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Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Hot Honey Drizzle

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Crispy, creamy goat cheese balls are double-coated in breadcrumbs and fried until golden, then finished with a sweet and spicy homemade hot honey drizzle. This easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer is perfect for parties, snacks, or any occasion when you want a gourmet touch.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz soft goat cheese (log-style, not crumbled)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder (optional)
  • Vegetable oil or light olive oil (enough to fill pan about 1.5 inches deep)
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 1–2 tsp hot sauce (such as Sriracha or Frank’s Red Hot)
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  • Fresh chopped parsley or chives (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Remove goat cheese from fridge and let soften for 5 minutes. Break off pieces and roll into 1-inch balls (about 18-20 balls). Place on a lined baking tray.
  2. Freeze cheese balls for 15 minutes to firm up.
  3. Set up dredging station: spread flour in one shallow dish, beat eggs in a second, and combine panko, plain breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a third.
  4. Roll each cheese ball in flour (tap off excess), dip in beaten eggs, then roll in breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to coat. For extra crunch, repeat egg and breadcrumb steps for double-coating.
  5. Pour oil into skillet to 1.5 inches deep and heat over medium-high until it reaches 350°F.
  6. Working in batches, gently lower cheese balls into hot oil. Fry for 1-2 minutes per side, turning until golden brown. Do not overcrowd the pan.
  7. Remove fried balls with a slotted spoon and transfer to paper towels. Let cool for 2 minutes.
  8. In a small saucepan, combine honey, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and lemon juice. Warm over low heat, stirring until combined (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat.
  9. Arrange cheese balls on a platter. Drizzle with hot honey and garnish with chopped parsley or chives.

Notes

Chill or freeze cheese balls before coating and frying for best results. Double-coat for extra crunch. Use a thermometer to keep oil at 350°F. Prep cheese balls ahead and freeze; fry straight from frozen, adding 30 seconds to fry time. For gluten-free, use GF flour and breadcrumbs. Baked option: spray coated balls with olive oil and bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: fried goat cheese balls, hot honey appetizer, party snack, cheese ball recipe, easy appetizer, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, crispy goat cheese, honey drizzle

Find it online: https://tessierecipes.com/fried-goat-cheese-balls-recipe-easy-hot-honey-appetizer-perfection/