Goat Cheese Balls with Pecans and Dried Cherries

This is a pretty quick and easy appetizer that you can start a day ahead of time. Goat cheese and cream cheese are blended together with crushed pecans and minced dried cherries and then rolled in the same for a delicious mix that’s great on crackers or bread.

Goat Cheese & Cream Cheese Balls with Pecans and Dried Cherries Appetizer Recipe

• 8 oz. goat cheese, softened at room temperature
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• 6 oz. dried Montmorency cherries, finely chopped
• 1 1/ cup finely-chopped pecans

Directions

Makes about 40 balls, depending on size

• In a medium-size bowl, cream together the goat cheese and cream cheese with a fork until well blended
• Add HALF of the chopped cherries
• Add HALF of the chopped pecans
• Blend together well
• For easiest handling, refrigerate for about 30 minutes
• Mix remaining cherries and pecans together on a plate
• Using a teaspoon as a guide, roll the cheese mixture into small balls
• Coat the balls with the cherry and pecan mixture, pressing gently
• Serve

If you want to make these ahead of time, I recommend making just the balls and refrigerating them, rolling them in the remaining pecans and cherries just before serving. This helps the pecan coating keep some of its crunch.

You can easily cut this recipe in half if you want to make a smaller batch.

This is a fun appetizer to play around with; you can switch up the dried berries and/or switch up the nuts. I really like the dried cherries with these because of their sweet and tart nature but cranberries will also work or, try dried blueberries if you’d like. I’ve not tried these with pistachios yet but I think they’d be perfect. Hazelnuts, walnuts, or almonds are other easy swaps.

You can never have too many easy appetizer recipes, can you? Enjoy!