Honey, Apricot, and Almond Goat Cheese Spread: This easy, cheesy appetizer will add a burst of color and a whole lot of deliciousness to your holiday table!
To me, appetizers are often more exciting than the main event. Entrees are great and dessert is just peachy, but to me the fun really lies in the pre-meal nosh.
At holiday gatherings, where everything from appetizers to desserts is in wondrous abundance, I’m often left with a choice to make. Do I fill up on appetizers? Beeline for the sweet stuff? Save room for roast turkey or ham?
Trick question!!! It’s all about the apps!
When I’m hosting a shindig, I always always always like to have some sort of cheese spread situation on hand. It feels far more civilized than noshing on a plate full of cubed cheese and is way less hazardous than a communal dip.
Double-dipping is not an option people. I repeat: not. an. option.
Honey, Apricot, and Almond Goat Cheese Spread
This super simple cheese spread fits the bill. It’s creamy, cheesy, sweet, and salty… perfecto!
I have a total weakness for pairing creamy goat cheese with sweet sticky preserves and toasty almonds, and it’s downright heavenly spread on crackers, bagel chips, fresh apple and pear slices, and flaky croissants.
As an added bonus, it only takes MINUTES to make! Let’s do this!
Honey, Apricot, and Almond Goat Cheese Spread
Honey, Apricot, and Almond Goat Cheese Spread: This easy, cheesy appetizer will add a burst of color and a whole lot of deliciousness to your holiday table!
Ingredients
- 8 oz goat cheese or cream cheese
- 1/3 cup Blue Diamond Lightly Salted Almonds
- 4-5 dried apricots, chopped
- 2-3 tsp fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- 1/4-1/2 cup apricot preserves
- honey, for drizzling
SERVE WITH:
- an assortment of crackers
- fresh sliced granny smith apple
NOTE: I tried this app with both the honey roasted almonds and the lightly salted almonds and adored them both! Feel free to use whichever you have on hand!
Instructions
- Remove goat cheese from protective packaging and soften to room temperature.
- Spread fresh preserves on a cheese tray or serving platter.
- Place your almonds in a bag or between two sheets of paper towel and crush using a blunt object, like a glass olive oil bottle.
- Next chop your apricots and mix together with the almonds and parsley.
- Roll your goat cheese in the mixture, pressing gently to coat.
- Set the goat cheese log atop the preserves and surround with crackers and fresh fruit.
- Finish it off with a hearty drizzle of honey and you're good to go!
Notes
No apricots? No problem! Try this uber easy appetizer with fig preserves instead; it's equally amazing!
more craveable cheese topping combos:
- cranberry sauce (or jam!) + dried cranberries + lightly salted almonds
- fig preserves + golden raisins + honey roasted almonds
- lightly salted almonds + crispy bacon + chopped green onion
If by some miracle you have a little leftover, it tastes absolutely divine spread on a toasted bagel or flakey bakery croissant the next morning with extra honey. Delicious!
This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds, my muse for all things nutty! Big thanks to Blue Diamond Almonds for their continued support of this tasty little food blog of mine and helping me create recipes I adore with a product that’s been a pantry staple of ours for ages! And also for making honey roasted almonds… holy cow those are delicious! Annnnnd thank YOU for stopping by to hang out with me, chatting it up on social media, and making my recipes. It always makes my day!
If you get a chance to try this Honey, Apricot, and Almond Goat Cheese Spread, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS #PEASANDCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations! I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Alicia
Should curly or flat leaf parsley be used?
Jenn
Hey Alicia! Both are wonderful! I always grow curly in my garden so I typically use that in recipes, though flat leaf parsley works great too!
KareninStLouis
The chopped almonds should also be mixed in during step 4, right?
Jenn
Hey Karen! Yes you’re correct! For some reason I wasn’t super clear in that step so I’m updating it right now, thanks! xoxo
RAE A
This i a huge hit at my house, delicious!
Aunt Charley
I made this last weekend for a ladies meeting. It was a HUGE hit. I didn’t use the honey and can’t imagine it any better than it was. I’ll be making it again this weekend for a social gathering.
Jenn
So super happy to hear it, thank you! 🙂
Cindy
I made this for a New Year’s Eve party last night and it was really well-received. I forgot the honey on top and it was plenty sweet enough for us. I also used Smucker’s Simply Fruit Apricot spread which has less sugar than regular apricot preserves. Thanks!
LISA
Hi, I am excited to try this appetizer! Can you tell me where i can buy the serving dish shown in your recipe? thanks so much!
Jenn
So excited for you to try it Lisa! The dish is hilariously a spoon rest repurposed into an appetizer plate 😉 It’s from 10 Strawberry Street and I found it at TJ Maxx!
Jakalyn
I made this yesterday and took to a gathering at a friend’s home. Huge hit! So easy to put together but looks so elegant. The combination of flavors is wonderful. Thank you for sharing such a great recipe!
