Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Cherries and Pecans

By Becky Hardin

Updated Aug 19, 2026

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These Fried Goat Cheese Balls are the perfect party appetizer. Simple to prepare, I stuff dried cherries and pecans into a ball of goat cheese, and then I bread and fry it until it’s crispy and golden. What I end up with is a crunchy, creamy, sweet, and savory appetizer or snack that disappears in minutes. They are great for holiday parties or as a fancy salad topper.

Crispy and Creamy Goat Cheese Balls

These fried goat cheese balls are one of my favorite holiday appetizers. They are cheesy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and the perfect pop-able size!

I’m a big fan of any kind of cheese, but goat cheese just feels a bit more decadent than, say, cheddar or Swiss. It’s soft and creamy, and it’s just so perfect to snack on. I like to add cherries and pecans, as they add tons of flavor, and then deep-frying them, coated in a crispy panko batter, makes them completely irresistible.

These are really great as an appetizer and taste even better with a dip or dressing of some sort. They also make a great salad topper for something a little extra special.

Tips for Beginners

• Don’t forgo refrigerating. Refrigerating the goat cheese balls is essential because keeping them cold helps them hold their shape and prevents the cheese from melting too quickly when the balls hit the hot oil.
• Don’t fry for too long. You want the breading to crisp up and brown, but any longer and you risk the cheese melting and oozing out all over your pot.
• Insert the pecans and cherries firmly. This way, they won’t fall out or stick out and make it difficult to roll the balls in the breading.
• Use just the egg white for coating. Stash the yolk in the fridge to add to an omelet or another dish. Using just the egg white creates a lighter coating with less fat, allowing the panko to get nice and crisp around creamy goat cheese.

Recipe Card

Fried Goat Cheese Balls

Difficulty: Easy

4.55 from 11 votes

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Freeze: 20 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 24

Author: Becky Hardin

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These Fried Goat Cheese Balls are stuffed with dried cherries and pecans and then deep-fried into a crispy little snack, perfect for New Year's Eve.

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ ⅓ cup flour
• ▢ 1 egg white from one egg
• ▢ 2 tbsp water
• ▢ ½ tsp sea salt
• ▢ 12 oz. goat cheese good quality, 3 small packages
• ▢ ½ cup dried tart cherries
• ▢ ½ cup pecans chopped
• ▢ 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• ▢ 2 cups canola oil
• ▢ pomegranate balsamic vinegar optional

Video

Instructions 

• Place flour in a small bowl. Combine egg and 2 tbsp of water in another small bowl. Place panko and ½ teaspoon sea salt in another bowl. Set aside.
  ⅓ cup flour, 1 egg white from one egg, 2 tbsp water, ½ tsp sea salt
• Roll goat cheese into 24 1 tbsp-sized balls. As you're rolling, add some cherries and pecans to each ball.
  12 oz. goat cheese, ½ cup dried tart cherries, ½ cup pecans
• Place in the fridge for about an hour or the freezer for 20 minutes to make sure they are firm and sturdy.
• Coat each goat cheese ball in the flour mixture. Dip in the egg and make sure that all of the outer surface is covered. Then coat with the panko mixture. Don't skimp on the panko.
  1 cup panko bread crumbs
• Heat oil to 350° in a deep saucepan over medium-high heat. A deep saucepan is important so that the hot oil doesn't splatter.
  2 cups canola oil
• Working in batches, add 2 or three goat cheese balls to the oil and allow them to fry for about 30 seconds, or until the entire coating is crispy and browned. Take out of the oil using a slotted spoon and place on a cookie rack or paper towel to dry.
• Serve warm topped with a drizzle of pomegranate balsamic vinegar if desired! Enjoy!
  pomegranate balsamic vinegar

Becky’s Tips

• The goat cheese balls need to be cold so they don’t melt when you fry them.
• Fry just until browned so the cheese doesn’t melt. 
• Make sure the cherries and pecans are tightly packed into the cheese.
• Use the egg white only. This creates a lighter coating, allowing the panko to crisp up.
• Store in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

Serving: 1ballCalories: 86kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 217mgPotassium: 21mgVitamin A: 145IUCalcium: 26mgIron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Store

Store leftover balls in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freeze

Freeze cooled goat cheese balls for up to 1 month. Flash freeze on a cookie sheet and then transfer to a freezer safe container.

Reheat

Reheat in a warm oven until warmed through.

Make Ahead

Flash-freeze unfried goat cheese balls and store for up to 1 month. Fry from frozen.

Serving Suggestions

I love serving these fried goat cheese balls with a drizzle of pomegranate balsamic vinegar, but they also taste great with a drizzle of buffalo sauce, a splash of honey mustard sauce, or this cool and refreshing tzatziki. These goat cheese balls are ideal for entertaining, as this recipe makes a big batch. They also make a great addition to this kale salad, giving it a bit more substance and staying power.

More Goat Cheese Appetizers To Try

• For this Whipped Goat Cheese Bruschetta, I can make sweet or savory bruschetta either with tomatoes or berries.
• This Goat Cheese Dip with Tomatoes and Herbs is loaded with cherry tomatoes, basil, garlic, and more.
• Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese turn out sweet and savory and absolutely delicious.

more appetizer recipes

Reuben Egg Rolls

Homemade Onion Rings

Domino’s Stuffed Cheesy Bread

Loaded Cowboy Queso (Velveeta Rotel Dip)