Description

This festive Cranberry Pecan Cheese Log is a flavorful and elegant appetizer perfect for holidays or parties. Combining creamy cream cheese and tangy goat cheese with sweet dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and a hint of cinnamon and honey, it’s both visually appealing and delicious. Easy to prepare ahead of time, this cheese log is served with crackers or sliced baguette for a crowd-pleasing starter.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese Mixture

8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 oz goat cheese, softened
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt

Mix-Ins and Coating

1 cup dried cranberries, chopped and divided
1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Serving

Crackers or sliced baguette

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Instructions

Mix the cheese base: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, goat cheese, honey, ground cinnamon, and salt. Mix thoroughly until the texture is smooth and all ingredients are well incorporated.
Add cranberries and pecans: Stir in half of the chopped dried cranberries and half of the toasted chopped pecans, evenly distributing them throughout the cheese mixture.
Shape and chill the log: Place the cheese mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Using the wrap to help, form the cheese into a compact log shape. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the cheese log to firm up.
Prepare the coating: In a shallow dish, combine the remaining chopped cranberries, toasted pecans, and chopped fresh parsley, mixing well to create a colorful and flavorful coating.
Coat the cheese log: Remove the cheese log from the refrigerator and unwrap it. Roll the chilled cheese log gently in the cranberry-pecan mixture, pressing lightly to ensure the coating adheres evenly on all sides.
Serve: Transfer the coated cheese log to a serving platter. Serve with crackers or sliced baguette for a delightful appetizer presentation.

Notes

To toast pecans, heat a dry skillet over medium heat and stir pecans frequently for 5–7 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Let cool before chopping.
This cheese log can be prepared a day in advance and stored tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, making it ideal for ahead-of-time entertaining.
For a gluten-free option, serve with gluten-free crackers instead of baguette slices.