Servings
Font
Back
0 from 51 votes

Mini Candied Pecan Cranberry Goat Cheese Balls

Quick, easy, and totally delicious, these Mini Candied Pecan Cranberry Goat Cheese Balls make a tasty party appetizer for fancy yet fuss-free entertaining!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 147 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 8 oz honey goat cheese (regular works too; honeyed is my fav!)
  • 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

    Cup of Yum
  1. Remove goat cheese from wrapper and cut into 8-10 discs. Set aside.
  2. Heat a small pan to medium heat and melt your butter.
  3. Once butter starts to bubble, add your pecans, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Using salted butter? Skip the salt or season to taste.
  4. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent sugar from burning, and pour over a large sheet of parchment paper in a thin layer. Allow to cool for several minutes until the candy coating hardens.
  5. Fold the parchment paper in half, trapping the cooled pecans, and crush with hard object of choice (anything from a kitchen mallet to a wine bottle works!) and then roughly chop with a knife until minced.
  6. Finely chop cranberries and add to the pecans.
  7. Combine pecans, cranberries, and parsley on a plate or cutting board. Mix well.
  8. Take a goat cheese disc and press into the pecan coating on each side, then roll into a ball. Coat again as needed by rolling the completed ball in the mixture once more and transferring to a cheese board or appetizer plate. Repeat for each disc until you have a party-perfect plate of goat cheese balls. Dive in with your choice of crackers/fruit/veggies.

Notes

  • These tasty bites make a great addition to a party cheeseboard or all on their own as a tasty snack! Serve with assorted crackers, apple slices, celery sticks, pretzels, crostini, etc...
  • Nutrition facts below are an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 147kcal (7%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 14mg (5%) Sodium 105mg (4%) Potassium 32mg (1%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 355IU (7%) Vitamin C 0.7mg (1%) Calcium 47mg (5%) Iron 0.7mg (4%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 147

% Daily Value*

Calories 147kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 14mg 5%
Sodium 105mg 4%
Potassium 32mg 1%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 355IU 7%
Vitamin C 0.7mg 1%
Calcium 47mg 5%
Iron 0.7mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.