Mini Cheese Balls with Cranberries and Pistachios
Mini Cheese Balls with Cranberries and Pistachios are honey goat cheese and cream cheese balls rolled in chopped cranberries and pistachios. They’re simple, elegant, and are the ultimate party food!
I told you last week when I posted my Sweet Potato Polenta Crostini that I love my appetizers, and guess what tops the charts for me? Cheesy ones! One of my favorite appetizers is a cheese plate with a nice variety of hard and soft cheeses with toasty bread, crackers, a nice fig jam, spiced nuts, or something to that effect. Heaven!
I’m new to the cheese ball game, and come to find out, it’s the best game in town! And speaking of game, they’d be great for Game Day. 🙂 Not only are cheese balls very easy, but they’re huge crowd pleasers. What’s not to love?
Since I was new to this whole cheese ball thing, I did a bit of cheese ball scouring on Pinterest. I looked at photos only, and when I spied some mini cheese ball bites from Samantha at Five Heart Home, I knew that was the direction I wanted to go. You know how I love my mini desserts and bite sized morsels around here, don’t you? Well, mini cheese balls are just too dang cute. And pop-able!
Are you a goat cheese lover or hater? I do like it, but it is strong, so I’d say that I enjoy it when it’s not too overpowering. I spied a small log of honey goat cheese at the store. Honey goat cheese! It sounded too good to pass up.
I originally thought I would roll the whole thing in cranberries and pistachios, then the mini cheese ball thing took over. I thought since goat cheese is so strong, I should mix it with cream cheese to tame it down a bit. The honey flavor in the cheese was delicious, and I added some cayenne pepper for a little kick, beat the cheeses together and chilled it for a bit.
I figured I would need to chill the cheese for a long time to make it roll-able, but after 15 minutes I got a little impatient and tried anyway. The cheese wasn’t very cold, yet I was able to roll it really easily. I rolled the cheese balls in my chopped cranberries and pistachios, and chilled them. I was SO excited to try these out. 🙂
I thought that the perfect way to serve them was slightly smashed down on some nice round crackers with a little drizzle of honey. Oh yeah. They were delicious!
Putting this appetizer together took all of 30 minutes with a bit of chilling time in there. No oven, no nothing. Just a mixing bowl and beaters and a bit of rolling that the kids can even help you with. You’re only minutes away from a fun, delicious, and sophisticated appetizer that everyone will love. And if goat cheese isn’t your thing, pick another! You get to customize this to suit your taste buds. When it comes to cheese balls, there’s just no way you can wrong. 🙂
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened (I used ⅓ less fat Neufchatel)
- 5.4 ounce log of honey goat cheese*
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper*
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped fine
- ½ cup roasted salted shelled pistachios, chopped fine
- crackers and honey, for serving
- Place the cream cheese in a medium bowl and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the goat cheese and cayenne pepper, and beat until combined. Cover and chill for 15 minutes.
- Place a sheet of waxed paper over a rimmed baking sheet. Place the cranberries and pistachios in a small bowl and toss to combine. Roll the cheese into teaspoon-sized balls and place on the waxed paper. Roll the balls in the cranberry pistachio mixture and place back on the waxed paper. Cover and chill until time to serve.
- Serve with crackers and a drizzle of honey, and enjoy!
*If you can't find honey goat cheese, simply use plain goat cheese and add some honey when beating the cream cheese and goat cheese together, or just drizzle more on when serving.
Recipe by Flavor the Moments.
Inspired by Five Heart Home's Mini Cheese Ball Bites.
I’ve been eyeing up this idea for a little while, but I’ve never seen it done with goat’s cheese – much less with cranberries and pistachios … mmm, I’m pretty much in heaven just thinking about it. The best thing is how easy it is to throw together. Perfect!
Oh, and Happy New Year!
I had never had a cheese ball before this and I have been missing out! They were really fun, and there are definitely a lot more in my future. 🙂 Happy New Year to you, too, Helen! It’s been so nice getting to know you this year! 🙂
Yum!! I love cute, mini foods, and these make the perfect little appetizers Marcie. 🙂
Thank you, Lisa, and Happy New Year! 🙂
I am a definite goat cheese lover so these mini cheese balls look to die for!
Thank you, Meghan! Happy New Year to you! 🙂
What a cute appetizer! I haven’t made a cheese ball myself but every time I see them I think of how great an idea they are. Making these mini (and in festive colors) sounds perfect! I love the mix of creamy/sweet/crunchy/salty!
These were so easy to make and I have no excuses not to make lots of these in the future! haha Thanks, Alyssa, and Happy New Year! 🙂
These are so colorful and cute! Love this idea 🙂
Thank you, Medha! They were so tasty and fun. 🙂
These mini cheese balls look perfect, Marcie! I love the cranberry and pistachio combination. Mini foods are so fun to eat and taste even better, so I’m loving your bite-sized version of a cheese ball. Hope you have a wonderful New Year’s!
