Exactly zero people have to know how incredible easy this goat cheese appetizer is. Let’s keep this between you, me, and a tree.
We’re talking smoke and mirrors, a little bit of shock and awe, a few cloaks, and a dagger or two.
Here’s what we’re doing: ย crumbling goat cheese, spooning jam out of a jar, heating the jam with herbs, pouring it over goat cheese, sprinkling with pepper and BOOM! ย Fancy crackers and GO!
This recipe leaves us just enough time to wrap our hostess gifts, comb our bangs, put on two matching shoes, and carry on carry on. ย Let’s let some things be easy… and let’s not tell anyone at all… except each other. ย This is our safe space.
In the realm of all things easy cheese, you might also consider this Whipped Ricotta spread.
It’s amazing how easy it is to transform store-bought jam with bit of fresh herbs. ย Instant fancy!
Also… I should tell you now that this recipe uses a microwave. ย We’re just getting right down to it, cool?
I paired apricot jam with fresh rosemary. ย It’s woodsy and fragrant and summer-sweet.
Strawberry jam is paired with just a hint of thyme. ย The thyme adds a savory quality to the sweet strawberry jam.
Fresh tarragon would also be really wonderful (but I didn’t have that in my fridge and I’ve killed my herb garden and my hair was a hot mess so I couldn’t go to the store and thyme is just fine, ok… GEEZ!).
This recipe is totally flexible! ย Grab that goat cheese, pick your favorite jam, chop up your favorite herb. ย Heat. ย Cover. ย Serve!
Serve the goat cheese with lots of pretty plates, linens, and fancy crackers (I’m partial to these Raincoast Crisps from Canada). ย Shock and awe. ย Too easy.
Warm Herb and Jam Goat Cheese Spread
6 to 8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled and kept cold
3 to 4 tablespoons strawberry jam
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or tarragon
3 to 4 tablespoons apricot jam
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
fresh cracked black pepper
crackers, for serving
Divide goat cheese between two serving bowls. ย Place strawberry jam and fresh thyme or tarragon in a small microwave safe bowl and heat in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds, or until warm. ย Heat the apricot jam and fresh rosemary in the same way.
Just before serving, spoon the warm jams over the prepared goat cheese. ย Sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper and serve immediately with good crackers.
37 Responses
Hi Joy, I tried to print the recipe but only blank pages came up except for outer border stuff
Made this recipe last night with Italian apricot jam + thyme for one, and peach-blackberry jam + tarragon for the other. Have to say it was FANTASTIC! And you totally weren’t kidding about how easy it was.
This is delicious!
I love this! And I love Raincoast crisps… and I figured out how to make them! for reals.
Yum! After reading this I trawled around the net like a cheap chef with no self-respect! All for trying to find a good copy recipe of raincoast crisps, as I live in France and they don’t “do” crackers here. Joy, would love your expert thoughts! Thanks for the fab blog- love it!
What a fantastic idea! I’m definitely serving this next time I have guests, which will be soon! Thanks, Joy!
So easy to do!And looks very fancy!
Ocean Spray has come out with a cranberry salsa that is quite good on goat cheese or cream cheese on crackers. I bought a jar of it at Costco.
Charlotte Carr said its possible to make your own Raincoast crackers. Does anyone know how??
Thanks!
Joy, I made this for lunch yesterday with some spiced cranberry jam that no longer had turkey to make friends with. It. was. amazing. Had to gobble down the leftovers for breakfast this morning before anyone else woke up.
Sometimes we have trouble going through a jar of jam because my instinct is to hoard it, but I literally could not stop eating this. I see a very delicious future for that marmalade in the back of my cupboard!
I love goat cheese. I have no excuse not to make this, it’s so simple and looks so delicious!
I was just showing my husband some of your posts and reading excerpts. Your recipes are amazing, and you are such a witty writer.
Love this. I totally cracked up at the safe place and a little bit of shock and awe. That’s totally what I need. Thank you so much for the giggles and the great recipe.