Goat Cheese Wreath Recipe
This Goat Cheese “Wreath” is an elegant and festive appetizer featuring a creamy blend of fresh goat cheese and ricotta, flavored with thyme and orange zest. Shaped into a beautiful ring and decorated with dried cranberries and fresh thyme sprigs to resemble a holiday wreath, this no-cook dish is perfect for entertaining. Serve with crackers or sliced baguette for a delightful and flavorful treat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: Serves 8 to 10 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 2 10.5-ounce logs fresh goat cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup whole-milk ricotta
- 2 tsp thyme leaves, finely chopped
- 1 tsp finely grated orange zest
Decoration
- Small thyme sprigs (or rosemary sprigs)
- Dried cranberries
- Additional orange zest, for decorating
- Honey, for drizzling (optional)
Serving
- Crackers or sliced baguette
Instructions
- Prepare cheese mixture: In a stand mixer, beat the room temperature goat cheese and whole-milk ricotta on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Then add chopped thyme leaves and finely grated orange zest, and continue beating until fully incorporated.
- Shape the wreath: Line a Bundt or tube pan with plastic wrap, ensuring the wrap covers the sides well. Add spoonfuls of the cheese mixture into the pan, then use damp hands to press and shape the mixture evenly into a ring shape along the pan’s contours. Cover the shaped cheese lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up, or up to 2 days if preparing in advance.
- Decorate and serve: When ready to serve, carefully unwrap and invert the cheese ring onto a serving plate. Remove the plastic wrap fully. Decorate the wreath with dried cranberries and thyme sprigs arranged to resemble holly. Sprinkle with additional orange zest and drizzle with honey if desired. Serve immediately with crackers or sliced baguette.
Notes
- Make sure cheeses are at room temperature for easier mixing.
- Dampening your hands helps shape the cheese mixture more smoothly and prevents sticking.
- The wreath can be prepared up to 2 days ahead and kept refrigerated, making it great for holiday entertaining.
- For a different flavor twist, rosemary sprigs can replace thyme for decorating.
- Honey drizzle is optional but adds a nice contrast to the tangy cheese.
Keywords: goat cheese wreath, holiday appetizer, no-cook cheese ring, festive cheese platter, ricotta goat cheese recipe, party cheese dip, Christmas appetizer
Find it online: https://recipeswithmia.com/goat-cheese-wreath-recipe/
