Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Spicy Sage Honey.

Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Spicy Sage Honey – soft, creamy, and tangy goat cheese, rolled in Sesame-Panko crumbs, and then fried until golden. Golden and crisp on the outside and extra soft and melty in the center. Drizzle each fried cheese ball with spicy sage honey for a delicious appetizer. Perfect for New Year’s Eve celebrations and January game nights. These cheese balls are addicting. I’d highly recommend doubling the recipe.

Ingredients

• all-purpose flour
• black pepper
• panko breadcrumbs
• sesame seeds
• large egg
• goat cheese
• avocado oil
• honey
• garlic
• hot sauce
• fresh sage leaves
• sea salt

What you need in the kitchen for this recipe:

• serving platter
• teaspoons
• medium bowl
• medium to large shallow bowl (pasta bowl could work)
• parchment paper
• skillet
• paper towels
• plate

We’ve got one final appetizer to round out our 2023 holiday season. And it’s GOOD one. Fried goat cheese, dipped, dunked, and drizzled in a spicy sage honey. The fried goat cheese is, of course, delicious, but it’s the spicy sage honey that makes these little balls addicting.

I made these for my family over Christmas and they’ve been asking for them ever since.

They are so yummy!

Here are the details

Step 1: the breading

You’ll need flour, an egg, Panko bread crumbs, and sesame seeds.

Add the flour to a bowl, the egg to another bowl, and then the Panko and sesame seeds to yet another bowl.

Step 2: the goat cheese

Take your favorite log of creamy goat cheese and roll it into cute bite-size goat cheese balls.

Now, dip each ball through the flour. I think it’s easiest to coat each ball in flour before moving to the next step.

Step 3: bread, then freeze

Once the goat cheese is coated in flour, dip each ball through the beaten egg and then through the Panko.

When all the balls are well coated, freeze them for 20 minutes, until super firm. If you want to make these ahead of time, you can freeze the balls overnight. Then, they’ll be ready for frying whenever you’re ready to serve!

Step 4: the spicy sage honey

This is the secret to why these are so delicious.

Gently warm the honey in a small saucepan with garlic, hot sauce, and sage. Do not boil the honey, just a little simmer to infuse the honey with garlic and sage is all you need. No more than 5 minutes.

Step 5: fry

I love to use avocado oil to fry. Heat a bit of oil in a skillet with sides. When the oil is hot, you can fry the goat cheese balls in 2-3 batches.

Don’t let the balls sit for more than 2-3 minutes, or the cheese is at risk of melting out. Wait until golden-brown. You’re looking for a golden crust and crispy exterior.

Step 6: serve!

Drizzle the warm fried goat cheese with honey, season with salt, then enjoy these perfect little bites!

Alternatively, these are great in salads, with a dollop of warmed marinara sauce, or served with fresh herbs and flaky sea salt.

These are great at room temperature, but I highly recommend serving them warm, if possible.

These are so delicious when hot and melty with that spicy sweet honey. Serve these for New Year’s Eve, but make sure to keep them in mind for January game nights too. And, of course, these would be perfect for the Super Bowl! Trust me, you’ll be the most loved host or hostess among your friends and family.

Looking for more recipes? Here are a few to try:

Baked Gruyère in Pastry with Rosemary and Garlic

Prosciutto Wrapped Baked Brie in Pastry

Cranberry Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls

Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Soft Pretzels

Fried Buffalo Goat Cheese Balls

Baked Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls with Cilantro Lime Ranch

Buffalo Cauliflower with Spicy Tahini Ranch

Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken

Lastly, if you make these Fried Goat Cheese with Spicy Sage Honey, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!