Best Million Dollar Bacon Goat Cheese Appetizer Log Recipe
This Best Million Dollar Bacon Goat Cheese Appetizer Log is a crowd-pleasing dish that combines crispy, sweet, and spicy bacon with creamy goat cheese, served alongside golden, crunchy crostini. Perfect for parties and gatherings, this easy-to-make appetizer pairs smoky bacon with tangy goat cheese and a drizzle of maple or hot honey for an irresistible flavor explosion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Bacon Mixture
- 1 pack of thick-cut bacon
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Crostini
- 1 baguette
- Olive oil (for brushing)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Cheese and Drizzle
- 4 or 8-ounce log of goat cheese
- Maple syrup, honey, or hot honey (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Bacon: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and water until combined.
- Coat and Bake Bacon: Lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Rub both sides of each slice with the brown sugar mixture, then sprinkle red pepper flakes on top if desired. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Flip Bacon and Continue Baking: Carefully flip each slice of bacon and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the bacon is crispy but not burned. Remove from the oven and transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
- Prepare Crostini: Increase the oven temperature to 425°F. Slice the baguette into ½-inch thick slices. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet and brush both sides lightly with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake Crostini: Bake the slices for 7 to 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove and let cool.
- Assemble Bacon Goat Cheese Log: Once the bacon is cooled, break it into small pieces. Place the goat cheese log on a serving dish. Press the bacon pieces evenly into the surface of the cheese.
- Finish and Serve: Drizzle maple syrup, honey, or hot honey over the bacon-topped cheese log. Serve with the crostini on the side for dipping and spreading.
Notes
- You can substitute goat cheese with cream cheese, ricotta, or Brie for different flavor variations.
- For a spicier flavor, use spicy honey or increase the cayenne pepper in the bacon sugar mixture.
- The bacon can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you prefer, use a baking rack to cook the bacon, which eliminates the need to flip it halfway through baking.
- Leftover crostini can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days and re-crisped before serving.
Keywords: bacon appetizer, goat cheese appetizer, crostini, party appetizer, bacon cheese log, sweet and spicy bacon
