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Home Christmas

Christmas Appetiser – Italian Cheese Log!

By:Nagi
Published:13 Dec '18Updated:16 Dec '19
2,687 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Kick off the holidays with this festive Christmas Appetiser – an Italian Cheese Log! It’s like an antipasto platter in dip form packed with minced salami, olives, peppers, green onions, a hefty dose of Italian seasonings, AND topped with sun dried tomato.

Terrific easy, make-ahead economical alternative to expensive cheese platters – and bursting with the holiday cheer!!!

Christmas Appetiser Italian Cheese Log with Christmas tree in background - festive appetizer for the holidays

 A FESTIVE CHRISTMAS APPETIZER IDEA!

Bringing on some Christmas cheer with this festive Italian Cheese Log!! It’s a far cry from your usual cheeseball with a handful of token flavourings. This one is jam packed with flavour…. loaded with Italian flavours!!

The secret ingredients in this are finely chopped salami and sun dried tomato. Taking the time to mince the salami really makes a difference because then it’s all throughout the cheese log – nobody wants to be that person who takes a giant scoop of dip only to find it’s completely devoid of salami!

As for the sun dried tomato – well, I contemplated putting it in the cheese log, but I simply couldn’t resist how great it looks when piled on top. Add a few sprigs of rosemary, and it just looks so fabulously festive – it’s a perfect Christmas appetiser for sharing!! 🎄🎄🎄

Overhead photo of Christmas Appetiser Italian Cheese Log

WHY YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE!

It would be so easy to ramble on and on about how great this Italian Cheese Log is, but you don’t need that. So let me just get right down to why you’ll love this!!

✅ Looks fabulous – a great Christmas appetiser made for sharing!
✅ Tastes incredible – packed with flavour!
✅ Easy
✅ Make ahead – keeps for up to a week*
✅ Makes loads
✅ But can also be scaled down
✅ Economical alternative to expensive cheese platters
✅ Adaptable and versatile! Skip the salami to make it meatless, change up the add ins!

* Subject to shelf life of salami

How to make Christmas Appetiser Italian Cheese Log (cheese ball!)

AN ANTIPASTO PLATTER – IN CHEESE LOG FORM!

I just love the colours in this. Even making it brings on the holiday cheer – look at all those colours! ↑↑↑

We’ve got salami, olives, chargrilled peppers (I like to use the jar with mixed colours – yellow and red – just for extra colour), cheese, and a nice hit of freshness from minced green onion.

Add a good dose of Italian seasonings – I like to make my own simple mix here but you can absolutely substitute with an Italian seasoning mix – then simply mix it all together, scrap into a loaf pan or freeform it into the shape of a log and refrigerate.

The refrigeration time is to firm it up so it can be turned out onto a platter and also to give it time for the flavours to meld. It’s terrific made on the day, but it’s even better the next day… and the next… and the next!

How to make Christmas Appetiser Italian Cheese Log (cheese ball!)

QUICK FESTIVE LOOK

Decorating it is my favourite part – the beauty of it being that it’s so easy!! I literally just dump an entire jar of sun dried tomatoes over the top – oil and all.

The oil is infused with flavour and it’s part of the overall eating experience. So with every bite, you have crisp salty crackers, the soft flavour packed Cheese Log, some extra pops of flavour from sun dried tomato AND juiciness from the sun dried tomato oil.

Ahhhh, it’s the perfect bite!!! 😇

Close up of Christmas Appetiser Italian Cheese Log being scooped with cracker

If your people are more civilised than mine, then consider serving this Italian Cheese Log with small cheese knifes to spread onto crackers.

But if your people are like mine, you’ll skip the cutlery and just let everyone dive in with their hands, grabbing crackers and dunking it straight into the cheese log.

Yep, it’ll get messy. All that effort you go to, prettying it up and they are going to annihilate it.

And that’s totally ok. That’s what sharing food is all about, right?? Especially during the festive season! 😂 – Nagi x

MORE CHRISTMAS APPETISER IDEAS!

  • Quick Festive Brie

  • Smoked Salmon Dip

  • Homemade Gourmet Crackers!

  • Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Bites

  • See all Party Foods!

 

Close up of Christmas Appetiser Italian Cheese Log with sun dried tomato, festive starter for holiday entertaining.

