Description
This Orange Cranberry Cheese Log is a delightful appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or any festive occasion. Creamy cheese blended with zesty orange, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans make for a flavorful and visually appealing dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Log:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 ounces goat cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
Cranberry-Pecan Coating:
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional, for color)
Instructions
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and goat cheese until smooth. Add orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla; mix well. Stir in half of the chopped cranberries.
- Shape and Chill: Form cheese mixture into a log on plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour.
- Coat with Cranberry-Pecan Mixture: Combine remaining cranberries, pecans, and parsley. Roll chilled cheese log in mixture to coat all sides.
- Serve: Refrigerate until ready to serve. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving with crackers or baguette slices.
Notes
- For a sweeter version, add 1–2 teaspoons of honey to the cheese mixture.
- Cheese log can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1 oz)
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 115mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