Thank you, Gayle! To think I never really liked pistachios much before…I think the pretty color is what made me revisit them. They make everything look so festive. Have a wonderful New Year’s! 🙂
This looks so good Marcie..I am always on the fence about goat cheese…I once had it in a restaurant and it was just too strong for my liking…since then I avoided it but few days back I tried it again in a different restaurant and this time I liked it…I guess it’s good in small amount just like these cheese balls and probably that honey makes all the difference! These would make for some great party snacks! Pinned.
I feel the same way about goat cheese — too much is too much! The cream cheese and honey help cut the strong flavor somewhat, and the cranberries and pistachios really taste great with it. Thank you for the pin, and have a wonderful New Year’s! 🙂
Goat cheese with cranberries and pistachios is suchhhh a good combo! Love these mini cheese balls – they look so pop-able! Although I’d probably eat a few too many in one sitting…. 🙂
They’re WAY too pop-able! But hey, that’s what makes them fun. 🙂 Have a wonderful New Year’s!
I love little mini bites like these, they’re so much fun to eat! The cranberry and pistachio combo sounds perfect! They would be awesome for game day or a NYE party! Hope you have a great time celebrating – Happy Happy New Year, Marcie!
They were fun to make and eat! Thanks, Kelly, and I hope you enjoy your NYE celebration, too! 🙂
I love party food that is a little bit different and better than the usual sausage roll or cheese and pineapple on a stick.
These sound delicious too.
Happy New Year!
These are different from my usual, and they’ve found a spot in the rotation! Hope you have a Happy New Year as well, Dannii! 🙂
Simple, quick, delicious! How not to like it?!
I love anything that’s simple, quick, and delicious! Thank you for stopping by, Joanna! 🙂
These are so darn cute! Pinned! I wanted to stop by today to wish you a Happy New Year! Here’s looking forward to wonderful things for you and your family in 2015!
Thank you for the pin, Kristi, and thank you for the lovely New Year’s wish! Have a healthy and prosperous 2015! 🙂
Ohhh these look great! My aunt always makes cheese balls around the holiday but they don’t have cranberries and pistachios! I love how festive these are!
Thank you, Annie! I can’t believe I waited so long to try making cheese balls…they’re way too easy and they were such a hit! Happy New Year! 🙂
Perfect. Easy and different. I like the snap of the Cheyenne and the tart of the cranberries. Should make for a real poppin surprise in one’s mouth.
These were a fun,easy little app with more to it than people expected! Hope you had a happy new year!
I’m an appetizer girl all the way too. Maybe it’s the fun size?? I could make a meal out of these, especially with the pistachio and cranberry combo!
I think the fun size has a lot to do with it, and I’m glad you’re with me on this!
These sound and look absolutely amazing, Marcie! Honey and cream cheese and goat cheese, I am drooling! Happy new year!
Thank you, Denise! These were the perfect little things to ring in a tasty new year!
Cheesy appetizers are the BEST! These are so pretty!
They are the best, and thank you, Ashley!
These look and sound seriously delicious, Marcie! Love the addition of pistachios!
Thank you, Jessica! I just loved these colors!
These are so cute and fun!! Very festive!! Perf for a little New Years eve party!! Or an any day treat! 🙂
Thank you, Cailee! These were perfect for ringing in the new year!
They’re so, so cute and colourful! Looks absolutely amazing! Congratulations on a fantastic year, and best wishes for a wonderful 2015 filled with lots of delicious food!
Thank you so much, Alessandra, and I wish you a year filled with delicious food!
Ohhh….these look so good. What a great combo of flavors Marcie! Must try sometime.
Thank you, Melanie, I hope you do get to try them soon!
I went to a party over the holidays and tried something like these balls. I couldn’t stop eating them. I love the crunchy pistachios and sweet cranberries with the cheese. Happy New Year, Marcie!
I loved this combination and the colors don’t hurt either.
Hi Marcie, these would be perfect for game day, love the cheese combinations that you used.
Thank you, Cherie!
I love these so much, Marcie!! I’ve never tried the honey goat cheese before, but I’ve always been intrigued by it! That is so creative that you rolled them in cranberries and pistachios! So pretty and I’m sure they taste amazing!
It was the first time I’d tried the honey goat cheese too and was it ever delicious! Thanks, Izzy!
I love goat cheese and that honey goat cheese sounds divine! Love that you added some cayenne pepper to give these cheese balls some kick. 🙂
Happy New Year!!
These cheese balls are the CUTEST Marcie! Love pistachios and cranberries together! Pinned!
Thank you, Trish! 🙂
Dear Marcie, these look wonderful and so tasty! I love the idea of serving these for my holiday party. I’ve never tried making a cheese ball, but these individual ones are so elegant. I absolutely love goat cheese. Pinning for later dear! xo, Catherine
This was the first time I’d ever made a cheese ball and it was so easy and fun! Thank you, Catherine, and I appreciate the pin!
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LOVE love love these! The perfect little appetizers!
Thank you! These go down really easy. 🙂
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