A goat cheese log appetizer is the ultimate party food! And this one is pink and cute and girly and awesome. Plus, it tastes amazing! The edible dried rose petals and the sumac make this crazy tasty and totally craveable!
It’s one of my favorite quick and easy appetizers to serve for girl’s nights or baby/ bridal showers. But you won’t want to share. It’s that tasty!
This post was originally shared May 30, 2012. I have since updated with new photos and step by step instructions so you can make this tasty goat cheese log perfectly every time.
It took me a really long time to enjoy goat cheese. But now that I do, I like to use it as much as possible! From a simple egg scramble to Bacon Wrapped Dates stuffed with goat cheese, it’s a delicious ingredient!
I made this pink and gold goat cheese appetizer for a For Like, Ever-themed bridal shower. I don’t generally match my food to my color scheme but this was just too perfect.
Why this recipe works
Goat cheese is creamy, with the perfect tang, and works with both savory or sweet flavors. That means it is a versatile ingredient to use in the kitchen.
A goat cheese log is one of the easiest appetizers you can make. Taking a store-bought log and coating it is SO easy!
While the ingredients are out of the ordinary, they are worth taking the time to track down. Plus you’ll be able to make several batches of this goat cheese log recipe once you have them.
The creamy goat cheese pairs perfectly with the kick from the pink peppercorns, the slight citrus notes of the sumac and the interesting and crave-worthy taste of the dried rose petals.
Served on crostini (a fancy name for sliced, toasted bread), it’s a tasty treat that guests can serve themselves and is fine to leave out at room temperature.
When I serve this, people always look at me funny. And then they taste it and enjoy the heck out of it.
Ingredient Notes
Make sure to plan ahead when you make this recipe as these are not ingredients that you would find in your corner grocery store (but pretty easy to find online).
This recipe has freaking rose petals in it. I mean, it doesn’t get classier than that. I came across this recipe in a magazine and it was created by Laura Santinni. She also added gold flakes to her goat cheese log.
EDIBLE GOLD! Crazy right?! It’s expensive so I just substituted these cute gold stars when I made it for the bridal shower. But usually, I skip that part altogether.
The start of the show is the dried, edible rose petals. They are food-grade and have a gorgeous color. The flavor is unique and you can use them a number of ways (including rimming a glass of champagne).
Pink peppercorns boost the pink color even more. I find that pink peppercorns aren’t quite as harsh as black pepper. There is a bit of heat if you bite into a larger piece but it’s really tasty.
Sumac is a spice you don’t see every day but after I started making this savory Goat Cheese Log, I now use it in a bunch of other dishes.
Maldon sea salt is my favorite! Sometimes the chunks are pretty large but it’s not overly salty. It can add a nice crunch and it’s the perfect finishing touch to this recipe.
Most stores carry plain goat cheese logs. Trader Joe’s has a great price on them and Costco is great if you are having a party. You can use larger logs (like the 10.5 ounces log that I’ve shown) or use several smaller logs.
A drizzle of good quality olive oil adds a tasty finishing touch (or you can skip it. It won’t ruin this appetizer recipe, I promise).
I like to serve this with sliced baguette, that is very lightly toasted. But it would be good on crackers, or paired with veggies too.
How to Make this Rose and Sumac Goat Cheese Log
If you have a spice mill, grind your rose petals and peppercorns.
Don’t grind the rose petals down to a powder. You want to be able to see a bit of the petals (but ideally they should end up a bit smaller than in this photo).
I don’t own a spice mill so I sometimes have to put the pink peppercorns into sandwich bags and beat the hell out of them. I say sandwich bags because the edges of whatever you’re trying to smash them with will inevitably tear the bag closest to the spice…
Mix rose petals, sumac and peppercorns together and spread on a plate or shallow bowl.
Roll the goat cheese log in the spice mix to cover it until coated on all sides.
Sprinkle with gold, if using.
Slice your baguette or if you are lucky, you can find pre-sliced crostini at your local grocery store. It saves so much time especially if you are hosting a party. It doesn’t matter if the pieces are a little dry since you are baking them to toast them anyway.
To Make Crostini
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put the sliced baguette on a large baking sheets. Lightly drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake in oven, approximately 10 minutes until just turning golden brown.
Place the rose and sumac-coated goat cheese log on a serving plate. I garnished it with some fresh rosemary and edible flowers.
Drizzle with olive oil or set out a tiny pitcher of olive oil for people to add to the serving on their plate.
Here is an image from my original post. This is a shot of the appetizer on the snack table.
