Ingredients
- 10 ounce log goat cheese, softened
- 2 ounces brick-style cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup finely chopped toasted pecans
- ½ cup finely chopped sweetened dried cranberries
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons honey, plus more for drizzling
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine chopped pecans, cranberries, thyme, and rosemary. Set aside most of the mixture for coating.
- In a medium bowl, mix goat cheese and cream cheese until smooth using a spoon or hand mixer on low speed.
- Stir in honey, orange zest, about ¼ cup of the cranberry-pecan mixture, and a pinch of black pepper.
- Transfer cheese mixture to plastic wrap or wax paper and shape into an 8–9 inch log. Wrap tightly and freeze for 30 minutes until firm.
- Spread reserved coating mixture onto a clean piece of wrap. Unwrap cheese log and gently roll it in the coating, pressing to adhere.
- Rewrap the coated log and refrigerate for 1–2 hours before serving.
- Let sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving for best texture. Drizzle with honey, if desired.
Notes
- Substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds for a different nutty flavor.
- Use hot honey for a spicy kick.
- Replace thyme with chives for a fresher, onion-like taste.
- Skip orange zest if needed, though it adds a nice citrus balance.
- Coat the log just before serving for the freshest texture.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1 oz)
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
