This goat cheese log with hot honey and pistachios is the perfect easy appetizer for the holiday season - or really any time of year!
It calls for 3 simple ingredients and is ready in less than 10 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute gatherings.
Why You'll Love It:
- Quick and easy. This is our favorite emergency appetizer! It comes together in less than 10 minutes and can be served right away.
- Fancy - but not too fancy. A goat cheese appetizer like this is super versatile, fitting in just as much at a posh dinner party as it does at a work potluck.
- Perfect balance of flavors. Creamy, sweet, spicy, salty, and crunchy - what more could you ask for?
You Will Need:
- Goat cheese: We recommend purchasing a goat cheese log, as it's easy to roll in the crushed nuts. Look for a log that is firm and in good shape. Use a large log for a crowd, or the smaller logs for intimate gatherings.
- Chopped pistachios: We recommend purchasing these shelled, but whole (just chop them first), from a bulk food store like Sam's or Costco. Shelled pistachios will work fine; you'll need to remove the shells first, which can be a bit of a pain (literally).
- Hot honey: Use either store-bought hot honey (like Mike's Hot Honey) or homemade hot honey. It's easy to make with just 3 simple ingredients! If you prefer, you can use pure maple syrup or a drizzle of honey (the regular stuff) instead.
- For serving: We prefer using fruit and nut crackers (such as Raincoast Crisps), but there are endless options available. Some ideas include puff pastry twists, bagel chips, pita bread, or even toasted baguette slices for delicious goat cheese crostinis.
Check the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and the quantities needed.
How to Make an Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer
- Sprinkle ¾ cup of finely chopped pistachios on a sheet of parchment paper (or waxed paper).
- Place the goat cheese log on top of the crushed pistachios.
- Use the edge of the parchment paper (or wax paper) to roll the goat cheese log in the crushed pistachios until it is completely coated. Use your hands to press pistachios into any remaining goat cheese that is left uncovered.
- Place the pistachio-coated goat cheese appetizer on a serving platter, drizzle with hot honey (or maple syrup), and serve with crackers, baguette chips, etc.
Top tip: Place an extra bowl of hot honey with a honey dipper so that guests can add extra to their individual servings.
What to Serve With a Goat Cheese Log
- Crostini
- Bagel chips
- Puff pastry twists
- Crusty breadsticks
- Fruit and nut crackers
- Classic crackers (like Ritz)
- Hot honey (or maple syrup)
- Fig jam (or preserves)
- Cranberry sauce (or preserves)
- Crushed nuts (pistachios, pecans, etc.)
- Fresh herbs
- Pita bread
Variations
- With fig preserves: Roll the goat cheese log in fig jam or blended fig preserves, then roll it in the chopped nuts.
- With cranberry sauce: Cover the goat cheese log with a thin layer of homemade cranberry sauce (or good-quality cranberry preserves), then top with pistachios or crunchy pecans. My homemade cranberry sauce uses orange juice and orange zest, but if you go with store-bought, you might want to add a little of each. Garnish the platter with fresh cranberries.
- With pecans: Creamy goat cheese pairs perfectly with crunchy pecans, especially during the holiday season. You can use them in place of the pistachios, and include either sweet fig jam or cranberry sauce (if desired).
- With herbs: Garnish with fresh rosemary, fresh thyme leaves, sage, or your favorite woody herb.
- Using cream cheese: Tangy goat cheese tastes much different than silky cream cheese, but they do have a similar texture. You can swap out the goat cheese for an 8-ounce brick of cream cheese and add your favorite preserves or toppings right on top!
- With fresh fruit: Add pomegranate arils, balsamic vinegar roasted strawberries, green and red grapes, fresh pear, or crisp apple.
Storing Leftovers
- Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container or wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- The nuts will lose their crunch, but everything will still taste great!
- Keep the crackers (if using) at room temperature to keep their crunch (as long as they don't have smidges of goat cheese, honey, etc. on them).
Can I Make it Ahead of Time?
This recipe is best when it's prepared just before serving, as that keeps the nuts nice and crunchy. Part of the beauty is that it can be assembled so quickly, making it perfect for last-minute parties.
If you want to prepare it in advance, we recommend chopping the nuts and storing them in a sealed container with a lid. Then, when you're ready to serve, you can quickly assemble all the ingredients.
More Goat Cheese Recipes:
- Baked goat cheese pasta
- Tomato goat cheese gnochhi - Salt and Lavender
- Air fryer goat cheese balls - Just a Taste
- Garlic herb goat cheese log - Carlsbad Cravings
More Easy Appetizers:
If you loved this goat cheese appetizer recipe, let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.
Pistachio and Hot Honey Goat Cheese Log
This goat cheese log with hot honey and pistachios is the perfect easy appetizer for the holiday season - or really any time of year!
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Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 191kcal
Ingredients
- 1 large goat cheese log 10 ounces/300g
- ¾ cup chopped pistachios
- ¼ cup hot honey
- Crackers, for serving fruit and nut, crostini, bagel chips, etc.
Instructions
- Chop the pistachios. We recommend using a nut chopper or a sharp knife (carefully) to chop shelled pistachios. A food processor can work, but can easily chop the nuts too finely so it's not our top recommendation. To remove the fine pistachio dust we recommend sifting the nuts in a fine strainer first. Measure the pistachios after chopping (not while whole).
- Roll the goat cheese in pistachios. Sprinkle the pistachios on top of a piece of parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Keep them concentrated in a rectangle about 9" by 4" in size. Place the goat cheese log on top of the pistachios and roll the log in the crushed nuts, using the parchment paper to cover and roll the log if needed.
- Keep rolling until the log is completely covered in crushed pistachios, then use your hands to gently press any remaining nuts into any exposed surfaces.
- Drizzle and serve. Place the rolled goat cheese log on a serving platter and drizzle generously with hot honey. Serve with fruit and nut crackers, toasted baguette slices, or bagel chips. Provide dip spreaders, appetizer plates, and extra hot honey on the side for drizzling.
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Notes
Storing leftovers: Tightly wrap leftovers or transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep in mind that the nuts will lose their crunch, but they will still taste good!
Can I make this ahead of time?: The beauty of this recipe is that it can be quickly assembled at the last minute. This recipe can be made ahead of time, but it really is best when freshly assembled to keep the texture of the nuts crunchy. If you want to prepare ahead of time but still keep the quality the same, you can chop the nuts in advance and keep them in an airtight container. You’ll be ready to roll and serve in just a few minutes when you’re ready.
Half size: For a small gathering, you can cut the recipe in half and use a 5-ounce (150g) goat cheese log instead of the larger one.
Nutrition
Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 414IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg
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Dorothy Bigelow says
So easy to make and perfect for parties! Creamy, crunchy, salty, sweet... it has it all!