5-Minute Goat Cheese Log

Salty, sweet, crunchy, tangy goodness you can whip up in one commercial break!

Need a quick appetizer? I mean so quick that if you're watching a game, you could have it done in one commercial break?

My son invited several of his friends over for dinner at the last minute. Hungry boys eat a lot, and I didn’t have time to make more of the main course. I created an appetizer to make the meal go farther. I whipped this 5-Minute Goat Cheese Log together and set it out. The boys descended on it. When I looked back, it was gone!

The inspiration for this recipe came from a gift my neighbor Alene gave me one Christmas -- a bottle of syrupy blueberry vinegar. I was appreciative but thought, “What will I do with that?”. Then I tasted it. I could think of dozens of uses! I don’t normally cook with it. I save it to use as a finish for its tangy yet sweet, rich blueberry taste.

I like this blueberry vinegar a lot, but there’s no need to go out and buy it special for this recipe (or wait until you get some given to you). It’s much easier (and more economical) to make do with what’s in your pantry.

You could use some balsamic vinegar you have at home straight from a bottle for this recipe. If you want your vinegar a little thicker and more syrupy, put it in a small pot on the stove and cook it for a minute or two to reduce it. If you’d like it sweeter, add a spoonful of sugar while it’s reducing. If you have some blueberry jam or jelly, you could add that instead of sugar to give it even more flavor. Remember, to let it cool before pouring onto the goat cheese.

Goat cheese is more easily digestible than regular cow's milk cheese. It also has about half the fat, cholesterol and calories of regular cream cheese. So you can feel good about enjoying it! And if you take it to a party, no one will know that you did it in just a few minutes before you walked out the door!

Need something more substantial to serve at home or take to friends? Try our 5-Minute, 5-Ingredient Party Platter.

5-Minute Goat Cheese Log

Recipe Ingredients

Everything you'll need for this delicious recipe is below.

1 8 oz goat cheese

1-2 t honey

2 t blueberry or balsamic vinegar (the more syrupy the better)

¼ c toasted salted pistachios

¼ c blueberries

¼ c prosciutto (optional)

Assorted crackers

Preparation Instructions

1. Put goat cheese on a plate or platter.

2. Take a case knife and make a small a groove down the top center of the goat cheese log.

3. Fill the “ditch” with balsamic vinegar. Drizzle honey over the log as well. (It’s ok if it spills over.)

4. Sprinkle blueberries on top.

5. Scatter pistachios over it.

6. Serve with crackers.

Watch it disappear!