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Goat Cheese Log with Hot Honey, Fig and Pistachios

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This goat cheese log is packed with a combination of tangy, salty, and sweet flavors. I love how the fig preserves, honey, and pistachios play against each other. It’s a fantastic starter for a fancy party or casual potluck!

Whether you’re the hostess or going to a party, it’s great to have a few go-to favorites. I have a few requirements on my list for starters. They must have a delicious flavor, please a crowd, and be stunning. This goat cheese log hits all the musts with it’s flavor, popularity, and a gorgeous combination of red, green, and white colors.

Holiday parties for family and friends call for appetizers! I love making these Delicious Cheese Dips because everyone raves about them. Or try my newest obsession this Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip! or this to die for Cowboy Crack Dip recipe.

Close up shot of pistachio-crusted goat cheese with fig and hot honey on plate with crackers.

Whether I’m making a big meal or just bringing a side, this goat cheese appetizer is a snap to make, ready in 5 minutes. It’s naturally gluten-free to fit all your guests’ needs so long as you include GF crackers. 

Now that you’ve discovered the tantalizing flavor of goat cheese, try this Blackberry Grilled Chicken Salad with it’s luscious balsamic vinaigrette or my recent favorite Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon & Dates.

Why You Will Love this Goat Cheese Appetizer

  • Gourmet  |This pistachio-crusted goat cheese looks so elegant, but is really a very easy appetizer that everyone will love!
  • It has Pizazz | This gorgeous goat cheese with fig appetizer is beautiful on a charcuterie board; don’t forget to add plenty of other meats, cheeses, an array of crackers, ripe berries and a little dark chocolate. 
  • Customize | You can customize this easy appetizer to your taste and the size, simply reduce or increase the ingredients. 

Ingredients for Goat Cheese Log

The full list of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. 

Goat Cheese Appetizer ingredients L-R Chopped Pistachios, Fig Spread, hot honey, goat cheese and pomegranate arils.
  • Fresh Goat Cheese |  The signature flavor is tangy and fresh, and it’s soft like ricotta. Yum!
  • Pistachios | Roasted, salted, and chopped, these nuts add a gorgeous flash of green to your starter.
  • Honey | I use hot honey, but regular honey will also yield delicious results.
  • Fig Preserves | My favorite brand is Divina for its balance of sweetness with fruit.
  • Pomegranate Arils | When pomegranates are in season, I use them as much as possible for their gorgeous, jewel-like color and stunning flavor, like on this Christmas salad with Pomegranate dressing.
  • Crackers or Crostini | It’s best to have a variety of options to suit everyone’s tastes and for the carb conscious, I usually provide carrot chips, sliced apples sliced cucumbers. 
Goat cheese appetizer with fig, honey and pistachios.

Instructions

Roll the soft goat cheese into desired sized log, I made mine a bit narrow or longer. Spread the chopped pistachios and fruit on a plate and roll the goat cheese in the toppings.

Place the pistachio-crusted goat cheese log on a serving plate with plenty of room for crackers.

Stir the fig preserves until you can spoon it over the starter. If needed, you can put it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften.

Drizzle honey over the goat cheese log, then if desired, sprinkle with fresh pomegranate arils.

Serve with crackers, crostini, veggies or apple slices.

Variations

  • If you don’t have pomegranate arils, dried cranberries or cherries are a wonderful substitution. You can even swap the fig preserves for apricot jam if needed.
  • Candied bacon bits* are another scrumptious addition—because who can resist the distinct flavor of bacon? How to make them in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.
  • Pecans or walnuts can be used instead of pistachios. Even roasted, salted pumpkin seeds work for this flavorful goat cheese log.

Fresh Tips

  • Let your goat cheese rest on the counter at 67-70 degrees F (room temperature) for the best flavor and spreading. If it’s too cold, the flavor is dull.
  • You can freeze your goat cheese without compromising the flavor or texture!
  • Make this starter in advance and store it in the fridge. Just allow enough time for it to warm up for optimal flavor.
Goat cheese crusted in pistachios and drizzled with fig and hot honey on a cracker with hand holding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cracker goes best with goat cheese?

Crackers with seeds or herbs are excellent choices. If you’ve never tried a rosemary cracker, now’s your chance!

Why is my goat cheese bitter?

This delicacy has a tangy flavor. If it’s bitter, it’s gone bad and you should throw it out.

What other dishes are good with goat cheese?

You can use it instead of cream cheese, on sandwiches, pizza, in tarts, and crumbled over salads.

Pistachio-Crusted Goat Cheese appetizer close-up with crackers.

Servings Suggestions & More Appetizers

Long pin with top image of close up of goat cheese appetizer and bottom appetizer with crackers, fig, honey and hot honey.

Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and comment below the recipe!

Goat cheese appetizer with fig and hot honey.

Goat Cheese Appetizer with Hot Honey, Fig and Pistachios

Author: Kathleen Pope
4.84 from 6 votes
This goat cheese log is packed with a combination of tangy, salty, and sweet flavors. I love how the fig preserves, honey, and pistachios play against each other. It’s a fantastic starter for a fancy party or casual potluck!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Appetizers
Cuisine American
Servings 6 -8 servings
Calories 82 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium fresh goat cheese log, between 4 – 10 oz
  • ¼ cup roasted, salted pistachios, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons hot honey, or regular honey
  • [1-2 tablespoons fig preserves, I like Divina brand]
  • Pomegranate Arils, optional
  • Crackers or bread for serving, sliced apples, carrot chips, cucumber slices

Instructions
 

  • On a piece of parchment paper or wax paper, roll softened goat cheese log a little narrower and longer.
  • Using a small plate, spread the chopped pistachios and then roll the goat cheese on the pistachios, rolling to cover all sides. If using cranberries or cherries, chop and add to pistachios for rolling. 
  • Transfer the goat cheese log to serving plate, be sure it’s large enough to accommodate the crackers. 
  • Stir the fig spread until it can be spooned over the goat cheese log, if necessary, place 1-2 tablespoons in a microwave safe dish and microwave for 10 seconds, then drizzle over the goat cheese log. 
  • Drizzle with desired amount of hot honey or regular honey. 
  • Serve with crackers, bread, carrot chips, cucumber slices and/or apple slices for a low carb option. 

✱ Kathleen’s Tips

Candied Bacon Bits

  • 2 tablespoons real bacon bits
  • 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Add bacon to hot skillet over medium heat and stir until it crisps up slightly, then add brown sugar and maple syrup and stir to coat bacon just a for a minute or so until sugar is dissolved. Remove from pan and place on plate to cool. Sprinkle over the top of the goat cheese log.
Replace pomegranate arils with chopped dried cranberries or cherries.
I love serving with a combination of regular and gluten-free crackers, since this recipe is naturally gluten-free it’s a great appetizer for gluten sensitive friends. 
Notes: be sure to allow the goat cheese to come to room temperature for best spreading. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Calories: 82 kcal Carbohydrates: 7 g Protein: 3 g Fat: 5 g Saturated Fat: 2 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g Cholesterol: 7 mg Sodium: 83 mg Sugar: 6 g

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Fresh Cooky is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Kathleen Pope, The Fresh Cooky.

About Kathleen Pope

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.

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12 Comments

  1. So much to love in this appetizer! The combination of creamy and tangy goat cheese with sweet figs and spicy honey….I might be swooning just a little over here. It’s just perfect Kathleen. Enjoy all the time over Christmas week with your boys!💙