These goat cheese truffles are basically just little rolled balls of goat cheese sprinkled with salt and pepper. Then they’re rolled in the most amazing sweet pecans. They’re terrific eaten on their own (especially if your a goat cheese lover!) And they’re good served with crackers for spreading too. I know I got this recipe from a cookbook many years ago. I’m pretty sure it was a little cookbook of cocktail appetizers, but of course I don’t have that cookbook anymore and I can’t remember the source. If you have spotted these in a cookbook, let me know! I would certainly like to credit the book if I can.
How to make Maple Spiced Pecans:
The pecans in the recipe are the key to the big flavor that will happen for these goat cheese truffles! Chop the pecans. Don’t chop them too small or they’ll burn when roasting them. Just regular chopped pecans will be perfect. In a saucepan, combine butter, maple syrup, fresh ginger, water, ground ginger, salt and Tabasco sauce. Simmer for a few minutes, and then fish out the fresh ginger and discard. Pour the maple sauce over the nuts in a bowl and toss to coat. Transfer the coated nuts to a baking sheet and bake until the nuts have dried out and are toasted with the maple glaze. Let them cool. Freeze any extra nuts in a freezer baggie, and use them to add to salads!
How to make Goat Cheese Truffles:
Roll goat cheese into small, round balls. Don’t roll them too large because no one will want to eat that much goat cheese! Roll the goat cheese balls into the maple spiced pecans.
Display the goat cheese truffles in a bowl or on a platter. Line the bowl or platter with fresh arugula to make them pretty.
Make-Ahead Tips:
It’s okay to make the nuts ahead of time. Store in the freezer, if you need to. Make the truffles several hours ahead of serving time. Keep them refrigerated, and display them on a platter with greens just before serving.
This is such a fabulous appetizer because it’s not one that’s all that common. Party-goers will love the tangy goat cheese combined with the sweet maple pecans. Delish.
If you’re a lover of goat cheese appetizers, you might also like to try my vegetable goat cheese spread, pancetta crisps with goat cheese and pear or this strawberry goat cheese bruschetta.
