10 Minute prep creamy, sweet and tangy cheese log with cranberries and pistachios is the EASIEST yet most impressive appetizer you will ever make!
This festive cheese log can be made DAYS in advance so it’s the perfect stress-free appetizer for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any holiday party! YAY for easy entertaining! and YAY for the best Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log!
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Cheese Log Recipe Video
Cheese Log
Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week?! I have all your scrumptious sides covered (click HERE to see them all in one place) so this has been the week of appetizers! And I saved the best for l last. My dear Readers. I don’t beg often so you know I’m serious when I implore you to please make this Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log. For you. For your family. For your guests. Everyone will lovoooooe you for it!
With the bustling holiday season upon us, this Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log is your back pocket appetizer ace to sanity and deliciousness all entertaining season long! It’s sophisticated and beautiful yet deceptively simple to prepare. At the same time, it’s so crazy delicious everyone will crowd around until every last pistachio crumb has been licked off the plate.
Cheese Log Recipe
The outer coating of tangy, fresh cranberries and salty, crunchy pistachios paired with the tangy, smooth and creamy herb spiked goat cheese is an indulgent, textural taste of heaven. Drizzle it all with honey to enhance the flavors and balance the tangy cranberries and goat cheese then dig in with Crunchmaster crackers for even more textural bliss.
This Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log can be paired on a cheese plate with grapes, nuts, etc. or can stand alone served with crackers. It also is delicious spread on baguettes, burgers, muffins, etc. No matter how you serve this cheese log recipe, it will be a hit!
How to Make Cheese Log
Once you’ve picked up your Crunchmaster crackers and are ready to make your Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log, you can be serving your appetizer in no time! To make, first pulse your fresh cranberries and pistachios in your food processor until chopped small. I have never seen a cheese log with chopped cranberries like this, and let me tell you, it’s divine and looks gorgeous!
Remove ½ cup of your chopped cranberries and pistachio to a medium bowl to make your filling. Next add your goat cheese, cream cheese, honey, and dried thyme, dried rosemary ground ginger, ground cinnamon, salt and pepper and stir to combine. The fact that we are adding pistachios, cranberries and seasonings to the inside of the cheese log and not just to the outside means flavor through and through which equals maximum flaaaaaaaavor through and through.
The filling will be quite soft at this point, so we add it to a piece of plastic wrap and form into the shape of a log, wrap it up and freezer for 20-30 minutes until slightly firm however we still want it to be semi-soft so the coating will stick to it.
Next, sprinkle your chopped cranberries and pistachios onto a piece of parchment paper in a single layer square a little larger than the length of the cheese log. Add the cheese log to the edge of the Coating and roll until evenly coated, pressing Coating into the cheese so it sticks. Viola! You’ve just made your impressively beautiful, festive, crave worthy Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log!
Make Ahead Cheese Log
The cheese log can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at this point and refrigerated for several days until ready to serve – love this, because, when it comes to holidays, appetizers are all about simplicity. When ready to serve, remove the Cranberry Goat Cheese Log from the refrigerator about 15 minutes beforehand so it can soften and come to room temperature. Drizzle generously with honey just before serving to compliment the tangy cranberries and goat cheese and serve with your Crunchmaster crackers.
And enjoy every rich, creamy sweet and savory crunchy bite with a subtle punch of flavor and a not so subtle punch of Oh. My. YUM.
LOOKING FOR MORE CHEESY APPETIZER RECIPES?
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Easy Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log
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Ingredients
Cranberry Pistachio Coating
- 1 1/4 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cup shelled roasted, salted pistachios
Cheese Log
- 7-8 oz. goat cheese log or tub
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 tsp EACH ground ginger, ground cinnamon, salt, dried thyme, dried rosemary
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup Cranberry Pistachio Coating mixture (in directions)
Garnish
- honey
Instructions
- Add cranberries and pistachios to your food processor and chop into small pieces (but don’t over-process). Remove ½ cup and add it to a medium bowl. Add all remaining Goat Cheese Log ingredients to the bowl and stir to combine.
- Add this cheese mixture to a large piece of plastic wrap, and form into the shape of a log. Wrap in plastic wrap. Freezer for 20-30 minutes. We want the cheese log slightly firm so it holds its shape but is still soft enough for the Coating to be pressed into it.
- Line counter with about a large piece parchment paper. Add Coating ingredients to parchment and spread into a single layer square a little larger than the length of the cheese log. Add cheese log to the edge of the Coating and roll in Coating (see photos) until evenly coated, pressing coating into the cheese so it sticks. The cheese log can be refrigerated at this point until ready to serve or serve immediately.
- When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator 15 minutes beforehand so it can soften. Drizzle generously with honey just before serving. Serve with crackers.
Video
Notes
prep ahead
The cheese log can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated for several days until ready to serve, then, remove from the refrigerator about 15 minutes beforehand so it can soften and come to room temperature. Drizzle generously with honey just before serving.Want To Make This Recipe?
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of TH Foods. The opinions and text are all mine.
Erica says
I’m excited to make this for Thanksgiving! Has anyone made this ahead of time? I’m assuming the extra time in the fridge would cause the nuts to lose their crunch. Can anyone confirm? I would prefer to make ahead but don’t want to compromise the texture of the pistachios.
