Mini Cheese Balls with Cranberries and Pistachios
These mini goat cheese balls are made with a mixture of honey goat cheese and cream cheese that has been rolled in chopped cranberries and pistachios. They’re simple, elegant, and are the ultimate party food!
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! Not only are cheese balls very easy, but they’re also 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!
I thought that the perfect way to serve them was slightly smashed down on some nice round crackers with a little drizzle of honey.
You’re only minutes away from a fun, delicious, and sophisticated appetizer that everyone will love!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- If goat cheese isn’t your thing, pick another! You get to customize these mini cheese balls to suit your taste buds.
- The chopped pistachios and dried cranberries add tons of texture and flavor to the cheese ball bites.
- This is a great recipe to assemble in advance and chill until you’re ready to serve.
Recipe ingredients
I made these mini homemade cheese balls with just five main ingredients. How easy is that?!
Ingredient notes
- Cream cheese. Since goat cheese is so strong, I mixed it with cream cheese to tame it down a bit.
- Honey goat cheese. 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.
- Cayenne pepper. Just 1/4 teaspoon adds a slight kick, which pairs nicely with the sweet goat cheese.
- Dried cranberries. Chop them finely to make coating the goat cheese balls easier.
- Pistachios. I recommend buying roasted, salted, and shelled pistachios.
How to make this recipe
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.
- Place the cream cheese in a bowl and beat 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.
FAQs
Yes, you can make this mini goat cheese balls recipe up to 24 hours before you plan on serving them.
Yes, wrap them in a couple layers of plastic wrap and then seal inside a freezer bag.
If you’re planning to freeze this recipe, it’d be easier to make it into one large cheese ball and then freeze that. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight.
What to serve with this recipe
I like to serve these mini cheese balls with crackers and a drizzle of honey. You could also pair them with veggie sticks, pretzels, pita chips, and / or apple slices.
Recipe notes
- I made this goat cheese ball recipe into mini bites, but you can also make one large cheese ball and let people scoop individual servings onto their plate.
- You may substitute the honey goat cheese with plain goat cheese and add a drizzle of honey to the cheese mixture, if needed.
- Chop the cranberries and pistachios finely to make rolling the cheese balls easier.
More cheesy appetizers:
- Spicy cheddar pub cheese
- Honey, thyme & whipped goat cheese fig bites
- Cheesy Brussels sprouts leek dip
- Brie, fig jam & serrano ham crostini
- Cheesy corn dip stuffed jalapeños
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram!
Mini Goat Cheese Balls with Cranberries and Pistachios
Ingredients
- 6 ounces cream cheese softened (I used 1/3 less fat Neufchatel)
- 5.4 ounce log of honey goat cheese*
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper*
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped fine
- 1/2 cup roasted salted shelled pistachios chopped fine
- crackers and honey for serving
Instructions
- 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!
Notes
- Not a goat cheese lover? Substitute the goat cheese with feta.
- *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.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
56 Comments on “Mini Cheese Balls with Cranberries and Pistachios”
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! 🙂
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! 🙂
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! 🙂
Thank you, Meghan! Happy New Year to you! 🙂
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! 🙂
I love anything that’s simple, quick, and delicious! Thank you for stopping by, Joanna! 🙂
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!
These were a fun,easy little app with more to it than people expected! Hope you had a happy new year!
I think the fun size has a lot to do with it, and I’m glad you’re with me on this!
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!
LOVE love love these! The perfect little appetizers!
Thank you! These go down really easy. 🙂
This was a hit at the Christmas Eve party I went to. I added some fresh chopped basil in with the cranberry/pistachio mixture to add a bit more green because pistachios weren’t as vibrant as I wanted. It actually added a great dynamic to the bite and several people asked for the recipe
Thanks so much for your feedback and basil sounds like a great addition!
Can these be made ahead and frozen?
Thanks!
I don’t think freezing these would be a good idea….I honestly wouldn’t try it. They can be made a few days in advance and stored in the refrigerator however.
I’m making these tmro. What do you think about using hot honey and omitting the cayenne?
You could certainly do that!