Honey Whipped Goat Cheese with Cranberries & Pecans

The holiday season is all about gathering with loved ones and sharing delicious food, and this Honey Whipped Goat Cheese with Cranberry Sauce & Pecans is the ultimate festive appetizer.

Perfectly balancing sweet, tangy, and savory flavors, this dish is as easy to make as it is impressive to serve. The creamy, honey-infused goat cheese is light and fluffy, providing the perfect base for the tart cranberry sauce and crunchy toasted pecans.

It’s a vibrant addition to any holiday table, whether you’re hosting a cozy evening with friends or preparing for a large family gathering. Plus, this versatile recipe pairs great with crackers or toasted baguette. Bonus: it can be prepped ahead, so you can spend more time enjoying the festivities and less time in the kitchen.

Honey Whipped Goat Cheese with Cranberries & Pecans

Serves: 8-10

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 baguette, sliced diagonally

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 ½ cups cranberries

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 tablespoon lemon zest

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1 ounce bourbon 

• ½ cup chopped pecans

• 3 tablespoons of fresh thyme, picked off the sprig (or 1 tablespoon dried thyme)

• 10-12 ounces of goat cheese (280-300g)

• 4 ounces cream cheese (can be subbed with greek yogurt)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• pinch of salt

• ¼ cup honey, plus more for topping

Directions

1. Bring a medium saucepan to medium heat and melt the butter. When the butter is melted, add the cranberries, honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon zest, lemon juice, and bourbon. Stir occasionally as the cranberries begin to break down.

2. Once the cranberries are softened, and turned into a sauce-like consistency. Taste the sauce and ensure it's sweet enough for your taste. If not, add more honey by the tablespoon. Remove from the heat.

3. Start on the whipped goat cheese by adding the goat cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, salt, and remaining honey to a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth.

4. Pour the whipped goat cheese into a serving bowl and top with the cranberry sauce in dollops. Then add the pecans and thyme, and drizzle some honey to top it all off!

5. Use fresh or toasted baguette to dip in the goat cheese. Enjoy!