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    Home » Appetizers

    How to Make Fresh Homemade Goat Cheese (Chèvre)

    5 from 1 vote
    Published by Rebecca Eisenberg ⁠— August 12, 2019 (updated November 28, 2022) — 7 Comments

    437 shares
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    This post may contain affiliate links

    Get ready to learn how to make creamy and fresh goat cheese at home. This detailed guide is full of tips and tricks, a list of tools, how-tos (and several don’t dos!) to help you successfully make homemade goat cheese using just 4 ingredients!

    This creamy DIY goat cheese recipe is 100% worth the effort, and perfect for spreading on crispy crackers, fresh blueberry bagels and bread, or for crumbling over salads and more!

    a log of coat cheese in the middle of a wooden board. a slice has been cut off the front of the log. small bowls of capers and mustard are to the left. a stack of crackers is to the right.

    This post is your chance to learn from my mistakes: Don't buy a goat cheese making kit when it's easier and cheaper to buy the ingredients and make your own goat cheese yourself.

    But what ingredients? And which tools? I've got you covered.

    If you like this recipe, you might like my other delicious appetizer ideas or my homemade stand mixer butter recipe!

    Jump to:
    • My Goat Cheese Struggle
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Equipment Notes
    • Instructions
    • Straining Goat Cheese
    • Bonus: Goat Cheese Log Recipe
    • Adding Flavors
    • Storage and Freezing
    • Practical Tips & Recipe Notes
    • Recipe FAQ
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    My Goat Cheese Struggle

    The first time I made my own goat cheese it was a Disaster. Capital-D. I bought a goat cheese making kit from a now-defunct flash sale site, and it had been gathering dust in my pantry for almost 4 years.

    When I finally decided to make it, literally everything about the simple instructions (just 4 ingredients!!!!) felt impossible.

    This was before I went to pastry school and long before I started developing recipes of my own. But it still irks me to think of how poorly designed this goat cheese kit recipe was!

    The gallon of goat milk was too big for my pot, the towel the kit came with was too small. I don't know how the recipe expected me to use my only two human hands to simultaneously tie a towel into a bag to strain the cheese while pouring it, and the little container the kit came with held a mere 6 ounces of finished cheese — while I had made approximately 25 ounces.

    And there, folks, is the reason I did not give up on making my own goat cheese.

    I wanted ounces and ounces of homemade, fresh, creamy goats milk cheese.

    a close up shot of a cracker spread with goat cheese and topped with capers. other crackers are out of focus around it.

    Logs of goat cheese at the supermarket are usually 4 or 8 oz, and can be expensive for the amount of cheese you get, which comes in that annoying plastic packaging that makes using every last bit a challenge.

    So I took another look at the recipe trying to figure out just where I'd gone wrong.

    My issues, it turned out, were entirely proportional. As in, related to the ridiculous proportions the recipe the kit came with had me use. There was no need to start with a gallon of goats milk.

    Not to mention, the comically small towel and container the kit provided me with were in no way up to the task of producing the accompanying recipe.

    Also, the "cheese salt" the kit came with? Just regular kosher salt. The citric acid? You can buy it at most grocery stores or online.

    The goat cheese making kit actually made everything so much harder than it needed to be.

    My point is this: There is NO NEED to buy a goat cheese making kit when it's easier and cheaper to buy the ingredients and tools yourself.

    So for this recipe, we're going to use a bigger dish towel, and we're going to use a colander-over-a-bucket system for straining, and — most crucially — we have cut the original recipe in half. It works beautifully.

    And now, you too, will be able to transform a half-gallon of goat milk (~$10) into a completely reasonable 12-13 oz of homemade goat cheese.

    Ingredient Notes

    Here are the four ingredients you need when making goat cheese from goat milk. See recipe card (at the end) for quantities.

    all of the ingredients for making goat cheese measured out and labeled.
    • Goat Milk - This purple carton Meyenberg brand is the goat cheese I've most reliably been able to find in my grocery store. Even though most cheesemaking recipes recommend against using an ultra-pasteurized milk, it has reliably worked for me when making goat cheese from goat milk.
    • Water - For dissolving the citric acid before adding it to the goat milk.
    • Citric Acid - The key ingredient that will encourage the goat milk to separate into curds and whey. Usually found with the canning supplies, though it can also sometimes be found near the instant pudding/jello mixes, spice aisle, or baking aisle. You can also order it online.
    • Salt - I use Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt which half as salty as other brands. If you're using a different brand of salt, even a different brand of kosher salt, cut the amount of salt in half to start. You can always add more if you think it needs it.
    • Flavorings (optional) - Any flavorings you'd like to add! Herbs, honey, garlic, jam, nuts, etc. You can mix them into the goat cheese or turn this into a goat cheese log recipe by rolling the goat cheese in them.

    Equipment Notes

    Here is the equipment I use when making goats milk cheese. You don't need to have all of these exact things, as long as you have equipment that will serve similar functions!

    • A 3-6 quart pot - You need a pot made from a non-reactive metal (basically not copper or aluminum) that can hold at least ½ gallon of liquid deep enough for your thermometer to work. I usually use a 3-quart cast iron enamel dutch oven, but a stainless steel sauce pot is fine too.
    • Thermometer - A clip-on candy thermometer like this one works well, but I usually end up using a more reliable Thermapen instant read thermometer to double check, just in case the candy thermometer is moving a bit slow.
    • Large flour-sack style dish towel - One of those thin, linen dish towels (like the kitchen towels you don't care about). Do not use a terrycloth or textured towel.
    • Large Cambro food storage bucket: I use a 6 liter bucket, but you'll need one that holds at least 3 liters and has a wide enough mouth to fit the colander without the colander touching the bottom. A large mixing bowl will also work.
    • Large colander with side handles: The colander should be big enough to hold a half-gallon of goat milk and comfortably sit inside the bucket, without touching the bottom. A large wire mesh strainer would also work here.

    Instructions

    Are you ready to learn how to make cheese from goats milk? Let's get to it!

    A hand pours a quart of goat milk into a light blue cast-iron enameled dutch oven. The inside of the dutch oven is white. In the background there is a dark blue cast iron enameled everyday pan with a lid on.

    Start by pouring the goat milk into the pot over medium heat. Make sure the bottom of the thermometer is submerged in the goat milk.

    stirring a small amount of water mixed with citric acid together in a small glass bowl.

    Next, mix together your water and citric acid (stirring to dissolve the citric acid), pour it into the pot with the goat milk, and stir to combine.

    pouring water and citric acid into the goat milk in the pot.

    Keep stirring until the goat milk reaches 185°F. As you stir, the temperature will fluctuate as the hotter liquid from the bottom is introduced to the cooler liquid from the top, so keep an eye on the thermometer.

    Depending on the type of pot you're using or what kinds of burners you have, this could take anywhere from 15-30 minutes.

    As the goat milk heats up, curds will begin form — stirring frequently helps break them up so that they don't solidify before you're ready.

    When you hit 185°F, stop stirring, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for 15 minutes. It may or may not not look noticeably different after this, but you should be able to see some yellow-y slivers of whey breaking up the curds.

    A close-up of the goat milk mixture  in the light-blue cast iron enameled dutch oven after reaching 185 degrees and sitting for 15 minutes. The edges of the goat cheese mixture have tiny flecks of off-white curd in them.

    You are now ready to strain the curds (the part you want to eat!) from the whey (the part you can save to use for making bread).

    Straining Goat Cheese

    While the pot is sitting off heat, set up your straining station.

    • Bucket
    • Colander
    • Flour sack dish towel
    • Chip clips or large binder clips (optional)

    The colander goes inside the bucket, the towel goes inside the colander. Tuck the ends of the towels through the handles of your colander to hold them in place while the cheese drains.

    A 6 liter cambro bucket with a large, silver, two-handled colander sitting on top lined with a black and white striped towel.

    I usually use some chip bag clips or large binder clips to secure the towel in place through the handles.

    You don't necessarily need to do this, but it can help hold it in place.

    Pour the goat cheese into the towel inside the colander. Go slowly so you can adjust the towel if you need to or in case an edge falls in.

    close up pouring the goat cheese mixture through a striped dish towel into a colander.
    a plastic 6 liter bucket with a colander in it that is lined with a dish towel. a plastic bowl cover is stretched over the top. the bucket is filled with a couple inches of whey.

    Then, pull the towel through the handles and either knot the edges or use the chip clips to hold it in place as best you can.

    Basically, just do your best to gather and tighten the top of the towel to create a bag shape so that the excess whey is pressed out.

    After about an hour, scrape down the sides of the towel and gather the edges together.

    use a spatula to scrape the cheese down from the sides of the towel.

    After about an hour, scrape down the sides of the towel and gather the edges together.

    two hands squeezing a black and white striped towel twisted around a ball of goat cheese.

    Twist the ends of the towel together so the cheese is gathered in a ball. Squeeze gently to press out extra whey.

    You can either thread the twisted end of the towel through the colander handle and let it continue straining that way, or you can figure out how to tie the ends of the towel around the handle a spoon and let it hang to continue straining. (I have yet to figure out how to do this, so good luck to you!)

    The longer you let the mixture strain, the firmer your goat cheese will be.

    • For a nice, spreadable cheese, strain for 2-4 hours.
    • For a firmer goats milk cheese that's easier to crumble, strain for 4-6 hours, or even up to 8. Squeeze the towel periodically to press out even more whey.

    When the cheese is done straining, open the dish towel and scrape the cheese down into the middle.

    Tip it out of the towel into a bowl and add salt and any other flavors you want. That's it, that's how to make cheese from goats milk!

    strained goat cheese in a ball in the bottom of a black and white striped dish towel.

    Bonus: Goat Cheese Log Recipe

    If you want to roll your homemade goat cheese into a log, you'll need to strain it for at least 6 hours. The more liquid you remove from the cheese, the firmer it will be and the easier it is to roll into a log.

    To roll the goat cheese into a log, dollop it onto a cutting board and use clean hands to gently push and roll it until it forms a log. Don't press too hard, it will smear.

    Goat Cheese Log Tips:

    • If rolling it on a cutting board doesn't work, dollop the goat cheese onto a sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap and use that to help shape it into a log with less mess.
    • Try chilling the goat cheese for 30 minutes before rolling it to give it a chance to firm up.

    Wrap the goat cheese log in plastic wrap and twist the ends together tightly to store in the fridge.

    To slice goat cheese like a pro, freeze it for 5-10 minutes and use unflavored dental floss for clean cuts.

    Adding Flavors

    I'm partial to adding in a bit of honey to my goat cheese — I don't measure, I just add, mix, taste, and repeat until I'm satisfied.

    You can mix herbs, fruit, jam, nuts, seeds, or even balsamic vinegar right into the goat cheese.

    • To get a swirly ribbon of honey, jam, or balsamic, put a layer of cheese down, then drizzle your preferred sauce on top, then another layer of cheese to fully cover the sauce. You can layer it inside a container, or use your hands to gently roll the cheese into a log, keeping the sticky sauce or flavor on the inside as much as possible.
    • If you're using dried herbs or seeds, you can mix them into the cheese before rolling, but for a fancy finishing touch, sprinkle some on a clean cutting board and roll your shaped log through it to create a pretty crust.
    • If you add any seeds to your goat cheese (like everything bagel seasoning), they will absorb moisture and are best added no more than 24 hours before serving.
    close up of a log of goat cheese coated in everything bagel seasoning on a wooden board.

    Storage and Freezing

    Store homemade goat cheese in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Press a sheet of plastic wrap against the surface of the cheese inside the container to prevent air from drying it out.

    You can even freeze goat cheese! Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap inside a plastic bag or store it in a freezer safe container with a sheet of plastic wrap pressed against the surface.

