Cranberry pecan mini goat cheese balls are delicious, bite-sized appetizers that are easy to prepare with only 3 ingredients. They're great for holiday entertaining, or you can pop them on a salad! (vegetarian, gluten-free)

closeup of mini cranberry pecan goat cheese balls on a grey plate.

When making a super simple appetizer, you can never go wrong with the combination of fruit + cheese. Bonus points for nuts - then you have the perfect trifecta for a bite that hits all the right flavor and texture notes. These mini goat cheese balls use that formula for a quick and easy appetizer that is sophisticated enough for all of your holiday gatherings!

Why You'll Love These Mini Goat Cheese Balls

These little appetizers are perfect for the holidays because they:

Have only 3 ingredients!
Are incredibly delicious. And cute. And a little upgrade from your standard cheese and cracker tray.
Are nutritious. With protein, fiber, and healthy fat, these appetizers have more sustenance than your typical bread-based appetizer.

How To Make Them

5 image collage showing steps for making mini cranberry pecan goat cheese balls.

Toast the pecans either in a dry skillet on the stove, or in the oven at 400°F, until fragrant and lightly browned.
Finely chop toasted, cooled pecans and cranberries. Mix them together in a shallow dish.
Scoop goat cheese by the teaspoon and roll into balls with clean hands. You can use wet or oiled hands to prevent sticking.
Roll goat cheese balls in the chopped cranberries and pecans, gently pressing to coat each.
Place on a plate as you finish the remaining goat cheese balls and serve!

Can They Be Made In Advance?

While best served pretty shortly after making them so that the pecans stay crunchy, these goat cheese balls can be made in advance as well. They will hold up in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Store them in an airtight container.

cranberry pecan mini goat cheese balls on a grey plate lined with parchment.

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days - they're delicious on a salad! Keep in mind that if they are kept out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, leftover should be discarded for food safety reasons.

Recipe Variations

You can mix these mini goat cheese balls up with any combination of dried fruit and nuts that you prefer. A few delicious combinations:

Dried apricots and pistachios
Dried figs and walnuts
Dried cherries and almonds
Dried blueberries and hazelnuts

overhead view of a plate of Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls with a bite taken out of one.

For more super simple appetizers, be sure to visit my roundup of Easy Party Appetizers with 5 Ingredients or Less!

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the comments!

Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls

Print Recipe

Author: Kaleigh
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Yield: about 12 balls 1x
Category: appetizer
Method: toasted
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

⅓ cup pecans
⅓ cup dried cranberries
4 oz plain goat cheese

Instructions

In a small skillet on medium heat or in an oven preheated to 400°F, toast pecans until lightly browned and fragrant. Watch them carefully so they don't burn. Let pecans cool before handling.
Finely chop pecans and cranberries. Mix them on a small plate or in a shallow dish.
Scoop goat cheese by the teaspoon and shape into balls. Roll each ball in the cranberry and pecan mixture, pressing gently to evenly coat the outside.
Store goat cheese balls in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.

Notes

Wetting or lightly oiling your hands can help prevent the goat cheese from sticking when you're rolling the balls.
While best served shortly after making them, these mini goat cheese balls can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Keywords: mini goat cheese balls, cranberry pecan mini goat cheese balls, appetizer with goat cheese cranberries and pecans