Jenn
I’m so glad it was a hit Jakalyn, thank you! 🙂
Liz
This is totally the bomb! Did this for Christmas Eve – everyone loved it.
Jenn
Woot woot! Thanks Liz! 🙂
Sara
Hi, have you found that the almonds aren’t as crunchy the next day? Thinking about making this a day in advance so I have one less thing to prepare. I don’t want the almonds to get soggy though. TIA
Jenn
Totally not crunchy the next day. Then end up getting pretty soft/buttery which is by no means bad but it’s not as fun as that tasty crunch when freshly rolled in almonds!
I do have a hack for making it super fast with some advance prep! I chop my ingredients and portion out in containers, leaving the chopped dried apricot and chopped almonds out on the counter in their own baggies. I also chop the fresh parsley and keep it in a little container in the fridge. Then I roll it all together when plating it for the party and it takes literally no time at all! Hope this helps Sara 🙂
donna
have you tried this with peach-mango salsa? yum!?
Jenn
That combo sounds heavenly!!!! I totally want to try it now! 🙂
Kelli Kohr
Hi looks amazing. Do you think I can make this app the night before? Would I just keep it in the fridge is so? Thanks 🙂
Jenn
Hey Kelli, thanks! It can be (as I always save some leftovers for the next day!) but it’s really best prepared fresh. My biggest prep-ahead tip to avoid soggy almonds would be to chop your almonds and apricots and keep them in a container/baggie on the counter the night before. Chop the fresh parsley too and keep that in a baggie in the fridge. This way all you’ll have to do the following day is roll the goat cheese in the ingredients you already prepped, and then plop on the apricot preserves on your serving platter. It’ll take seconds to do and is worth it to have those amazingly crunchy almonds on there for texture!
As we speak I’m legit doing the same thing for my stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving 😉 Advance prep FTW!
Kelli
Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving!
Katie
Hi! Your recipe looks great and I just happen to have goat cheese and apricots on hand! Unfortunately I have a nut allergy. Any suggestions on a potential substitute for the almonds?
Jenn
Hey Katie! Try it with roasted lightly salted sunflower seeds, I love using those as a crunchy coating! Crumbled cracker crumbs (like Ritz) also work great!
Katie
Great idea!! Thank you!!!
Kim
Just stumbled this because it looks absolutely amazing! I am definitely making this!
LinJ
Hi-I thankfully found your website by accident! I made this goat cheese appetizer for a ladies luncheon. The colors, flavors and textures are just incredible! The flavor of the basil put it over the top. Everyone wanted the recipe and I directed them to your site. Thank you so much! I wasn’t waiting for a holiday to make this….
Jenn
I’m so thrilled that it was such a hit; you’ve absolutely made my day! I probably shouldn’t market it as just a holiday dish, eh? The ingredients are great year-round! <3
Celeste | The Whole Serving
You got me drooling right now. Looks so over-the-top good. I would have to make more than one, one for me and one for everyone else.
Barely Vegan
This looks beautiful! I used to hate goat cheese but I eventually learned I need to eat it with other things to mellow down the tangy flavor. The almonds and apricot preserves sounds like it would taste so great with goat cheese. 🙂
Jenn
Thanks! I used to feel the same way! These past few years I’ve given it another chance and fell in love! The honey-apricot-almond combo really compliments the flavor; love it so! <3
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
I’m literally drooling over this right now. What a freakin’ GORGEOUS cheese spread. Also adore dried apricots lately so this couldn’t be more perfect if it tried 😉
Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie
This looks awesome! I have such a goat cheese weakness. (and love your nails!)
Megan Keno
How perfect for a holiday party! I love this!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
Savory, sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy, aromatic…this appetizer has it all. I just love everything about this! Pin!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama
Now this is my kind of cheese spread! I just love the sweet & salty combo. 🙂 And the crunch of those almonds? Yum!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
You had me at goat cheese then you topped with apricots and those almonds! Totally need this over the holidays!
Michelle | The Secret Ingredient Is
All these flavors sound so good together, such a great idea for an app (also love the idea of spreading it on a bagel the next morning)! YUM.
Michelle | The Secret Ingredient Is
All these flavors sound so good together, such a great idea for an app (also love the idea of spreading it on a bagel the next morning)! YUM.
Stephanie
Mmmmm Love all the flavors and textures here. The perfect appetizer!
Beth
Awesome cheese spread and awesome glittery nails!!
Amanda Paa
it’s definitely all about the apps! in fact, this is how we do christmas eve. everyone brings their favorite, and we mix and mingle without all the fuss of a meal. thanks for this recipe!
Errign
Looks divine darling, though the apricot preserves are missing from the recipe. 😉 (I blame the cheese coma)
Jenn
Ohmygosh! Thank you! I don’t know how I mentioned it 1000x but missed the list – danke dollface!
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