Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles

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Creamy goat cheese mixed with caramelized sweet onions and coated in crunchy almonds. These Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles are the perfect appetizer for your next party!

Table of Contents

1 Why You’ll Love This Goat Cheese Truffle Recipe
2 Ingredients Needed For Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles
- 2.1 Variations
3 How To Make Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles
4 What to Serve With Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles
5 Storage and Make Ahead Directions For Goat Cheese Truffles
6 More Appetizer Recipes to Try!
7 Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles

Why You’ll Love This Goat Cheese Truffle Recipe

First things first: if you don’t like goat cheese you’re probably not going to like these. There. I said it. (You can substitute the cheeses so you do like it!) Now, if you do like goat cheese, then you’re going to love these! I know truffles are traditionally sweet, but I thought little mini cheese ball ‘truffles’ would be cute to put out at a party with vegetables and crackers instead of one monstrous one. Plus, I really like toasted almonds and making smaller ones increases the cheese to nut ratio. Creamy, crunchy, savory and slightly sweet, these truffles are sure to please goat cheese loving guests or family members alike.

Overhead view of various ingredients in small bowls, including sour cream, yogurt, butter, ground spices, chopped herbs, onions, whole almonds, and salt. Nearby, a plate of goat cheese balls adds a touch of sophistication to the array.

Ingredients Needed For Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles

Here’s everything you need to make this easy appetizer! Goat cheese is becoming more common to find in the grocery store. It’s usually found by the deli and specialty cheeses and spreads.

Goat cheese + Cream Cheese: Adds the creamy and tangy smoothness. Make sure these are room temperature for easier blending.
Small onion: Sliced thinly for caramelizing.
Butter: used to caramelize the onions.
Brown sugar: Enhances the sweetness of the onions.
Thyme: Adds a hint of earthiness.
Salt and black pepper: For seasoning.
Flat-leaf parsley: Fresh and chopped for color and flavor.
Almonds: Toasted and pulsed into crumbs for coating.

Variations

Herbs: Swap parsley with fresh thyme or rosemary.
Nuts: Use pecans or walnuts instead of almonds.
Cheese: Substitute with brie, parmesan or blue cheese if goat cheese isn’t your thing.
Onions: Try caramelized red onions for a twist.

A plate of goat cheese truffles with herbs, slices of bread, celery, and carrot sticks next to a green cloth and utensils. Additional cheese balls and crackers are on a wooden board.

How To Make Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles

For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are my step by step instructions for making these Goat Cheese Truffles:

1. Prep

Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Alternatively, you could use cupcake liners.

A rectangular baking tray lined with parchment paper rests on a light surface, with a green cloth partially visible underneath, ready to hold the delicious goat cheese balls.

2. Toast Almonds

Place almonds in skillet over medium heat, swirling pan around frequently, until tasted and fragrant. Keep a close eye on them!

A frying pan filled with raw almonds arranged in a circular pattern on a stove, complemented by small goat cheese balls nestled around the edges.

Remove from heat and pulse almonds in a food processor until they are chunky crumbs. Place almond crumbs on a plate and set aside.

A person is placing a lid on a food processor filled with whole almonds, getting ready to turn them into the perfect base for delicious goat cheese truffles.

Overhead view of finely chopped nuts in a food processor, placed on a white surface with a folded striped cloth underneath, ready to create delectable goat cheese truffles.

3. Caramelize Onions

In large skillet over medium low heat, melt butter. Add onions and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want to hear a quiet sizzle. The onions should slowly start to turn into a golden brown color to a deeper brown.

A slice of butter melting in a non-stick frying pan, with chopped greens in a small bowl and goat cheese balls in the background.

A frying pan with sliced onions being sautéed in oil. A small bowl with chopped herbs and goat cheese balls is in the background.

Once onions are caramelized to a deep brown, season with salt and black pepper. Stir in brown sugar. Remove from heat and set aside.

Cooking process in a frying pan with onions, spices, and a wooden spatula. Chopped herbs, almonds, and goat cheese balls are visible nearby.

A frying pan with caramelizing onions and a mound of brown sugar being mixed with a wooden spatula, as savory goat cheese balls wait on the side, ready to elevate your dish.

4. Blend Cheeses

In the food processor (no need to clean it from pulsing the almonds!), blend goat cheese and cream cheese to mix.

A food processor contains a mixture of white ingredients, presumably cream or whipped product, with a red and silver blade in the center. In the background, there are almonds and other small food items, perhaps for making decadent goat cheese truffles.

Top view of a food processor blending a creamy mixture, accompanied by a plate of whole almonds and ground almond pieces in the background on a light surface. Nearby, goat cheese truffles add an elegant touch, while a white cloth with green stripes is partially visible.

Pour in slightly cooled onions and process again until mostly smooth. Stir in parsley, salt and black pepper by hand.

A person adds chopped fresh herbs to a food processor filled with a creamy mixture, crafting the perfect base for delectable goat cheese truffles.

Close-up of a person mixing a creamy, herb-infused cheese mixture for goat cheese truffles in a food processor with a spatula.

5. Form Truffles

Using two spoons (or a small cookie scoop), scoop onion mixture into 24 even balls and place on the baking pan.

A hand holding a spoon filled with herbed cream cheese hovers above a food processor containing more of the mixture. The food processor, perfect for making goat cheese truffles, rests on a wooden board with a light green cloth beside it.

A baking tray lined with parchment paper holds twelve evenly spaced scoops of an uncooked ricotta herb mixture, reminiscent of goat cheese truffles.

Coat each cheese ball into toasted almond crumbs, rolling around until fully coated.

A hand is rolling a round goat cheese truffle in a plate of crushed nuts, with more similar items on a tray in the background.

A hand is seen rolling a white, ball-shaped goat cheese truffle in a plate full of crushed nuts and herbs.

6. Chill

Chill truffles in the refrigerator until ready to use. Serve with crackers, other cheeses and/or vegetables.

What to Serve With Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles

Like other cheese balls, these pair well with crackers, pretzel sticks, baguette slices, crusty bread, or as part of a cheese board or charcuterie.

Storage and Make Ahead Directions For Goat Cheese Truffles

Store in an airtight container or cover the serving dish with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze, place the truffles on a sheet pan first, then once frozen transfer to a freezer-safe container.

To Make Ahead: Make them a day in advance and refrigerate in an airtight container.

More Appetizer Recipes to Try!

These caramelized onion goat cheese truffles are a delicious appetizer that will impress your guests. Easy to make and full of flavor, they are perfect for any holiday season gathering. Next time you need a crowd-pleaser, give these truffles a try! The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

These tasty Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Truffles are a perfect appetizer served alongside vegetables and crackers.

Instructions

for the almonds-

Place almonds in skillet over medium heat, swirling pan around frequently, until tasted and fragrant.
Remove from heat and pulse almonds in a food processor until they are chunky crumbs. Place almond crumbs on a plate and set aside.

for the caramelized onions-

In large skillet over medium low heat, melt butter. Add onions and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. (You want to hear a quiet sizzle. The onions should slowly start to turn into a golden brown color to a deeper brown.)
Once onions are caramelized to a deep brown, season with salt and black pepper. Stir in brown sugar. Remove from heat and set aside.

Notes

*alternatively, you can use cupcake liners

Nutrition

Keyword: goat cheese truffles