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Baked Goat Cheese

Featured in Quick and Easy Appetizers.

Tangy goat cheese and silky cream cheese come together with a hint of honey and garlic. As it bakes, it becomes golden on the edges and soft inside. Add fresh herbs for a pop of flavor and serve with toasted bread or crisp veggies. This dish is simple yet fancy enough to wow your guests.
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Emily Watson
Updated on Sun, 13 Apr 2025 11:06:40 GMT
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Baked Goat Cheese Dish | thefamilycooks.com
Need a trick for wowing guests at surprise visits or fancy dinners? I've got just the thing - a super smooth, flavor-packed Baked Goat Cheese that always gets compliments. I first tried something similar at a local eatery and tweaked it until it became a must-have in my home cooking lineup.

The Wonder of Warm Goat Cheese

This Baked Goat Cheese isn't just food - it's pure magic in its simplicity. It blends the tangy creaminess of goat cheese with sweet honey and bold garlic notes, all heated to bubbly goodness in minutes. It's perfect when friends drop by unexpectedly or when you want to dazzle dinner guests without chaining yourself to the stove.

Reasons To Try This Dish

  • Fast Results: You'll have this ready in a flash, giving you more time with your guests.
  • Make It Your Way: Tweak the honey amount or spice level to match what you like best.
  • Pairs With Anything: Scoop it up with torn bread, crispy toast points, warm pita, or grab some fresh veggies and fruits.
  • Looks Amazing: The honey-drizzled, golden top makes everyone reach for it first.

Ingredients

  • Cream cheese, 2 ounces
  • Goat cheese, 10 ounces
  • Honey, split into 1 tablespoon for mixing and 2 teaspoons for topping
  • Several pieces of 1 small-to-medium garlic clove
  • Fine salt, ¼ teaspoon
  • Freshly ground black pepper, 10 twists
  • Red pepper flakes, ⅛ teaspoon (skip if you want)
  • For eating with: Sourdough chunks, thin toast, warmed pita, berries, olives or olive spread, etc.

Preparation

1. Get The Oven Hot
Turn your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and place a rack in the top third. This helps the cheese get warm and slightly firm without overcooking.
2. Mix Everything Up
Throw the goat cheese, cream cheese, 1 tablespoon honey, garlic pieces, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) into a food processor. Run it for about 2 minutes until it looks fluffy, stopping to push down what sticks to the sides. The mix will first clump up but will smooth out as you go.
3. Check The Flavor
Try a bit and see if you want changes. Need more kick? Add extra red pepper. Want it sweeter? Put in another teaspoon or two of honey. Remember you'll add more honey on top later, so it'll end up a bit sweeter.
4. Heat It Through
Pour the cheese mix into a small oven-safe dish that holds about 3-4 cups. Small cast iron pans, Pyrex bowls or stoneware work great. Drizzle some honey across the top before putting it in the oven. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until you see a light golden color on top.
5. Cool And Serve
Let the hot dip sit for at least five minutes before bringing it to the table. Add one more honey drizzle and set it out with your choice of dippers.

Serving Suggestions

  • Bread Options: Tear up crusty sourdough or put out thin, crispy toast slices for dipping.
  • Warm Pita: Cut toasted pita bread into triangles that can scoop up the warm cheese easily.
  • Crunchy Produce: Carrot sticks, little tomatoes, and sweet berries add color and fresh crunch.
  • Savory Add-ons: Put out a bowl of olives or olive spread for people who want extra savory flavors.
  • No Gluten Needed: Sturdy gluten-free crackers or thick-cut carrots work great for those avoiding wheat.

Key Points

  • Extra Richness: Using some cream cheese alongside the goat cheese makes this dip way more decadent than plain goat cheese would be. The combo creates that can't-stop-eating-it smoothness.
  • Quick Success: Sometimes the simplest things impress people most. This recipe proves you don't need hours of work to make something that'll get rave reviews.
  • Works With Everything: One of the coolest things about this dip is how it goes with practically anything. Crispy veggies, soft bread, sweet fruit - they all taste great with it.
  • Your Way Every Time: You can make it spicier, sweeter, or exactly how you want. That means everyone at your party will find a way to enjoy it that suits them.

Outcome of a Fantastic Treat

This Baked Goat Cheese isn't just food; it's a whole mood. It mixes the tang of goat cheese with sweet honey notes and savory garlic undertones to make something both cozy and fancy at once. What makes it special:
  • Simple But Impressive: It works for Tuesday night snacks or Saturday dinner parties because it's quick to make but tastes like you spent ages on it.
  • Guest-Pleaser: Anytime you've got people coming over, this appetizer will make them think you're a kitchen genius.
  • Flexible Serving: Enjoy it hot or after it's cooled down a bit, and match it with whatever dippers you have around - it'll taste great with practically anything.

Baked Goat Cheese

Soft goat cheese combined with honey, cream cheese, and garlic. Baked until warm and creamy, it’s perfect for dipping with bread, crackers, or veggies.

Prep Time
~
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
20 Minutes

Category: Appetizers

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: ~

Dietary: Low-Carb, Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 tablespoon honey (plus an extra drizzle of 2 teaspoons, split).
02 A single garlic clove, small to medium in size, chopped into chunks.
03 10 ounces of tangy goat cheese.
04 A tiny amount—about ⅛ teaspoon—of crushed red pepper flakes, if you'd like more spice.
05 A couple of ounces (2) of cream cheese.
06 10 grinds of fresh black pepper.
07 A pinch—¼ teaspoon—of fine salt.

Instructions

Step 01

Turn your oven on to 425°F and position the rack near the top before it warms up.

Step 02

Toss the goat cheese, cream cheese, a tablespoon of honey, garlic pieces, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if going spicy) into your food processor.

Step 03

Blend everything until it comes together and looks fluffy, which should take about 2 minutes. Stop and scrape down the bowl a few times if needed—it'll start clumping but smooth out eventually.

Step 04

Give it a try and tweak as needed: a bit more red pepper if you want it hotter, or another spoonful of honey if you're after sweetness.

Step 05

Scoop the cheese mixture into a baking dish or a ramekin, ready for baking.

Step 06

Pop it in the preheated oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, just until it's warmed through and slightly puffed up.

Step 07

After removing it from the oven, pour the last 2 teaspoons of honey on top.

Step 08

Dish it out warm, and pair it with dippable options like toasted sourdough slices, pita chips, crostini, sturdy crackers (great if gluten-free), cut carrots, fresh berries, olives, or even savory tapenade.

Notes

  1. Let everything sit out and warm up to room temp—it'll make blending quicker and quieter.
  2. To keep things gluten-free, go with crackers or bread made without gluten.
  3. Feel free to tweak the honey or spice levels so it matches your mood.

Tools You'll Need

  • An oven.
  • A food processor.
  • Any small baking dish or ramekin.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: ~
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~