goat cheese with honey, sunflower seeds, and blackberries

I love getting new cookbooks!  It’s to the point of dorky, how much I love getting new cookbooks.  But you’re gonna love me for passing along all the goods, I promise.

On my latest trip to Sam’s Club, I could not pass up the Southern Living Farmers Market Cookbook.  I tried.  Honestly, I did.  I looked through it, my mouth watering from all the beautiful food photography.  I also liked how the book was categorized according to the seasons, using fresh ingredients harvested during each time period.  But I painfully put it back on the shelf, telling myself I didn’t need another cookbook.  I hurriedly pushed my cart, with a hotdog-eating-3-year-old perched in the seat, out of the book section.  I never looked back as we finished up our shopping.

But then, on the way to the check-out, there it was staring at me.  Calling me.  I leafed through it again.  And I was overcome with the season ahead.  The farmers market/backyard garden season of Minnesota.  The fresh fruits and veggies of spring, summer, and fall.  I just couldn’t bear to part with it.  It had to be mine!

We were invited to a grilling party this past weekend and were in charge of the appetizer.  A perfect opportunity to try out a new recipe on our friends.  The cookbook’s stunning photo of this cheese spread made me want to dip a cracker right into the cookbook.  And the real thing did not disappoint.

To start off with, it was ultra easy.  No oven involved.  Just roll a goat cheese log (Trader Joe’s has them for a great price) in sunflower seeds, drizzle with honey, sprinkle on some berries, and garnish with a few mint leaves.  Seriously, maybe 10 minutes start to finish.

Then, for the flavors and textures.  Amazing!  Goat cheese and honey are a match made in heaven.   And the salty nuts and juicy berries add wonderful pops of contrast.  I served this with Wheat Thins and thought it was the perfect cracker choice – bite-size, flavorful, and sturdy enough to hold up to spreading on the goat cheese.  Just make sure you try at least one cracker with a bit of every single ingredient on it.  It’s alot to stuff in your mouth, especially when using huge blackberries, but you won’t regret it.

goat cheese with honey, sunflower seeds, and blackberries

Sweet-and-Salty Honey-Cheese Spread

Yield: 6-8 appetizer servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Goat cheese and honey are a match made in heaven. And the salty nuts and juicy berries add wonderful pops of contrast. 

Ingredients

  • 1 (10.5 oz.) goat cheese log (may be called chevre cheese)
  • .5 c. roasted, salted sunflower seeds
  • 1/3 c. honey
  • 1 pt. fresh raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries
  • fresh mint leaves
  • assorted crackers

Instructions

  1. Press or roll goat cheese log in sunflower seeds, thoroughly covering goat cheese, including ends. Arrange cheese on a serving platter with any remaining sunflower seeds.
  2. Drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with berries. Garnish with mint leaves, if desired.
  3. Serve immediately with assorted crackers.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 148Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 989mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 2gSugar: 12gProtein: 4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.

Did you make this recipe?

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