Goat Cheese Balls Easy Baked Recipe Wellplated Com

The fact that the French put fried goat cheese balls on salads is one of the many pleasures you’ll find on their café menus. I’d long had the idea to recreate the experience at home. Instead of the large coins of goat cheese I was served in Paris, I opted for these highly devourable mini goat cheese balls.

The mini size gives you a more balanced ratio of crispy breadcrumb exterior to creamy goat cheese interior.The smaller scale also makes this goat cheese recipe ideal for appetizers. You can prep them ahead, and the presentation is exceptional.

This baked goat cheese ball recipe further ups the appetizer ante (aside my Pineapple Cheese Ball) with cranberries in the filling and toasted pecans in the coating. A final drizzle of honey makes these bites a complete show-off, which is part of the fun. When serving something as sublime as golden, warm goat cheese balls with cranberries, a little showmanship is more than appropriate—it’s a right and necessary thing to do!

How to Make Baked Goat Cheese Balls

While fried goat cheese balls are more common in France, I like to skip the mess and bake the goat cheese balls in the oven instead.

Making baked instead of fried goat cheese balls offers easy cleanup.Baked goat cheese balls are a more healthy way to eat goat cheese than fried, since they skip the oil.

Nuts, cranberries, and honey go well with goat cheese, and this recipe takes advantage of all three. With their crispy, nutty coating and warm, creamy interior, goat cheese balls are one of the best ways to eat goat cheese.

The Ingredients

Pecan Panko Mixture. The outsides of these balls are coated in a scrumptious panko pecan mixture with thyme and salt. It’s a crisp and savory complement to the creamy and sweet interior of the balls.

Egg. Helps the pecan panko mixture stick to the goat cheese balls. Dried Cranberries. Their pop of sweetness goes beautifully with goat cheese, and they add festive bursts of color. Goat Cheese. Creamy and luscious goat cheese makes for the ideal cheese ball. Its slight tanginess is addictive, and it can be purchased in a variety of fun flavors.

Honey. A finishing drizzle of honey makes these special. Honey complements the salty coating and lightly tangy goat cheese.

The Directions

Make Ahead Tips

For those (like me) who prefer to make party appetizers in advance, you might be wondering, “can you make goat cheese balls in advance?” Thankfully, the answer is yes!

To Make Ahead. Prepare the goat cheese balls as directed through Step 8. Transfer the frozen goat cheese balls to an airtight freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to bake the cheese balls, finish the recipe steps as directed.

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate goat cheese balls in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F. To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Mixing Bowls. These stackable bowls are a must-have item in my kitchen. Baking Sheet. Ideal for freezing and baking these goat cheese balls. Food Processor. The one I own and love!

Baked goat cheese balls with cranberries: this is bliss in a bite!