Raisin Pine Nut Goat Cheese Appetizer

Raisin Pine Nut Goat Cheese Appetizer is perfect for any occasion!  Crumbled goat cheese topped with sweet raisins and caramelized onions, savory rosemary and pine nuts, it’s super creamy and incredibly delicious!  So easy and ready in just 15 minutes, they’ll eat it til it’s gone!

Why We Love It!

• It’s the perfect holiday appetizer! – This goat cheese appetizer has become one of our favorites!  It’s perfect for the holidays because it looks so elegant while being so quick and easy!  I love to add it to our New Year’s Eve grazing menu, and it’s perfect for Christmas parties or even game day Sunday.  And girl’s night?  Just add a bottle of red wine!  

• It’s fast and easy! –  It’s SO easy, a quick topping saute and ready to serve in just 15 minutes!  Plus only a handful of ingredients!

• The flavor is incredible! – My distant cousins were in town for a visit, and brought us a goat cheese snack from the local fancy cheese shop.  We devoured it, the kids played, and we figured out that we are actually “second cousins once removed”  (family tree connections are a hidden talent of mine).  The goat cheese topping was so incredible, I set out to recreate it!  The flavor is amazing, and turned out even better than the original!  

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Goat Cheese – A 4 to 6 oz log of goat cheese feeds about 2 to 4 people.  So if you are having a larger party, you can use more than one, and double the topping amount. 

• Onion – The topping starts by caramelizing onions, bringing out their natural sugars and giving you that first sweet and savory layer of flavor. 

• Fresh Rosemary – Definitely go for fresh over dried!  Real rosemary flavor is amazing and just feels like the holidays!

• Pine Nuts – It’s a pricey ingredient but this recipe only uses a bit.  The flavor and that bite of crunch are worth it!

• Dried Fruit – I used dried cranberry and golden raisins to give a nice bite of sweetness and also a pop of color.  Subbing any type of raisins, chopped dried apricots or other dried fruit would work too.

• Honey – Just a touch of honey gives this dish a balance of sweet to counter the savory.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1 – First make the topping.  In a skillet, saute the onions until soft and lightly caramelized.  Add in the rosemary and pine nuts to gently toast.  Then add the dried fruit, honey and vinegar.

Step 2 – Crumble the goat cheese in a serving dish and top with the warm raisin mixture.  Serve with crackers, garnish with fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs.

Tips

• The best part?  That quick 10 minute saute of the topping poured over the dish of goat cheese melts it just slightly.  The goat cheese turns creamy and velvety, perfect dipped with crackers.  Serving the appetizer right after making it gives the cheese that little delicious melt, but made ahead and served cold would be fine too.  That’s how the one from the cheese shop was! 

FAQ’s

Can I make this appetizer ahead of time?

Yes!  You can easily make up the topping ahead of time and store it in the fridge.  Then just pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds and spoon it over the crumbled goat cheese when you are ready to serve!

Is goat cheese good for a charcuterie board?

Yes!  This easy goat cheese appetizer is perfect to add to any size charcuterie board!  You can make up the dish of cheese with its topping and then make a whole board around it!  Add things like crackers or sliced baguette, fruits like grapes, sliced apple or pear, berries, fig jam, bowls of nuts or olives, sliced veggies, salami or prosciutto.  The possibilities are endless!

More Favorite Appetizers!

• Cranberry Honey Baked Brie
• Roasted Carrot Hummus
• Sweet and Sticky Party Meatballs
• Honey Nut Brie
• Best Ever Guacamole

Did You Make This Recipe?

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