Description
Whipping up this goat cheese log brings pure delight to any gathering, turning simple ingredients into a creamy, crowd-pleasing appetizer that sparks conversation. Smooth spreadable goodness meets your favorite crackers, delivering tangy flavor that makes everyone smile.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 6 oz goat cheese
- 6 oz cream cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup apricot jam
- ½ cup dried apricots
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds
Seasoning and Garnish:
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- Fresh basil
- Honey
- Crackers or bagel crisps
Instructions
- Toast ⅓ cup sliced almonds in a skillet at medium heat for 5 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove from pan and let cool completely.
- Finely chop ½ cup dried apricots into small, uniform pieces. Separate into two equal portions.
- Blend 6 oz goat cheese, 6 oz softened cream cheese, ¼ tsp sea salt, ¼ tsp dried basil, and ¼ tsp dried thyme in a mixing bowl until smooth.
- Fold half of the chopped apricots and half of the toasted almonds into the cheese mixture.
- Spread plastic wrap on your countertop and transfer cheese mixture onto it. Shape into a compact 6-inch log using the wrap.
- Refrigerate the wrapped log for 30 minutes to firm up the texture.
- Unwrap the log and roll it in remaining apricot pieces and almonds, gently pressing to ensure they stick.
- Place ½ cup apricot jam on a serving platter, creating a light spreading underneath the cheese log.
- Transfer log to the jam-covered platter and drizzle 2 tablespoons honey over the top.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately with crackers or bagel crisps.
Notes
- Toast almonds carefully to enhance their nutty flavor and prevent burning, watching them closely and stirring frequently.
- Chill the cheese log thoroughly so it holds its shape when coating and slicing, which helps create clean, professional-looking edges.
- Customize the herb blend by substituting fresh rosemary or oregano for basil and thyme, keeping the overall proportions consistent.
- For a lighter version, replace cream cheese with Greek yogurt and reduce total amount of cheese for a lower-fat alternative that maintains creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 322 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 232 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg