Easiest Holiday Appetizer: Baked Mt. Tam with Hot Honey (5-Minute Recipe)
At Clif Family, we absolutely love the holidays! It's the perfect season to cook, entertain, and be merry. Our culinary team has been busy creating festive recipes using Clif Family's food products that celebrate this time of year—from dazzling main dishes and delightful cheese boards to satisfying baked goods.
But one of our favorites, and truly the easiest holiday appetizers, was introduced to us by our friends at Cowgirl Creamery. Cowgirl crafts beautiful, award-winning cheeses, and we feature many of their products in our culinary offerings.
This Baked Mt. Tam recipe, also known as the Hot Tam Appetizer, proves just how easy deliciousness can be. It’s the ultimate 5-minute appetizer for last-minute guests or an elegant addition to your holiday cheese board.
Hot Tam Appetizer: Baked Cheese with Hot Honey
Ingredients
- 1 wheel Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam Triple Cream
- 1 jar Clif Family Solar Grown™️ Hot Honey
- 1 box Rustic Bakery Olive Oil and Sel Gris Flatbread Crackers
DIRECTIONS: Simple Baked Cheese
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare Cheese: Place the Mt. Tam in a cookware safe dish like a terra cotta cazuela or a small ramekin.
- Bake: Place it in the oven and heat for 5 minutes, or just long enough that the cheese is soft and melted slightly internally for a wonderfully gooey texture.
- Serve: Serve the dish straight from the oven (remember to use a hot pad for your table) or carefully transfer it to a serving platter.
- Drizzle: Drizzle the Clif Family Solar Grown Hot Honey over the cheese or serve with the jar of honey next to the dish so guests can customize their drizzle.
- Enjoy: Scoop up the creamy, baked Mt. Tam and hot honey with the crunchy Rustic Bakery Olive Oil and Sel Gris Flatbread Crackers and enjoy!
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Optional Enhancement for More Substance: If you’re wanting a little more substance, we suggest adding a side of La Quercia Prosciutto to include in your bite too. This adds a delicious salty element that pairs perfectly with sweet honey and creamy cheese.
Wine Pairing Recommendation
This creamy, salty, and sweet appetizer pairs beautifully with a wine that has bright acidity and body. Pair with Clif Family 2023 Napa Valley Chardonnay
