Goat Cheese with Honeyed Fruit and Nuts. Cranberries, apricots, dates, pineapple and walnuts, drenched in honey, then spooned atop creamy goat cheese! This is a perfect appetizer for the holidays. It couldn’t be easier or more delicious!
Beautiful little food jewels — that’s how I think of this dish every time I make it. Bright cranberries, sunny apricots, golden pineapple and rich dates, all shiny from a generous drizzle of honey. Add crunchy walnuts and you have a sweet-and-savory topping that looks as lovely as it tastes.
This is one of those wonderfully simple recipes that takes minutes to assemble but reads as if you spent much longer creating it. The idea is straightforward: chop dried fruits and nuts, toss them with honey, and spoon the mixture over creamy goat cheese.
Pick the fruits and nuts you prefer. I chose cranberries, apricots, dates and pineapple for their festive colors and complementary flavors, and walnuts for their hearty texture. Pecans or almonds would be excellent alternatives — the recipe is very forgiving.
Because the fruit and nuts bring so much flavor, you don’t need an exotic honey to make this shine. A simple clover honey works beautifully, though floral varieties like lavender or tupelo would be lovely if you want to elevate the flavor.
The creamy tang of goat cheese balances the sweetness of the honey and dried fruit, while the nuts add crunch and depth — sometimes a touch of salt if you choose salted nuts. Serve the mixture on crackers, toasted baguette slices, pita chips or any other vehicle you like for a single, delightful bite.
Cheese boards can sometimes feel predictable, but this topping always earns a surprised, “Wow — that’s good!” from guests. It adds color, texture and a burst of flavor that perks up any platter.
Because the result is creamy and fruity, it almost tastes like a tiny cheesecake — which makes it a wonderful way to enjoy something dessert-like before dinner. And since there are no real rules here, don’t be surprised when you want the leftovers for breakfast on a toasted bagel. Trust me — it’s delicious.
Oh yes — toasted bagel. Definitely try it.
Goat Cheese with Honeyed Fruit and Nuts
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
- 1/4 cup chopped dried dates
- 1 ring of dried pineapple, chopped
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup honey
- 11 oz. goat cheese
Instructions
- Mix the chopped fruits and nuts with the honey in a small bowl until well coated.
- Place the goat cheese on a serving platter and spoon the fruit-and-nut mixture over and around the cheese.
- Serve with crackers, toasted baguette slices, pita chips or your favorite dippers.
Notes
* This recipe yields about 2 cups of the fruit-and-nut mixture. Adjust quantities to suit the amount of cheese you’re serving. I used a generous ratio of topping to cheese; halve the mixture if you prefer less.
* Buy small amounts from the bulk section if available — you likely won’t need large quantities of any single dried fruit.
* Store any leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator.