Quick, easy, and totally delicious, these Mini Candied Pecan Cranberry Goat Cheese Balls are a festive, fuss-free party appetizer that’s ready in about 15 minutes.
My collection of goat cheese recipes keeps growing. It began with a simple Cranberry Goat Cheese Log and quickly expanded into stuffing goat cheese into vegetables and making bite-sized appetizers for gatherings.
I often use greenhouse Campari tomatoes to make goat cheese stuffed tomatoes so I can enjoy them year-round, and balsamic-drizzled goat cheese stuffed mushrooms are a holiday favorite.
I made these mini goat cheese balls for a party and they disappeared almost immediately. They look elegant and festive but are incredibly easy to prepare.
Grab some goat cheese!
These mini goat cheese balls are highly versatile. I rolled mine in quick-candied pecans, parsley, and dried cranberries, but you can customize them with whatever nuts or dried fruit you have on hand. Plain pecans are a fine shortcut if you’re short on time and don’t want to make candied nuts.
Rave reviews
★★★★★ “Absolutely delicious! I adore goat cheese and this was a total treat. I’ll be impressing friends and family with this new addition to our Christmas grazing board!” – Louise
★★★★★ “A festive hit!!! Great flavours and colors for Christmas. These came together sooo easily but they look fancy. Fantastic crowd pleaser!” – Marlene
Play around with toppings!
Walnuts, pistachios, almonds, and macadamia nuts all make excellent alternatives. Swap dried cranberries for apricots or dried cherries, or try flavored goat cheeses—honey, fig, balsamic, or herbed varieties all work well and add extra interest.
I particularly like honey goat cheese for these bites, but feel free to experiment with what your grocery store offers.
Mini Candied Pecan Cranberry Goat Cheese Balls
These bites are fantastic on crackers or crostini and make a wonderful addition to a cheese board or charcuterie spread. One 8-ounce log of goat cheese typically yields eight 1-ounce servings, but you can make smaller balls for up to 16 bites—just chop more toppings to ensure enough coating.
The recipe scales easily if you need to double or triple it for a crowd.
Ready to make them? Here’s the recipe:
Mini Candied Pecan Cranberry Goat Cheese Balls
Pin Recipe
Rate Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz honey goat cheese (regular works too; honeyed is my favorite)
- ½ cup pecans
- ½ TBSP unsalted butter
- 2 TBSP brown sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1/4-1/2 cup dried cranberries
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 TBSP fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
-
Remove goat cheese from the wrapper and cut into 8–10 discs. Set aside.
-
Heat a small pan over medium heat and melt the butter.
-
When the butter begins to bubble, add pecans, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. If using salted butter, adjust or skip the added salt.
-
Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often so the sugar doesn’t burn. Pour the mixture onto a large sheet of parchment paper in a thin layer and let it cool until the coating hardens.
-
Fold the parchment over the cooled pecans and crush them with a heavy object (a kitchen mallet or wine bottle works). Roughly chop until minced.
-
Finely chop the dried cranberries and add them to the pecans.
-
Combine pecans, cranberries, and parsley on a plate or cutting board and mix well.
-
Press each goat cheese disc into the pecan mixture on both sides, then shape into a ball. Roll completed balls again in the coating if needed, and transfer to a serving platter. Repeat until all discs are coated. Serve with crackers, fruit, or vegetables.
Notes
Nutrition facts are estimates from an online nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
These are also excellent with a light drizzle of honey on top.
Have a little left over?
Leftover goat cheese balls make a lovely spread—especially if mixed with leftover cranberry sauce—and are delicious on bagels, toast, or croissants. They’re also a standout sandwich spread for turkey sandwiches after Thanksgiving.
I love it spread on a buttery croissant with cucumber, sprouts, and romaine for a simple, flavorful lunch.
Crazy for cranberry recipes?
Cranberry Almond Energy Balls
Cranberry Brie Phyllo Cups
Honey Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Feta
Baked Apple Cranberry Stuffing
If you try these sweet-and-savory Mini Candied Pecan Cranberry Goat Cheese Balls at your next gathering, I’d love to hear how they turn out. Leave a comment or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can see your creations—I can’t wait to celebrate your goat cheese ball variations!
Hungry for More?
- NEW! Crispy Baked Goat Cheese Balls
- Baked Goat Cheese Dip via Foolproof Living
- Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
- Classic Stuffed Mushrooms
- Cranberry Quinoa Salad with Candied Walnuts