    It will stay good in the freezer for about 6 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.

    As always, mold is a sure sign that your goat cheese has gone bad. If it's moldy, don't eat it!

    a small bowl of creamy goat cheese with a spreading knife on top. it is surrounded by crackers.

    Practical Tips & Recipe Notes

    • The colder the goat milk is at the start, the longer it will take to reach temperature. Let it sit out for 30 minutes before starting to speed up the process!
    • Don't throw out the whey from straining the goat cheese! You can use it instead of water (as a 1:1 replacement, no conversions needed) in any bread recipe to make that bread flavor really pop. It's hard to describe just what it does as a flavor, but it's like bread flavor, only... breadier. Bread squared. Trust me — nothing is better than eating a slice of your own toasted, homemade whey bread, spread with goat cheese and topped with some sun-dried or fresh, salted tomato slices.

    Recipe FAQ

    Is goat cheese dairy?

    Yes, goat cheese is a dairy product.

    Does goat cheese have lactose?

    Yes, goat cheese contains lactose.

    Do you make goat cheese with vinegar?

    Vinegar or lemon can also be used in place of citric acid to encourage the curds and whey to separate when making cheese from goats milk. This is not one of those recipes.

    Can I use cow's milk to make goat cheese?

    No, you can't. Goat cheese requires goat milk.

    What does goat cheese taste like?

    Goat cheese has a fairly mild flavor and creamy texture. It's very similar to cream cheese, only it's a bit saltier and tangier.

    📖 Recipe

    a log of coat cheese in the middle of a wooden board. a slice has been cut off the front of the log. small bowls of capers and mustard are to the left. a stack of crackers is to the right.

    How to Make Fresh Homemade Goat Cheese (Chèvre)

    Rebecca Eisenberg
    This post will show you how to make creamy and fresh goat cheese at home. This detailed guide is full of tips and tricks, a list of tools (and several don’t dos!) to help you successfully make homemade goat cheese using just 4 ingredients! This creamy DIY goat cheese recipe is 100% worth the effort, and perfect for spreading on crackers, bagels, and bread, crumbling over salads and more!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved! Email
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 45 mins
    Straining Time 4 hrs
    Total Time 4 hrs 55 mins
    Course Cheese
    Cuisine French
    Servings 13 ounces (approx)

    Equipment

    • Large, high-sided colander
    • 6 quart Cambro bucket
    • Clean dish towel
    • Candy thermometer
    • Heavy bottomed, non-reactive pot

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ gallon goat milk
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 teaspoon citric acid (rounded tsp)
    • 1 teaspoon diamond crystal kosher salt

    Optional add-ins

    • dried herbs
    • honey
    • sesame seeds
    • ground nuts
    • fruit jam
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Combine citric acid and water in a measuring cup and stir to dissolve. Pour goat milk into large, non-reactive pot, with candy thermometer attached, over medium heat. Add water and citric acid mixture. Stir to combine.
    • Continue stirring every few minutes until the mixture hits 185°F. This can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes, depending on your pot and burners.
    • Meanwhile, set up your cheese-straining system. Line a large colander with a clean flour-sack dish cloth, and tuck the edges of the cloth through the handles of the colander. Put the colander inside of a 6 liter Cambro bucket. Optional: Use chip bag or binder clips to hold the towel in place.
    • When the milk mixture reaches 185°F degrees, remove it from the heat, and let it stand for 15 minutes. It will begin to separate into curds and whey.
    • Pour the goat milk into the towel-lined colander. If you have a smaller colander, you may need to pour in batches.
    • Gather the towel tight through each handle of the colander to create as much of a taught, bag-like shape as you can, with the towel suspended inside the colander. Use the clips to hold the towel in place.
    • After about an hour, scrape the goat cheese into the center of the towel in the colander. Gather the ends of the towel together and twist to form a bag with the goat cheese in it. Squeeze gently to express excess whey. Clip the bag to the side of the colander and let it continue straining. Periodically squeeze the bag to press out excess whey.
    • For a creamy, spreadable goat cheese, let the mixture strain for 3-4 hours. For a firmer, more crumbly goat cheese that can be formed into a log, let the mixture strain for 5-6 hours, or even up to 8 hours.
    • When the cheese has strained to your desired consistency, untwist the towel and scrape down the sides. Then transfer the cheese to a bowl.
    • Add the salt to the cheese and mix to combine. Adjust salt to taste. If you’re making plain goat cheese, you’re done! Transfer the mixture to an air-tight container and refrigerate. If you’re adding flavors, mix them in now, then transfer to an air-tight container and refrigerate.

