Herbed Goat Cheese Stuffed Apricots | Easy 15-Minute Appetizer
Yield: 16 stuffed apricots
Herbed Goat Cheese Stuffed Apricots
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A delightful, bite-sized appetizer—sweet dried apricots stuffed with a creamy, flavorful goat cheese blended with garlic and herbs, topped with crunchy toasted walnuts and a touch of honey. It’s perfect for holiday parties, wine nights, or casual home entertaining!
Prep Time
15 minutes
Total Time
15 minutes
Ingredients
- 16 whole dried apricots (large, soft Mediterranean apricots work best)
- 4 oz (115g) goat cheese (chèvre), softened to room temperature
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
- 1 small garlic clove, grated or minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil or heavy cream (optional, to soften goat cheese)
- 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
- 1–2 tbsp honey or balsamic glaze (for drizzling)
- Fresh mint or thyme sprigs (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Apricots:
Using a small, sharp knife, slice each dried apricot horizontally along the edge, creating a pocket (do not cut all the way through). Gently press open with your fingers. - Make the Herbed Cheese Filling:
In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, chopped chives, parsley, thyme, minced garlic, sea salt, black pepper, and olive oil (if needed for smoothness). Mash with a fork or whip with a spoon until creamy and thoroughly blended. - Stuff the Apricots:
Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cheese mixture into the pocket of each apricot. (Alternatively, transfer the mixture to a piping bag or ziplock bag with the corner snipped off for a cleaner presentation). - Add the Toppings:
Gently press a few pieces of toasted, chopped walnuts into the goat cheese top of each apricot. - Drizzle & Serve:
Arrange the stuffed apricots on a serving platter. Drizzle generously with warm honey or balsamic glaze just before serving. Garnish with small herb leaves if desired. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Notes
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the stuffed apricots up to 24 hours in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Drizzle with honey and add fresh herbs right before serving.
- Warm Variation: Place the stuffed apricots on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5–7 minutes until the cheese is soft and warm before drizzling with honey.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 198mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 9g
