We’ve all seen them in the grocery store, usually in the specialty cheese case: Vacuum-sealed goat cheese logs swimming in blueberries or covered in bland herbs. Why would you buy one of these if you could make one at home? Not only do you have the opportunity to use fresher ingredients, but your little goat cheese concoction will surely be prettier and far tastier than its vacuum-sealed cousin!
Step 1: Start with great cheese. Of course, we’d rather you bought your goat cheese from us, but feel free to get your favorite goat cheese closest to you. Buy the plain version! (At Jones Family Farm, we offer 5oz Plain & Simple Goat Cheese rounds AND a 16oz Plain & Simple Goat Cheese tub.)
Step 2: Plan your flavor combinations. Consider fresh herbs, edible flowers, fresh or dried fruits, chopped nuts, honey–the options are endless! To keep things simple, maybe start with whatever goodies you have on hand.
Step 3: Form your log. Place a portion (4-6oz for a small log; 8-16oz for large) of your cheese in the center of a piece of plastic wrap. Semi-form a log shape before wrapping entirely in the plastic wrap. Roll and press the wrapped cheese until it resembles a log shape. Chill for at least one hour or overnight.
Step 4: Decorate! Remove log from plastic wrap. Using any of the suggested flavor combinations below or your own creation, roll log in nuts or herbs; drizzle with honey or jam; and artfully arrange fruits around the cheese on a serving platter. Serve with crackers, bread, or crudité–or better yet, make it the centerpiece for a gorgeous charcuterie platter!
Flavor combinations: This is truly just the tip of the iceberg!
Pistachio & honey–chop pistachios, transfer to plate; roll cheese log in chopped nuts & lightly press to adhere; drizzle with honey
Blueberry & lemon–mix blueberry jam into cheese before forming log; serve log topped with zested lemon and fresh blueberries
Fresh chive–mince fresh chives, transfer to plate; roll cheese log in chives & lightly press to adhere
Crushed peppercorn–crush mixture of black, green, pink, and white peppercorns using mortar & pestle or roughly grind; transfer to plate and roll cheese log in peppercorns, pressing lightly to adhere
Strawberry & hot honey–mix strawberry jam into cheese before forming log; serve log topped with hot honey & fresh strawberries on the side
Fig & rosemary–mix fig jam and ground rosemary into cheese before forming log; serve log topped with additional fig jam
Dark chocolate & cherry–chop dried cherries & mix into cheese before forming log; serve log topped with cherry preserves and shaved dark chocolate, fresh cherries on the side
Apricot & thyme–mix apricot jam into cheese before forming log; serve log topped with sprigs of thyme and slices of fresh or dried apricots
Lavender & edible flowers–finely mince fresh lavender leaves and mix into cheese before forming log; press edible flowers like pansies, nasturtiums, violets, etc. all over on log surface
