Herbed Goat Cheese Ball with Cranberries and Almonds Recipe
A creamy and flavorful goat cheese ball coated with crunchy slivered almonds and infused with a blend of dried herbs, dried cranberries, and a touch of honey for sweetness. Perfect as an elegant appetizer served with your favorite crackers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: About 1 cheese ball, serving 6-8 people 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz soft goat cheese
- 4 oz plain cream cheese, dairy-free or regular
- 3 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley leaves
- 3 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
- 3 teaspoons dried basil leaves
- 2–3 tablespoons honey, plus more for drizzling
- 2/3 cup dried cranberries
Coating and Serving
- 1/3 cup slivered almonds
- Crackers of your choice, for serving
Instructions
- Add Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, dried thyme, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried basil, honey, and dried cranberries. Make sure all the ingredients are evenly distributed for a consistent flavor.
- Combine Mixture: Using a fork or an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the ingredients until smooth and well combined into a uniform mixture.
- Form Cheese Ball: With clean hands, shape the cheese mixture into a large ball. This process ensures the cheese ball holds together and has a nice shape for presentation.
- Coat with Almonds: Spread the slivered almonds evenly on a plate. Place the goat cheese ball on top of the almonds and gently roll it around, pressing lightly to adhere the almonds to the surface, creating a crunchy coating.
- Serve: Transfer the coated goat cheese ball to a serving plate. Drizzle additional honey over the top for extra sweetness and shine. Serve immediately with your favorite crackers for an easy and impressive appetizer.
Notes
- For a dairy-free version, use dairy-free cream cheese and check that the goat cheese is suitable or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- The mixture can be prepared a few hours ahead and chilled to allow flavors to meld.
- Other nuts like chopped pecans or walnuts can be used instead of slivered almonds for coating.
- Use fresh herbs if available for a more vibrant flavor, but dry herbs work well.
- Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator and consume within 3 days for best freshness.
Keywords: goat cheese ball, cheese ball recipe, appetizer, party snack, creamy cheese ball, herb cheese ball, easy appetizer
