Home Recipes Goat Cheese Poppers Recipe | Pistachio & Date Bites

Goat Cheese Poppers

These Goat Cheese Poppers are a bite-size crowd favorite made with sweet dates, creamy goat cheese, crunchy pistachios, and a drizzle of hot honey. They’re ideal for cocktail parties and elegant gatherings where guests want a small but memorable flavor hit.

Makes about 20 pieces

Vegetarian · Gluten-Free · Make-Ahead Friendly

by Amy Aversa

Ingredients

1 (10.5 oz) log of goat cheese
2 cups finely chopped salted pistachios (you can sub your favorite nut)
10-12 dates, pitted & cut in half widthwise
Hot Honey (store-bought or homemade) recipe below

Instructions

Take about a tablespoon of goat cheese and spread it around the date with your fingers until it’s completely covered.
Roll it between your palms to form a ball.
Place the chopped pistachios in a bowl and roll the ball in them until it’s fully coated.
Repeat using the entire log.
Drizzle with hot honey.

Make ahead

The balls can be formed (steps 1 & 2) a couple of days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Roll them in the pistachios up to a few hours before serving.

Hot Honey recipe

1 cup honey
1 tablespoon dried red chili flakes
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (optional)

Instructions

Add the honey and chili flakes to a small sauce, stir to combine, and bring to a simmer over low heat.
Simmer for 1-2 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat.
Let it sit for 10-15 minutes so the peppers infuse the honey.
Strain the honey through a fine mesh strainer to remove the chili flakes.
Stir in the apple cider vinegar.