Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log

Name: Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/6 cup whole salted & roasted pistachios ((~ 3 tablespoons)); 1/6 cup dried cranberries ((~ 3 tablespoons)); 8 ounces goat cheese log; crackers or crostini for serving

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Looking for a quick and easy appetizer for the holidays? Look no further than this 3-ingredient Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log that can be prepped in under 15 minutes.

Overhead of a charcuterie board with on a wood trunk platter with a Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log surrounded by crackers, grapes, meats and garnished with dried oranges and fresh rosemary. It sits on a stone background.

This Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log is the perfect appetizer for the fall and winter! It can be made ahead of time and is only 3 ingredients. The white and creamy goat cheese pairs deliciously with the dark red dried cranberries and crunchy green pistachios. It's striped on the goat cheese for visual appeal and is perfect for your next holiday party.

This recipe can enjoyed simply with crackers or crostini OR a fabulous addition to your cheese or charcuterie board. If you're looking for more impressive holiday appaetizers, you have to make these adorable Ornament Pesto Sun-dried Tomato Cheese Balls or for something sweet try my Gingerbread Truffles or Christmas Chocolate Covered Oreos.

Close up of a Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log surrounded by crackers, grapes, meats and garnished with dried oranges and fresh rosemary. The charcuterie sits on a wood truck board and sits on a stone background.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

This 3-Ingredient appetizer can be prepped in 15 minutes!

Perfect for year round but especially in the fall and winter.

Can be enjoyed simply with crackers or on a cheese/charcuterie platter.

The red, white and green makes it wonderfully festive for the holidays.

Can be made ahead and stored in your refrigerator until you're ready to serve.

Ingredient Notes

White low bowl of Pistachio and white low bowl of dried cranberries and a white plate with a log of goat cheese on parchment paper. Each item is labeled with a dark red rectangle with white text in all caps. Everything sits on a stone background.

Goat Cheese Log - I used a goat cheese log which measured roughly 6 inch and was 8 ounces. Some other goat cheese log can weight 10-10.5 ounces. You might want to measure and adjust your parchment strips as necessary. Take the length of the goat cheese and divide by 6. That number will be the width you want for your strips and the length about 6-7 inches.

Pistachios - Adds a nutty flavor and crunchy texture.

Dried Cranberries - I used orange flavored dried cranberries for the extra flavor. However you could use just regular dried cranberries.

This recipe can be enjoyed simply with crackers or crostini OR can be a wonderful addition to any cheese and charcuterie board or platter like Trader Joe's Winter Cheese & Charcuterie Board. See my FAQ for charcuterie board accoutrement ideas.

Substitutions

Instead of Goat Cheese - Use a block of cream cheese instead. You'll just need to adjust the strips and amount of pistachios and dried cranberry mixture needed.

Instead of Pistachios - walnuts, almonds, pecans

Instead of Dried Cranberries - dried currants, dried apricots, golden raisins, dried cherries

Step-by-Step Instructions

Two small white low bowls. One with crushed and finely ground pistachios and the other with diced dried cranberries. The bowls sit on a cement background. In the upper left corner is a dark red square with a white '1' in the center.

Chop the dried cranberries and pistachios either with a food processor or using a cutting board and knife.

Crushed pistachios in a sifter on a cement background. In the upper left corner is a dark red square with a white '2' in the center.

If you used the food processor, you might have pistachio dust mixed in. Use a sifter to remove it so it leaves the just the chopped nuts.

Dried cranberries and chopped pistachios combined in a white bowl on a cement background. In the upper left corner is a dark red square with a white '3' in the center.

Combine the pistachios and dried cranberries in a bowl until well mixed.

A goat cheese log on a white parchment paper on a white plate. The goat cheese it wrapped with strips of white parchment paper with some of the goat cheese exposed. The plate sits on a cement background. In the upper left corner is a dark red square with a white '4' in the center.

Cut 4 pieces of parchment paper that are roughly 1 inch wide and 6 inches long (this is for a 6-long cheese log (8 ounces)). Wrap the goat cheese log with 1 piece of the parchment paper and use another piece to act as divider for in between the pieces. Use 3 pieces total to stripe the goat cheese log.

Goat Cheese Log with dried cranberries and pistachio mixture pushed in. There's also strips of parchment paper around the goat cheese log. The goat cheese sits on a piece of white parchment paper on a white plate on a cement background. In the upper left corner is a dark red square with a white '5' in the center.

Press the dried cranberry and pistachio mix onto the goat cheese log that is uncovered by parchment paper and one of the ends of the log. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until 15-30 minutes before serving.

Recipe Note - This can be prepped entirely in advance. Make sure it is wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. Please note that the pistachios might not be as crunchy.

15-30 minutes before serving, unwrapped and place the Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log on a serving plate or board. Enjoy simply with crackers or serve on a charcuterie/cheese board.

Expert Tips

Use Food Safe Gloves. - Goat cheese can sometimes be a little sticky! Food safe gloves are recommended to keep your hands clean while you make this recipe.

Let it Chill - Let your goat cheese log chill in the fridge or freeze first. Cheese that's too soft can break apart when rolling. I recommend sitting it in the fridge for 30-40 minutes and 10-15 minutes for the freezer.

Enjoy this Room Temperature! Let the cheese log sit at room temperature for about 15-30 minutes until its reached room temperature. This is optional for flavor and spreading.

Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log on a wood trunk tray surrounded by crackers, grapes, meats and garnished with dried oranges and fresh rosemary. It sits on a stone background. Theres small white plates off to the sit with crackers and some of the goat cheese log. Everything sits on a cement background.

Recipe FAQ

What are some accoutrements to serve with this recipe?

I served my Cranberry Pistachio Goat Cheese Log with:
Crackers - wheat thins, almond crackers
Fruit - grapes, blackberries
Charcuterie - prosciutto, salami
Other - honey, pistachios
Decoration - fresh rosemary, dried oranges

Other ideas to serve on a platter is:
Crackers - use any cracker you like!
Fruit - pomegranates, apples, pears, apricots, figs, clementines
Other - jams, dried apricots, candied nuts, spiced nuts

My goat cheese broke. Now what?

Sometimes when goat cheese get too warm it can break. Depending on where and how much you can maybe stick it back on. You can also wrap the log in plastic wrap and try squishing it together and sticking it back in the fridge. When you take it out, just be extra careful when handling.

Can I cover the entire log in cranberries and pistachios?

Yes, you'll just need double the cranberry and pistachio mixture. You'll want to use about ⅓ cup of whole pistachios and ⅓ cup dried cranberries.

PS If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page? I always appreciate feedback. You can also follow me on Pinteres t, Facebook or Instagram.