My Cheese Roulade with Goat Cheese & Raisins is totally out of this world. It is so tasty and decadent, and at the same time, easy and fun to prepare. The perfect combination of baby Swiss cheese, creamy soft goat cheese, and sweet raisins makes this an excellent easy appetizer for any occasion.
Tom the Chef Founder
Let’s talk about important parts of the recipe before you start…
I am thrilled to share my Cheese Roulade with Goat Cheese & Raisins with you today. As a lover of cold cuisine, I created this recipe to be the ultimate easy appetizer that looks sophisticated but is surprisingly simple to make. The secret lies in the harmonious blend of melted baby Swiss cheese, rich cream cheese, and tangy soft goat cheese, all balanced beautifully by plump sweet raisins. Whether you are hosting a formal gathering or just need a delicious party snack, this cheese roulade delivers a perfect savory and sweet experience. You can even serve it on slices of baguette to create elegant canapes. Let’s dive into making this wonderful Cheese Roulade with Goat Cheese & Raisins together!
When I start making my Cheese Roulade with Goat Cheese & Raisins, the most critical foundational step is setting up the cheese layer correctly. I use exactly 16 slices of baby Swiss cheese, which usually comes out to about one pound. To prepare this, I first place three layers of plastic wrap over an upside-down medium baking sheet, ensuring the entire surface is covered. Then, I arrange the baby Swiss cheese slices in the center of the plastic wrap utilizing a four by four grid. The absolute most important part of this step is making sure that each slice overlaps the next by about three-quarters of an inch. If they do not overlap each other, they will not fuse together to form the single sheet of cheese roulade that we need to roll up later. This meticulous preparation is what turns a simple party snack into a stunning piece of cold cuisine.
Once my grid is assembled, the next step in creating the Cheese Roulade with Goat Cheese & Raisins is slightly melting the baby Swiss cheese. I slightly preheat my oven to the lowest possible setting, which is usually between 165 degrees Fahrenheit and 175 degrees Fahrenheit. After a short preheating, I actually turn the oven completely off. I only need a temperature just warm enough to slightly melt the cheese so that all the slices connect; I definitely do not want a temperature too high that melts the cheese totally. I place the baking sheet into this warm oven until the slices partially melt together, which usually takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on the temperature. When I take it out, I can still see the seams of the cheese, and that is perfectly okay. I then slide the cheese, including the food wrap, from the baking sheet onto a cooling rack to let it cool slightly for just one to two minutes before adding the soft goat cheese.
The filling is where the Cheese Roulade with Goat Cheese & Raisins gets its luxurious texture. I take my kitchen mixer with the whisk attachment and combine two sticks of soft unsalted butter, six ounces of Laughing Cow cream cheese, and eight ounces of soft goat cheese. I always make sure to use any soft goat cheese that has a creamy texture across the entire cheese body, deliberately avoiding any aged cheese with surface mold. I add a pinch of salt and a pinch of freshly ground pepper, then process the mixture on high speed until nicely smooth and combined, which takes about two to four minutes. This combination of cream cheese and soft goat cheese provides a decadent flavor profile that makes this easy appetizer truly memorable. After tasting and adding more salt or pepper if needed, I put about one-quarter of this filling into a pastry bag with a pastry tip for future decorating, making sure to leave it at room temperature.
To bring that wonderful savory and sweet dynamic to the Cheese Roulade with Goat Cheese & Raisins, I incorporate one cup of sweet raisins into the remaining goat cheese filling which is still in my mixing bowl. Instead of using the mixer, which might ruin the texture, I thoroughly fold the sweet raisins in using a silicone spatula. This ensures that every bite of the final cheese roulade has whole, plump dried grapes tucked inside the rich soft goat cheese mixture. I want to mention that you can optionally decorate with grapes of both colors or colorful fruit and vegetables of your choice, but please note that adding these extra elements is a modification that is not part of my original recipe. Sticking to just the sweet raisins as directed keeps the flavor profile exactly as I designed it for this cold cuisine classic.
Now comes the fun part of making the Cheese Roulade with Goat Cheese & Raisins: the assembly. I take the soft goat cheese filling mixed with sweet raisins and spread it evenly on the top of the cooled baby Swiss cheese sheet. However, I am very careful not to spread the filling to all edges. I make sure to leave approximately one inch of space empty on one of the long sides. This empty edge will become the clean top part of the cheese roulade after rolling is complete. To roll the roulade, I use the plastic wrap underneath to help me effectively lift and roll the cheese, very similar to sushi preparation. This technique ensures a tight, beautiful roll for our easy appetizer. When rolled, I dispose of the plastic wrap afterward and utilize the soft goat cheese filling in the pastry bag to decorate the top of the roulade.
Patience is key for the final step of my Cheese Roulade with Goat Cheese & Raisins. For the absolute best results, I place the finished roll to cool in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before cutting and serving, or preferably overnight. After the cheese roulade is fully hardened, usually after 20 to 30 minutes in the fridge, I make sure to cover it with a lid or plastic wrap in order to prevent drying. When it is time to serve, I slice the chilled roll and present it alongside bread, baguettes, or crackers of any kind. Because the filling has set beautifully, if you can cut thin slices of roulade, you can even serve it on a slice of baguette with a few microgreens or arugula to create elegant canapes. This party snack is a fantastic addition to any gathering, perfectly balancing savory and sweet notes.
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