Cranberry-Pecan Goat Cheese Truffles

Let’s talk about the easiest, prettiest, most delicious little appetizer you will make this holiday season. These Cranberry-Pecan Goat Cheese Truffles are my secret weapon for parties. They look incredibly elegant, taste amazing, require absolutely zero cooking, and come together in about 15 minutes. It’s basically magic.

We’re taking creamy, tangy goat cheese, mixing it with a little cream cheese for extra smoothness, fresh herbs, and a secret “zesty sprinkle” of bright orange zest. Then, we roll this glorious mixture into bite-sized balls and coat them in a crunchy, festive mix of toasted pecans and sweet-tart dried cranberries. They are the perfect bite: creamy, tangy, crunchy, sweet, and savory all at once. Serve them with crackers, and watch them disappear!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• No-Bake & Super Fast: This is the ultimate stress-free holiday appetizer. It comes together in minutes with zero cooking required.
• Incredibly Elegant: These little truffles look so sophisticated and festive on a platter. Your guests will think you spent hours!
• Perfect Flavor & Texture Combo: The creamy, tangy goat cheese paired with the crunchy pecans and chewy, tart cranberries is an unbeatable combination.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let’s make the easiest elegant appetizer ever. Here’s how.

First, let’s gather our beautiful, festive ingredients.

Next, we’ll make the creamy goat cheese base. We’ll simply mix our softened goat cheese and cream cheese together with fresh herbs and that all-important orange zest.

Now for the fun part: roll ’em up! Use your hands to roll the creamy cheese mixture into small, bite-sized balls. A little scoop helps keep them uniform.

Finally, the festive coating. We’ll roll our creamy truffles in a beautiful mixture of chopped toasted pecans and dried cranberries until they’re completely coated.

Arrange them on a platter, and you’re ready for the party!

Ava’s Notes

• Soften Your Cheeses: Make sure your goat cheese and cream cheese are nicely softened to room temperature. This is the key to getting a perfectly smooth, creamy mixture without lumps.
• Toast Your Nuts! Toasting the pecans beforehand brings out their nutty flavor and makes them extra crunchy. Don’t skip this step!
• Make Ahead Magic: You can make these truffles a day or two in advance! Just store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving.

Cranberry-Pecan Goat Cheese Truffles

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

18-20

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

0

minutes

Total time

15

minutes

An elegant, festive, and incredibly easy no-bake appetizer. Creamy orange-herb goat cheese balls are rolled in a crunchy coating of toasted pecans and tart dried cranberries.

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Ingredients

• 8 oz goat cheese, softened to room temperature

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature

• 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary or thyme

• 1 orange, zested

• Pinch of salt and black pepper

• For the Coating:

• 1 c pecans, toasted and finely chopped

• 1 c dried cranberries, finely chopped

Directions

• Prepare the Coating: On a large plate or shallow dish, combine the finely chopped toasted pecans and finely chopped dried cranberries. Mix them together well.
• Make the Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, softened cream cheese, chopped fresh herbs, orange zest, salt, and pepper. Use a fork or a hand mixer to beat until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
• Roll the Truffles: Use a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon) or your hands to portion the cheese mixture. Roll each portion between your palms into a smooth, bite-sized ball (about 1 inch in diameter). Optional Chill: If your kitchen is warm or the mixture feels too soft, place the rolled balls on a parchment-lined plate and chill in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to firm up slightly.
• Coat the Truffles: Roll each cheese ball gently in the cranberry-pecan mixture, pressing lightly to ensure the coating adheres evenly all over.
• Serve or Store: Arrange the finished truffles on a serving platter. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving for the best texture. Serve with crackers or crostini.

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