    Goat Cheese Log Recipe

    • Dollop the goat cheese onto a clean cutting board and gently push and roll it into a log shape. Don't apply too much pressure; use quick, decisive motions. If if is too sticky or messy to do this immediately, refrigerate the goat cheese for 30-60 minutes before rolling, or roll it using plastic wrap or wax paper.

    RECIPE NOTES

    • Kept refrigerated, goat cheese will stay good for up to 3 weeks. Press plastic wrap against the surface of the cheese to keep it fresh.
    • Goat cheese can be frozen in a log, wrapped in plastic inside a plastic bag, or in a container with a sheet of plastic wrap pressed against the surface for up to 6 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
    • Goat cheese + homemade bagels is a winning combo.

    YOUR NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes. Only you can see these.
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and let me how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ruth

      October 22, 2022 at 11:39 am

      So excited to try this!! Quick question - how exact does the ratio of milk:water:citric acid need to be? In Canada our milk comes in litres, so I’d need to buy two 1L cartons to get the 1.89L yield of a half gallon, and I’d love to just use both full cartons if possible rather than having 110ml left. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on what might work! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Rebecca Eisenberg

        October 22, 2022 at 1:14 pm

        Unfortunately I haven’t tested this so I’m not sure! I would weigh one teaspoon of citric acid and then scale it up to be the right ratio to the goat milk. So if 1 teaspoon citric acid is 3 grams (I haven’t measured, I’m just estimating) and 1.89L goat milk weighs 1,968 grams, calculate the percentage increase by weight to go from 1.89L to 2L and then increase the citric acid by the same percentage! It’s a little complicated, but should work! Don’t worry about the precision of the sale measurement — that’s mostly just for flavor. You can start with 1 tsp and add more until it tastes how you like it. Hope this helps, good luck!

        Reply
        • Ruth

          October 22, 2022 at 4:50 pm

          This is super helpful!!! Thank you for replying so quickly too! Will let you know how it goes 🙂

          Reply
    2. Kaitlin

      November 28, 2022 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this recipe twice! Thank you so much for all the detailed pictures I am a visual person and it helped to be able to follow along and see what you were saying. It has been a huge hit both times I’ve made it, and I am very excited to make more goat cheese to bring to family for Christmas ! Thank you for another amazing recipe

      Reply
      • Rebecca Eisenberg

        November 28, 2022 at 6:28 pm

        The only thing better than making homemade goat cheese is when other people fall in love with making homemade goat cheese too! Hope your family enjoys it! Happy holidays!

        Reply
    3. karen marie

      January 31, 2023 at 8:47 pm

      "Vinegar or lemon can also be used in place of citric acid to encourage the curds and whey to separate when making cheese from goats milk. This is not one of those recipes."

      That made me laugh.

      As I'm a curious person, I googled goat cheese made with lemon juice to see what, if any, difference there is. Spruce Eats has you heat the goat milk, remove it from the heat, then add the lemon juice and wait for curds. Here you add the citric acid/water as the goat milk goes on the stove and everything is heated together, yes?

      I love goat cheese.

      Reply
      • Rebecca Eisenberg

        February 01, 2023 at 1:26 pm

        LOL I'm glad you found that funny. You're correct — this recipe you combine everything and heat it up together. Enjoy your cheese!

        Reply

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