Cherry Compote Over Goat Cheese Recipes

CHERRY COMPOTE OVER GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook cherries and sugar over medium-high heat in a skillet, stirring occasionally, for approx 4 minutes.
• Sprinkle in vinegar and thyme and cook 1 more minute.
• Slice goat cheese into 4 rounds, top each with warm compote.
• Note: Compote may be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Bring cherries, Port, wine, sugar, cinnamon stick, pepper, and a pinch of salt to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat.
• Stir together cornstarch and vinegar until smooth, then stir into boiling liquid. Boil 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and cover, then let stand 15 minutes. Serve warm.

MAPLE CUPCAKES WITH CHERRY COMPOTE AND GOAT CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cupcake or muffin pan with 24 regular cupcake liners.
• In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together. Set the bowl aside.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add in the maple syrup and combine. Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing between each addition. Then add the vanilla and combine. Alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk to the mixer. Mix until just combined.
• Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full. Bake until cooked through, 16 to 18 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• To assemble: Fill cupcakes with the cooled Cherry Compote. Top with the Goat Cheese Cream Cheese Frosting.
• In a pan, heat the cherries, agave nectar, cornstarch, salt and 1/4 cup water. Whisk until combined and there are no clumps of cornstarch. Heat over medium-high heat until the compote begins to boil, and then bring to a simmer. Cook until you reach the desired thickness, 15 to 20 minutes. Place in a bowl to cool.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, cream cheese, goat cheese and salt until smooth and fluffy. Add in the powdered sugar, a little at a time, and beat until achieved desired consistency. Add to a piping bag fitted with desired tip.

SAVORY BLUE CHEESE CHEESECAKE WITH CHERRY PEAR COMPOTE AND CHERRY BALSAMIC GLAZE

Steps:

• Beat 1/2 cup butter, 4 ounces Parmesan cheese, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the flour, and mix on low until mixture resembles large crumbles. Turn dough out and shape into a log. Wrap dough with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slice the prepared dough into 1/4-inch thick pieces and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 22 minutes. Cool crackers on the sheets for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack. Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan with parchment paper, then butter the paper and the sides of the pan.
• Place the toasted pecans, baked crackers, and 1 tablespoon melted butter in a food processor. Pulse until crumbled. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
• Beat three 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, 8 ounces of blue cheese, and 6 ounces of Parmesan cheese with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the mixture before adding the next. Beat in the heavy cream and 1 teaspoon pepper with the last egg. Pour the mixture into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 1/2 hours. The cheesecake is ready when the edges have nicely puffed and the surface of the cheesecake is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the pan is gently shaken. Run the tip of a paring knife around the edges of the pan, set the pan on a wire rack, and allow the cheesecake to cool at room temperature for 1 hour before placing into the refrigerator, and cooling 4 hours to overnight.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is very tender and dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Add in the chopped pears, dried cherries, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook and stir until pears are tender. Remove the onion and fruit from the skillet using a slotted spoon. Drain the juice back into the skillet, then mash the fruit in a bowl with a fork. Simmer the juice in the skillet over medium heat until thickened, about 5 minutes. Transfer glaze to a separate bowl.
• Beat the remaining 8-ounce package of cream cheese, 4 ounces of blue cheese, 2 ounces of Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper with an electric mixer in a bowl until smooth. Spread the cheese mixture over the cooled cheesecake. Sprinkle with candied pecans. Serve with cherry pear compote, sliced pear, and vinegar glaze on the side.

SWEET-AND-SOUR CHERRY TURNOVERS WITH GOAT CHEESE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine dark sweet cherries and sour cherries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in medium saucepan; toss to coat. Let cherry mixture stand 30 minutes at room temperature. Stir gently over medium-high heat until mixture boils and thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Cool cherry compote completely. DO AHEAD: Compote can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Combine heavy cream, goat cheese, and powdered sugar in medium bowl. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean (reserve bean for another use). Using electric mixer, beat until mixture is smooth and peaks form (do not overbeat or mixture may curdle). DO AHEAD: Goat cheese cream can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Rewhisk just until thick and smooth before using.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Roll out 1 puff pastry sheet on lightly floured work surface to 11 1/2-inch square. Cut into 4 equal squares. Repeat with second puff pastry sheet.
• Arrange 6 pastry squares like diamonds on work surface, spacing apart (reserve remaining 2 squares puff pastry for another use). Place 1/6 of cherry compote in center of lower half of each pastry diamond. Brush edges of pastry with beaten egg. Fold top half of pastry over filling on lower half, forming triangle. Press firmly on pastry edges to adhere, then fold edges over, enclosing filling completely and creating double edges; press with fork to seal.
• Place turnovers on large rimmed baking sheet, spacing 2 to 3 inches apart. Using tines of fork, pierce top crust of each turnover in 3 places to allow steam to escape during baking. Brush tops and edges of turnovers with beaten egg; sprinkle with raw sugar.
• Bake turnovers until crust is golden and filling is bubbling thickly through steam holes in crust, about 35 minutes. Cool slightly. Serve turnovers warm or at room temperature with goat cheese cream.
• Also called turbinado or demerara sugar; available at most supermarkets and at natural foods stores.
• Sour cherries may be difficult to find in most supermarkets, but they can be ordered from King Orchards (kingorchards.com or 877-937-5464).