Honey Goat Cheese Balls

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Honey goat cheese balls are perfect party tapas and holiday appetizers. Golden and crisp on the outside, they’re soft and creamy on the inside. They’re so delicious! Fried goat cheese is a quick simple recipe!

During the busy holiday season, save time by making fried cheese balls in advance. Store them in freezer. When you’re ready, pan fry them in batches. They cook in 1 to 2 minutes. Honey goat cheese is a party favorite!

PIN THIS EASY TAPAS RECIPE!

INGREDIENTS FOR HONEY GOAT CHEESE BALLS

There’s so much to love about this easy tapas recipe. Like aebleskiver, all it requires are a few refrigerator and pantry items. This game-day appetizer is perfect for all occasions and won’t break the bank.

These are the ingredients you’ll need:

• Log of soft goat cheese
• All-purpose flour
• Large egg
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Canola oil or vegetable oil, for frying
• Honey, for drizzling
• Fresh Italian parsley, for garnishing

HOW TO MAKE CHEESE BALLS

RECIPE PREP: Add flour to a shallow bowl. Add Panko crumbs to another bowl. Put them aside.

• STEP 1: Slice the log of goat cheese into 24 pieces. The size and shape doesn’t need to be perfect!
• STEP 2: Roll each piece into a ball.
• STEP 3: Beat the egg in a shallow bowl.
• STEP 4: Roll the goat cheese balls in flour. Dip them in the egg. Dredge them in the bowl of Panko crumbs. Transfer coated balls to a baking tray, leaving space between the pieces. Freeze for 20 minutes or until firm.

HOW TO SLICE GOAT CHEESE: It’s soft, crumbly, breaks into pieces, and can get a bit messy. Use a sharp knife. Vertically slice the log in half, then slice off small chunks. Or take unflavored dental floss and cut straight down.

HOW TO MAKE FRIED GOAT CHEESE

RECIPE PREP: Line a small baking tray with paper towels.

• STEP 1: On stovetop, heat 1 to 2 inches of oil in a large skillet.
• STEP 2: Fry the goat cheese balls in batches. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, rotating the balls until golden and crisp on all sides.
• STEP 3: Transfer cooked balls to lined baking tray. Let them sit and drain on the paper towels for at least a minute.
• STEP 4: Arrange the fried cheese balls on a small serving plate. Drizzle with honey. If desired, sprinkle with chopped Italian parsley.

COOKING TIP: These goat cheese balls crisp up quickly! Some are done in just 45 seconds. To prevent over-browning, fry no more than 3 to 6 balls at a time. Work quickly to rotate the balls then remove them from the pan.

expert tips AND FAQ

• HOW TO ELEVATE THE FLAVOR? Add fresh herbs to the filling. Mix the cheese with rosemary and thyme. Or add one of the following: basil, chives, dill or tarragon. Add a sprinkling of minced shallot to the mixture.
• HOW TO SERVE FRIED GOAT CHEESE? Pair these tapas with crusty bread, flatbread or crackers. Serve on a charcuterie board with olives, figs, apple slices, grapes, pecans, prosciutto, and an assortment of sliced cheeses.
• WINE PAIRING TIPS: Serve honey goat cheese balls Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, or Chardonnay. These tapas pair beautifully with Albarino, a Spanish white wine that’s clean and crisp with delicious citrus flavor.
• SALAD CROUTONS: Honey goat cheese is a perfect topping for salads! Make slightly smaller cheese balls for bite-size croutons.
• HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE GLUTEN FREE? Use gluten-free flour and gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs.
• MAKE-AHEAD RECIPE: Assemble goat cheese balls. Place uncooked tapas on a baking tray with room between the pieces. Freeze 1 hour or until frozen solid. Transfer balls to a zip-top freezer bag. Freeze up to 1 month.

MORE APPETIZER RECIPES

If you love fried goat cheese, you’ll also enjoy these party favorites! They’re easy to make and so delicious.

• CREAM CHEESE WONTONS
• MINI PIGS IN A BLANKET
• LOADED CREAM CHEESE DIP
• FRIED OLIVES
• GARLIC BUTTER STEAK BITES

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Friends often pair these tapas with Spanish wine. They favor this easy appetizer recipe for holiday parties! If you agree, give these fried goat cheese balls a 5-star rating in the comments.

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