Jen says
Hi Erica, yes they do loose their crunch a little. You could have the coating all ready to go and then roll the log just before serving. Enjoy!
Susan says
This is my first time making this but My suggestion to spice it up is to use either cayenne pepper and/or hot honey. Yum.
Jen says
Love sweet and spicy!
Joanne McKinnon says
Hello. I’m planning on using this recipe for a Christmas Open House. Can you clarify why in Step 1 you say “Remove ½ cup and add it to a medium bowl.” What is this 1/2 cup of coating used for?
Jen says
This 1/2 cup is combined with the rest of the ingredients to create the cheese log/it goes in the cheese log and the rest is the coating. “Remove ½ cup and add it to a medium bowl. Add all remaining Goat Cheese Log ingredients to the bowl”
Carrie Pyros says
The presentation was beautiful and guests were impressed with the flavor!!! Thank you!
Jen says
Win-win, love that, thanks Carrie!
Amy says
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was everyone’s favorite! Several people asked for the recipe. It is so good and easy to make, thank you for sharing.
Jen says
I love hearing that, thanks so much Amy!
Jenna says
What is the best cracker to serve with this recipe? Can’t wait to try it!
Jen says
Hi Jenna, I used Crunchmaster multi-grain, but you can use any of your favorites!
Melissa says
I made this last year it was AMAZING! However my dad is allergic to pistachios.. is there an equivalent nut substitute (no other nut allergies just pistachios) TIA!
Jen says
Thanks so much Melissa! I think this would also be delicious with pecans.
Thea says
Can one use fresh thyme & rosemary in the recipe? Also, I worked in a children’s hospital for 15 years and I am so very excited to see the amazing developments in medicine for people with cf, congratulations to you and so happy for you!
Jen says
Yes you can use fresh – you’ll need about 3/4 teaspoon each. Thank you so much for your kind words and especially for all your work, you are making a difference!
Linda says
I made the cranberry/pistachio goat cheese log for Christmas. It took me quite a bit longer than quoted BUT it was delicious. I will definitely make it again. I’m going to make the Garlic/Goat Cheese log for New Year’s Day. Will give my opinion after I make it.
Jen says
Thank you, Linda! I am so glad it’s a repeat and was worth your time! Thanks for making my recipes and taking the time to comment!
B says
Hi Jen. I made this for Christmas. When I saw your recipe & that it had goat cheese (yum!), pistachios & cranberries, I thought now that’s the Christmas appetizer to serve. It was delicious!! However, mine didn’t quite like your’s. I noticed my cranberries made the mixture wet. I thawed them overnight, rinsed & drained them well. Also when I added the 1/2cup to the cheeses, my cheese turned completely red (still festive though). Any thoughts on what I need to correct?
Jen says
I’m so glad it was yummy and festive! I would suggest using fresh cranberries for this recipe to make the mixture less wet.
Olga says
Can you use dried cranberries? I have a large bag.
Jen says
That should work just fine! Hope you enjoy!
Chris says
I love the way at it looks , and I am excited to make it but I am curious…
Do the fresh cranberries taste good without cooking them?
Jen says
Absolutely!
Arianne W says
I’m super excited to make this for our next family gathering! But I was wondering if there was a cheese you would recommend instead of goat cheese? We’re not big on goat cheese at my house. But the rest of it sounds (and looks) amazing!
Jen says
I would suggest just using softened cream cheese, like in a cheese ball! I think the log would be especially tasty if you also add some finely, freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Hope this helps!
Isis says
Hi, have you ever added maple syrup or agave as the sweetener?
Jen says
Sorry, I haven’t, but I think either would work.
Cathy M Smith says
I made it with maple syrup because I don’t really care for honey. It was absolutely delicious!
Jen says
Yay! I’m so glad you loved it!
Mair says
Can you use craisens instead?. I’m making this for New Years Eve and can’t find cranberries anywhere
Jen says
I’m sorry for the late response! Craisens would work just fine!
Pam says
I made this and used cream cheese and grated some Champagne Cheese and it was devoured so quick I didn’t get a bite. Made it again just for my family – but this time I saved a bit and kept it at home in the fridge so I could enjoy it.
Definitely the best recipe. I cannot tolerate any cheese except from a cow so had to change the cheese after I saw your answer to a reviewer.
Jen says
Happy to hear it was a hit! And I’m so glad you set some aside for yourself this time!
Megan says
Hello, I’m not an intuitive cook! Can you tell me the specific kind of goat cheese and cream cheese you used?
I’m going to a thanksgiving dinner that I’m so nervous about and want it to be perfect!
Jen says
Hi Megan! Vermont Creamery Goat Cheese and Philadelphia Cream Cheese are great for this recipe! I hope you and everyone at Thanksgiving love it!
Megan says
You are amazing!!! Thank you so much!!
Jen says
You’re so welcome! Happy to help!
Kristina says
This was a hit at our thanksgiving celebration. It travels well (important for the holiday house hopping!), sets up easily and is beautiful. Thank you for a new appetizer to add to my rotation.
Jen says
Hi Kristina! I’m so thrilled you loved this appetizer and that you’re keeping it in your repertoire! Thank you for sharing your warm review!
Jenny says
Can you replace the regular clover honey with orange blossom honey?
Jen says
Yes, I think that would be tasty!