These Cranberry-Orange Goat Cheese Bites combine some of my favorite holiday flavors–rosemary, orange and cranberry. Then add in some spicy honey as a final touch. These are a perfect addition to a holiday charcuterie board or you can roll the entire log of cheese in the cranberry-orange relish and serve it on a plate with crackers.
Ingredients Needed
- Goat cheese – Costco has a great, mild goat cheese, but any brand will work. If you’d prefer cream cheese, that’s ok too, just don’t let it get too soft, and be sure to use full-fat.
- Fresh cranberries
- Orange zest
- Fresh rosemary leaves
- Kosher salt
- Hot honey – I found mine at Walmart, but you can always make your own by combining 2 tablespoons honey with a pinch of cayenne pepper
How to Make Cranberry-Orange Goat Cheese Bites
- Scoop about 1 1/2 teaspoons of goat cheese (using a cereal spoon or measuring spoon; it doesn’t have to be a perfect measurement) and form into a ball. If the cheese is sticking to your hands, you can get your hands wet and roll the cheese into a ball. Repeat with the remaining cheese. Refrigerate until ready to use.*
- In a small bowl, combine the chopped cranberries, orange zest, chopped rosemary, salt, and spicy honey. Allow to stand for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the cheese from the fridge and use your hands to grab some of the cranberry mixture. Gently press the mixture all over each cheese ball and repeat until finished. Serve with crackers and additional spicy honey if desired.
Storing and Other Tips
- Store leftover goat cheese bites in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 2-3 days for best results.
- For the best presentation, I recommend making these fresh up to a few hours before serving time. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Serving note: If desired, you can just roll an entire cold log of goat cheese in the cranberry mixture instead of making individual bites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of cracker goes best with these?
Honestly it’s hard to go wrong here, so grab your favorites! If I had to choose, I’d say I prefer a good, firm cracker with a nice crunch, such as Wheat Thins.
Cranberry-Orange Goat Cheese Bites
This deceptively simple yet elegant appetizer is perfect for holiday parties and adding to charcuterie boards.
Servings servings of 1.5 tablespoons
Ingredients
- 8 ounces goat cheese, room temperature if you'd prefer cream cheese, that's fine too – just don’t let it get too soft, and make sure you use full fat.
- 1 ½ cups cranberries, fresh, chopped about 8 ounces or ½ a standard bag
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 sprig rosemary leaves, fresh stripped from the woody stems and chopped
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons chili-infused honey or 2 tablespoons honey + ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Scoop about 1 ½ teaspoons of goat cheese (using a cereal spoon or measuring spoon; it doesn't have to be a perfect measurement) and form into a ball. If the cheese is sticking to your hands, you can get your hands wet and roll the cheese into a ball. Repeat with the remaining cheese. Refrigerate until ready to use. (See note about serving.)
- In a small bowl, combine the chopped cranberries, orange zest, chopped rosemary, salt, and spicy honey. Allow to stand for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the cheese from the fridge and use your hands to grab some of the cranberry mixture. Gently press the mixture all over each cheese ball and repeat until finished. Serve with crackers and additional spicy honey if desired.
Notes
- Store leftover goat cheese bites in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 2-3 days for best results.
- For the best presentation, I recommend making these fresh up to a few hours before serving time. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Serving note: If desired, you can just roll an entire cold log of goat cheese in the cranberry mixture instead of making individual bites.
Nutrition
Calories: 50kcal, Carbohydrates: 0.1g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 166mg, Potassium: 6mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 0.2g, Vitamin A: 197IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 0.4mg
Calories: 50kcal
Cost: $8
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Questions & Reviews
I made these with cream cheese for a special after school snack and they were delicious, and so easy. Thank you!
Can you substitute the goat cheese for a different cheese?
You could do cream cheese, just don’t let it get too soft and make sure you use full fat.