Goat cheese lovers get ready because this one’s for you! These little bites are only 4 ingredients & are perfect for a last minute appetizer!
Confession times loves: I will pretty much use any excuse I can to use to goat cheese in a recipe. (There I said it… I just love goat cheese wayy too much!) Especally if it’s a fall recipe…and especially if that fall recipe has anything to to with fruit. (Fruit and goat cheese just goes together in my opinion.😉) So these easy goat cheese grape balls are right up my alley when it comes to fall appetizers! They’re so simple and easy to make and are always a huge hit for any goat cheese lover!
Ingredients for goat cheese grape balls
- Grapes: Red or green grapes both work well for this recipe. Green grapes tend to be more tart and sour while red grapes are sweeter so your goat cheese balls will taste slightly different depending on the type you use. (I personally love using a mixture of both!)
- Honey flavored goat cheese: I love the sweetness this flavored goat cheese adds to your balls. (Feel free to use regular goat cheese if you prefer instead.)
- Salted & roasted pistachios: Adds a salty crunchy coating to the outside of your balls!
- Honey: Make this dish even sweeter and serve your cheese balls with a little extra drizzle of honey on top!
What makes this recipe even better? I was able to get all of my ingredients on a one-stop shopping trip at Sprouts! Not only are their specialty items always in stock (like the goat cheese and pistachios) but they also have a ton of variety when it comes to produce too! Try this recipe with their more limited grape selections for a super fun and unique appetizer! Moon drops, gum drops, even cotton candy grapes – they all taste amazing!
How to make goat cheese grape balls
- Rinse your grapes and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Then take a small amount of goat cheese and wrap it around each grape. Roll it with your hands to form a ball and place it on a tray. Repeat the process until all the grapes are gone. Then place the grape balls in the fridge to chill while you prepare the rest of your ingredients.
- While the grapes are chilling, chop the pistachios using a food processor until crumbly. (Don’t over do it though! If the pistachios are too fine they won’t form a crunchy layer around your balls.) Place your pistachios in a large shallow bowl and retrieve your balls from the fridge.
- Next, roll the cheese balls in your chopped pistachios. Then place them back on the tray and let them chill in the fridge for at least 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve with extra honey on the side or drizzle a little over the top of each ball and enjoy!
Tips & Variations
- Soften your goat cheese! Leave the goat cheese out at room temperature for at least 5-10 minutes before rolling. This makes it much easier to roll because the cheese isn’t quite as “crumbly”.
- Use kitchen gloves for rolling! Rolling your cheese balls can be messy work, so you might want to wear some type of kitchen glove to keep your hands clean.
- Chill, chill, chill! These cheese balls are best served chilled so keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
- Not a huge fan of goat cheese? Replace 4 ounces of goat cheese with regular cream cheese to balance out the flavor. (You might want to add a little extra honey to your cheese mixture if using cream cheese. Just add a little at a time and taste as you mix. )
- Don’t like pistachios? Try using roasted & salted pecans instead!
Why you’ll love this goat cheese & grape appetizer
- Simple and easy! Only 4 ingredients needed and no prep work required!
- A fun one-bite appetizer! These goat cheese balls are perfect for a party because guests can pop them in their mouth and carry on partying!
- Perfect blend of salty & sweet! Sweet juicy grapes, creamy goat cheese and salty pistachios with just a touch of drizzled honey. It doesn’t get any better than that!
More appetizer recipes you might like:
- Pomegranate & White Cheddar Cheese Ball
- Roasted Grape, Goat Cheese & Basil Crostini
- Baked Cranberry & Brie Bites
[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings & leave a review in the comments. I love seeing what you create!]
Goat Cheese Grape Balls
Juicy grapes are wrapped in sweet honey flavored goat cheese and rolled in roasted & salted pistachios! They're an easy and fun appetizer that's perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
- 16-19 grapes (red or green)
- 8 oz. honey flavored goat cheee
- ⅔ cup roasted & salted pistachios (can be replaced with pecans instead)
- Extra honey, for drizzling
Instructions
- Rinse your grapes and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Then take a small amount of goat cheese and wrap it around each grape. Use your hands to roll it to form a ball and place it on a tray. Repeat this process until all the grapes are covered and place the balls in the fridge to chill.
- While the balls are chilling, use a food processor to chop the pistachios until crumbly and pour them into large shallow bowl.
- Then take the cheese balls from the fridge and roll them in your chopped pistachios. Place them back on the tray and let them chill in the fridge for at least 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve with extra honey on the side or drizzle a little over the top of each ball and enjoy!
