cooking oil or extra virgin olive oil. You may need someone to do it for you. Then, roll the cheese between your palms to form balls. It’s infinitely easier and there is minimal cheese stuck to your hands afterwards. The best of both worlds!
There are SO MANY ways to enjoy these honey goat cheese balls! I would enjoy them as part of a charcuterie board with crackers, fruits, and bread. They’re so soft and easy to spread on whatever you like, and all of your guests can have their own ball.
Instead of rolling into tiny individual balls, you can also make one big ball your guests can dig in to. If you choose this, it would also make a beautiful addition to a your holiday table spread.
Here’s a wilder idea: Deep fry them! Roll these goat cheese balls in some panko bread crumbs and cook in some sizzling oil. This will add warmth, crunch, and make the cheese even creamier!
More Recipes You’ll Love
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Honey Goat Cheese Ball Appetizer
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Mixing Bowl
- Rubber Spatula
Ingredients
- 5 oz creamy goat cheese
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 3 tbsp mint leaves, chopped
- ½ cup dried mango, chopped
- ¼ cup honey roasted pistachios, chopped
- 1 tsp honey
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, fold together cream cheese and goat cheese until combined.
- Finely dice mint leaves, dried mango, and pistachios. Add to the cheese and fold. Pour in honey. Fold again.
- Put in the fridge and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Take bowl out of the fridge. Have your serving plate ready. Spray your hands with a bit of cooking spray. This will prevent the cheese from sticking to your hands while we roll the ingredients into balls.
- Roll cheese into equal-sized balls. This recipe will make approximately 8-10 balls.
- Serve with crackers and enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you’re using MyFitnessPal, search ‘A Paige Of Positivity’ and find SWEET AND SAVORY GOAT CHEESE BALL calories and nutrition facts. Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved or just say hi!
Whether its a fancy dinner party or game day in need of some awesome apps, these goat cheese balls are perfect for any gathering. Don’t have an event coming up?? MAKE THESE ANYWAY. I had leftovers and ate with eggs, sautéed spinach, and toast and it felt like the most gourmet breakfast ever. Like for real, I would expect this on a restaurant menu its that good.
The sweet and savory is amazing. Don’t skip on the mango!
This is my second holiday bringing this appetizer and last year it was a huge hit! Instead of rolling into balls, I serve it as a dip and it saves some time! I love the flavors of the goat cheese and the cream cheese together.