With tangy goat cheese, sweet cranberries and crunchy walnuts, these nutty, cranberry goat cheese mini dips are an easy appetizer or treat that your whole family can enjoy this Christmas. They may be served in shot glasses for fun, individual portions, but they are non-alcoholic. They only take about 10 minutes to prepare and can be made in advance!
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An Easy & Festive Holiday Party Appetizer
Cranberries are a popular fruit on the Christmas food and drink menu. I like incorporating them into cranberry Moscow mules and cranberry biscotti. But adding them to goat cheese is on another level of deliciousness.
I switched things up by serving my delicious cranberry goat cheese Christmas appetizer in shot glasses for a fun twist. So make sure you have some of those on hand, either disposable or glass ones, to make this recipe.
The shot glasses make this the perfect appetizer to carry around and enjoy all night while visiting with guests on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Plus, they're pre-portioned, so all you have to do is mix up the goat cheese, scoop it into the glasses and everyone can enjoy this perfectly-sized treat!
Feel free to browse more of my festive holiday recipes.
Ingredients
This recipe makes 12 appetizer dip shots.
- goat cheese - Goat cheese is a popular ingredient for appetizers because of its mild but tangy flavor and soft, creamy texture. In a lot of ways, it offers a blank palette that you can customize however you like.
- honey - You can substitute with agave nectar for a vegan option.
- dried cranberries - You probably won't find a better match for the Christmas holiday than dried cranberries: they're sweet, red and tangy and go perfectly with the delicious goat cheese and honey mixture that makes up the base of this appetizer.
- walnuts - To add some crunch and texture.
- mini crispy breadsticks - To serve.
- extra dried cranberries and chopped walnuts - For the topping.
*Check ingredient amounts in recipe card.
Chef's Note: I use 2 ounce dessert shots for this recipe, but you can use any size you like (although I wouldn't go any bigger because this is a cheese-heavy appetizer). Just divide the goat cheese mixture evenly into each shot. Note that this might change the number of servings.
Recipe Tweaks
- If you're looking to experiment, one good way to change this appetizer up is to serve it with pecans instead of walnuts. Toast them for some extra crunch and deeper flavor.
- You could also use mini dessert spoons in place of the breadsticks. They taste amazing with or without the bread component!
- As for the dried cranberries, there are flavored varieties with different fruit juices such as strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, or orange. I would recommend the orange flavor since it also goes well with the holiday theme.
How to Make Cranberry Cheese Mini Dips
- Mix together the goat cheese, honey, dried cranberries and chopped walnuts in a bowl until smooth.
- Spoon the mixture evenly into shot glasses.
- Sprinkle with extra cranberries and walnuts. Add a mini breadstick to each shot glass.
- Serve the mini dips!
Serving Suggestions
The white goat cheese and red cranberries will immediately put your guests in the holiday spirit. Add some crunchy breadsticks, and these individual serving dips are ready for dipping and munching all night long.
Serve them as a cold appetizer before your roast turkey or pork tenderloin Christmas dinner, or pair them with your favorite wine for a delicious after-dinner treat. And don't forget your Christmas morning punch!
Not only are these great for Christmas parties, but they can be served on holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve as well. They transport easily and they're always a hit.
Make Ahead Tip
If you want to make them in advance, it is best to leave out the toppings/breadsticks until just before serving so they remain crunchy.
Christmas Appetizer Dip FAQs
They will taste best served fresh but you can store them covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 to 2 weeks without the breadsticks.
If you don't want to serve this goat cheese appetizer with mini breadsticks, they would also pair perfectly with plain water crackers.
Additional Holiday Recipes to Try This Season
If you tried this Cranberry Goat Cheese Mini Dips (Christmas Appetizer Recipe) or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Cranberry Goat Cheese Mini Dips (Christmas Appetizer)
Ingredients
- 2 cups goat cheese
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup walnuts - chopped
- mini crispy breadsticks - to serve
- extra dried cranberries and chopped walnuts - for topping
Instructions
- Mix together the goat cheese, honey, dried cranberries and chopped walnuts in a bowl until smooth.
- Spoon the mixture evenly into shot glasses.
- Sprinkle with extra cranberries and walnuts. Add a mini breadstick to each shot glass.
- Serve!
Equipment
Notes
- I use 2 ounce dessert shots for this recipe, but you can use any size you like. Just divide the goat cheese mixture evenly into each shot.
- They will taste best served fresh but you can store them covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 to 2 weeks.
- If you want to make them in advance, it is best to leave the toppings/breadsticks out until just before serving so that they remain crunchy and fresh.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
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