These Mini Goat Cheese Balls are guaranteed to be the hit of any gathering! They’re creamy, tangy and rolled in cranberries and pistachios for a festive and easy appetizer. They come together in minutes and may be made entirely in advance!

Mini goat cheese balls with wooden picks

When it comes to appetizers, it doesn’t get much better than my fall cheese board filled with some of my favorite cheeses, dried fruit or fig jam, and an array of crackers!

When I’m craving a cheesy appetizer but I want to scale things down a bit, these Mini Goat Cheese Balls are one of my favorite things to serve. They include all the components in a cheese board, and they’re nearly effortless.

Like my whipped goat cheese, these mini cheese balls are creamy, tangy and packed with sweet and savory flavor.

They’re perfectly portioned so guests can help themselves easily, with no need to slice or spread anything.

And of course they’re absolutely delicious, festive and they always please a crowd. 🙂

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Mini cheese balls on a cutting board with honey and crackers

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • Mini cheese balls are creamy, sweet and savory, and guaranteed to be a crowd favorite.
  • They’re a festive yet easy appetizer that’s great served with your favorite crackers and a drizzle of honey.
  • They’re perfectly portioned and so much easier to eat than a large cheese ball!
  • They include just a few ingredients and they can be made entirely in advance.

Recipe ingredients

Mini cheese ball recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

  • Goat cheese. This cheese is so creamy and tangy, and it pairs beautifully with the savory rosemary and pistachios, spicy cayenne pepper, and sweetness from honey and cranberries.
  • Cream cheese. This is an essential ingredient for cheese balls as it helps hold them together. It also adds another layer of flavor, and it keeps the goat cheese flavor from being overpowering.
  • Honey. A few tablespoons of honey are included in the cheese ball mixture for the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavor.
  • Cayenne pepper. Just 1/2 teaspoon adds a slight kick, which pairs well with the sweetness of the honey and cranberries.
  • Dried cranberries. Chop them well to make coating the goat cheese balls easier.
  • Pistachios. I recommend buying roasted, salted, and shelled pistachios. If you’re not a fan of pistachios, sub with your favorite nuts.

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.

How to make mini cheese balls

This mini goat cheese ball recipe is super easy to make. They can be assembled entirely advance, so they’re perfect for entertaining.

  • Pro tip:  Using a cookie scoop makes preparing mini cheese balls much easier.  They’re a bit larger, but you can roll them into smaller sizes by hand if you prefer.

See the recipe card below for full instructions.

How to make mini cheese balls
  1. Beat the cream cheese, goat cheese, honey, cayenne pepper and salt together until smooth. Add the rosemary and beat just until combined.
  2. Chill the goat cheese mixture for 15 minutes or until cold, then scoop onto a waxed paper lined baking sheet.
  3. Combine the chopped cranberries and pistachios and place in a bowl or spread out on a plate.
  4. Roll each mini cheese ball in the cranberry-pistachio mixture and chill until serving time.
Mini goat cheese balls on a baking sheet

Recipe FAQs

Can mini cheese balls be made in advance?

Yes, you can make this mini goat cheese balls recipe up to 24 hours before you plan on serving them.

Can you freeze cheese balls?

Mini cheese balls are freezer friendly. Simply freeze on a baking sheet or wire rack in a single layer, then transfer to a zip top bag and freeze.

To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight.

Mini cheese balls rolled in cranberries and pistachios

Serving suggestions

Goat cheese balls are very versatile and can be served a number of ways.

  • Serve as an appetizer with your favorite crackers and a drizzle of honey. You can also pair them with veggie sticks, pretzels, pita chips, and / or apple slices.
  • Mini cheese balls make a beautiful addition to a cheese board.
  • Customize them by inserting pretzel sticks instead of wooden picks. You can also add your favorite herbs or seasonings in the goat cheese mixture, and roll them in your favorite chopped nuts, herbs, dried fruit or even pomegranate.

Recipe notes

  • Pro tip:  Using a cookie scoop makes preparing mini cheese balls much easier.  They’re a bit larger, but you can roll them into smaller sizes by hand if you prefer.
  • Prepare the goat cheese balls up to a day in advance for an easy appetizer!
  • Store mini cheese balls in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
  • Customize this recipe with your favorite herbs and seasonings.
  • Change things up by rolling the mini cheese balls in your favorite chopped nuts, dried fruit, herbs or pomegranate.
Goat cheese balls spread on cracker

More cheesy appetizers you’ll love:

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 wooden picks

Mini Goat Cheese Balls

Servings: 20 cheese balls
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Additional Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
These mini goat cheese balls are creamy, sweet and savory bites that make a great holiday appetizer! They're so easy to make and can be made entirely in advance!
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Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 8 ounces goat cheese softened to room temperature
  • 3 tablespoons honey or more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly chopped rosemary
  • 1 cup dried cranberries chopped
  • 1 cup roasted salted shelled pistachios chopped

Instructions 

  • Place the cream cheese, goat cheese, cayenne pepper, honey and salt in a medium bowl and beat on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the rosemary just until combined, then cover and chill for 15 minutes or until cold.
    8 ounces cream cheese, 8 ounces goat cheese, 3 tablespoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly chopped rosemary
  • Place a sheet of waxed paper over a large rimmed baking sheet. Place the cranberries and pistachios in a medium bowl or on a plate and toss to combine.
    1 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup roasted salted shelled pistachios
  • Using a 1 1/2" cookie scoop, scoop out the goat cheese mixture and place on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Roll the balls in the cranberry pistachio mixture until evenly coated and place back on the waxed paper. Cover and chill until time to serve. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Pro tip:  Using a cookie scoop makes this process much easier.  The mini cheese balls are a bit larger, but you can roll them into smaller sizes by hand if you prefer.
  • Prepare the goat cheese balls up to a day in advance for an easy appetizer!
  • Store mini cheese balls in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
  • Customize this recipe with your favorite herbs and seasonings.
  • Change things up by rolling the mini cheese balls in your favorite chopped nuts, dried fruit, herbs or pomegranate.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cheese ball, Calories: 136kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 136mg, Potassium: 87mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 316IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 34mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Author: Marcie
All recipes and images © Flavor the Moments.
Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

**This recipe was originally published in December 2014. The recipe has been modified to include more servings, step by step photos have been added, and the text has been modified to include more recipe information.

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