Tips and Tricks
- Keep the goat cheese log refrigerated as you prepare the spices. It will remain firm while you are coating it with herbs.
- You can coat the goat cheese log ahead of time and store it in the fridge until serving. Let sit out at room temperature for about minutes before serving.
- If serving at a party, consider using smaller goat cheese logs so that you can set one out early in the party and refresh with a second one later on.
- If you aren’t a huge fan of goat cheese, you can cut it with some softened cream cheese. Just make sure they are both room temperature and blend them together before reforming back into a log.
Ingredient Substitutions
You can’t make this without the rose petals. Well, I mean you can but it would taste totally different. Really, any way you serve a goat cheese log is going to be good.
If you don’t have sumac, you can substitute some lemon zest and salt. And if you don’t have pink peppercorns, you can use any other peppercorns.
If you have to, you can substitute softened cream cheese, formed into a log shape. It will be much tangier but it’s probably the only substitution I would use in place of goat cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sumac is a dried and powdered fruit of a flowering plant that is used in Middle Eastern cooking. It has a bit of a tart flavor with hints of citrus. It’s so good sprinkled on hummus or any dish that you want to brighten up. It’s great to use in place of sprinkled lemon and would be awesome on a salad.
The cost is about $30 to make so this isn’t on the cheaper side. I certainly wouldn’t pay that for an everyday appetizer but you will have spices leftover and can probably make it 4-6 more times. The prices for goat cheese vary so you just need to check around.
To store leftovers, wrap the goat cheese log with rose and sumac tightly in a piece of plastic wrap (you can even place this inside a storage bag or container to make extra sure it’s as air-tight as possible). Store it in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for about 3 days.
Check your local grocery stores, especially local international markets. Look to see if you have a spice store near you or can buy them online. Savory Spice Shop is my favorite. Buy them from Amazon: dried edible rose petals, sumac, pink peppercorns, sea salt
This goat cheese appetizer serves 8 (but if you serve it with other things it can feed a lot more). Or you can eat it all by yourself. Because that’s what I do.
You HAVE to make this easy appetizer! It’s so good. I wanted to play up the girliness of the goat cheese appetizer log for the bridal shower I hosted, but it really does work perfectly for any type of party.
Related Recipes
- Cheetos Rosemary Goat Cheese Log: If you’re a junk food fan like I am you must try this appetizer crusted with crushed up Cheetos!
- Beet and Goat Cheese Salad: With crunchy candied nuts and spicy arugula, this delicious salad recipe is my go-to for lunch at home with friends.
- Goat Cheese Pizza with Sausage and Bacon: This pizza recipe is the best for people who are skeptical about goat cheese, the softened cheese is mixed with dijon mustard and fresh thyme to create a spread that goes right on the dough.
- Spanakopita Bites with Goat Cheese and Artichoke from The Little Kitchen
- Baked Goat Cheese Appetizer from Eat Picks
Goat Cheese Log with Rose and Sumac
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP dried rose petals plus extra for garnish (I used edible flowers for garnish instead)
- 1 TBSP pink peppercorns
- 2 tsp sumac
- 2 tsp Maldon sea salt
- 10.5 oz goat cheese log (or 2 small goat cheese logs)
- Small pinch of gold flakes if using
- 4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Grind dried rose petals and pink peppercorns in a spice mill. (Leave pieces, do not grind to a powder).
- Mix together ground rose petals and pink peppercorn with the sumac and sea salt.
- Spread on a plate and roll goat cheese log until coated.
- Sprinkle with gold, if using.
- Drizzle logs with olive oil.
- Serve with lightly toasted crostini.
Notes
- If you can’t find a goat cheese log this size, you can use several smaller logs.
- Keep the goat cheese log refrigerated as you prepare the spices. It will remain firm while you are coating it with herbs.
- You can coat the goat cheese log ahead of time and store it in the fridge until serving. Let sit out at room temperature for about minutes before serving.
- If serving at a party, consider using smaller goat cheese logs so that you can set one out early in the party and refresh with a second one later on.
- If you aren’t a huge fan of goat cheese, you can cut it with some softened cream cheese. Just make sure they are both room temperature and blend them together before reforming back into a log.
- To store a pre-made goat cheese log or leftovers, wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap then place in a plastic storage bag in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Melissa C says
This is amazing and so pretty!
Lexy @ The Proper Pinwheel says
Sharon – this is the prettiest cheese log I have EVER seen. I just love it! Shared in my roundup today. :)
http://theproperpinwheel.com/2012/06/fresh-find-friday-37/
Sharon Garofalow says
Thanks for sharing! Who knew cheese could be so easy on the eyes! :)