CHRISTMAS APPETISER – ITALIAN CHEESE LOG!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

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Christmas Appetiser Italian Cheese Log with Christmas tree in background - festive appetizer for the holidays

Christmas Appetiser: Italian Cheese Loaf

Author: Nagi
Prep: 20 mins
Appetiser
4.96 from 323 votes
Servings15 - 20
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 1224
Recipe video above. Looks so festive, easy to make and a flavour bomb inside! Terrific economical, make ahead alternative to expensive cheese platters. It's like an antipasto platter in cheese log form! Adaptable and versatile! **Can freeform it instead of using loaf pan**

Ingredients

Cheese Log:

  • 500g/ 1 lb cream cheese , softened (Note 1)
  • 1/3 cup sour cream (Note 2)
  • 1/2 tsp EACH thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, black pepper OR 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1 tsp EACH garlic powder, salt, red pepper/chilli flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 2 cup cheddar or other cheese , freshly grated (Note 3)
  • 280g / 9 oz roasted peppers , drained and finely chopped
  • 180g / 6 oz salami , finely chopped (Note 4)
  • 3/4 cup green olives , finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup green onion , finely minced (3 - 4 stalks)

Topping/serving:

  • 220g / 7 oz sun dried tomato strips with OIL , roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup parsley , finely chopped (or chives)
  • Rosemary sprigs (decoration)
  • Jatz or other crackers , for serving

Instructions

  • Spray a loaf pan with oil then line with cling wrap with overhang.
  • Mix Cheese Log ingredients together. Taste and adjust salt if needed (bear in mind saltiness of crackers you are serving with).
  • Scrape into loaf pan and level surface, pressing to remove air pockets. Smaller pan = taller loaf.
  • Cover with cling wrap overhang and refrigerate for 4 hours+ (up to 1 week).
  • Turn out onto platter, peel off cling wrap.
  • Top with sun dried tomato and pour over oil. Garnish with parsley and rosemary sprigs to give it a festive look.
  • Best to serve closer to room temp than fridge cold. Serve with crackers! Knives for smearing optional - it's soft enough to scoop with crackers.

Recipe Notes:

1. Cream Cheese - I use Philadelphia blocks. In the UK and some parts of Europe, cream cheese only comes in tubs and it's softer, like the spreadable kind. If you can only get the spreadable kind, skip the sour cream.
2. Sour Cream - or yogurt or mayonnaise. Forgot to add it in the video, had to add it later off camera! It's just to loosen the mixture a touch, makes it nice and easy to scoop with crackers.
3. Cheese - use any flavoured, melting cheese you want, such as cheddar, tasty, Swiss, gruyere, pepper jack, emmenthal. For an authentic Italian experience, use Asiago which is an Italian cheese. 
Skip mozzarella - doesn't have enough seasoning for a recipe like this. Best to freshly grate - strands are finer so they blend through better. Store bought tends to be chunkier grates - if you use pre shredded, give it a rough chop.
4. Salami - I use hot! I buy the large round presliced salami from the deli, makes it easier to chop (see video). Salami packs a good flavour punch and is a key flavouring element in this recipe.
5. Freeform - Scrape onto cling wrap, roughly shape into log. Roll up like a sausage and twist ends. Keep twisting ends to tighten the log - will smooth out the shape. Refrigerate, then once cool you can mould it more.
6. Customise it! Switch out any of the add ins for whatever you want. To make it meatless, skip the salami but add 1/2 cup of grated parmesan (will give it a great flavour punch). Other ideas: artichokes, capers, any other type of olives you want, pickles/gherkins finely chopped, any other pickled vegetable or antipasto type things. Finely chopped cooked chorizo or crumbled bacon, even ham!

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 278cal (14%)Carbohydrates: 6g (2%)Protein: 9g (18%)Fat: 24g (37%)Saturated Fat: 12g (75%)Cholesterol: 64mg (21%)Sodium: 876mg (38%)Potassium: 384mg (11%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 1050IU (21%)Vitamin C: 25.3mg (31%)Calcium: 170mg (17%)Iron: 1.1mg (6%)
Keywords: Christmas Appetiser, Italian Starter
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

LIFE OF DOZER

Cute Christmassy photos of Dozer is all part of the Christmas tradition. Except…… he fell asleep mid photo shoot! 😂

Dozer the golden retriever falling asleep in tinsel

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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2,687 Comments

  1. P says

    February 10, 2023 at 6:31 pm

    Absolutely success! Substituted the salami with artichokes. Thank you for the fabulous recipe.

    Reply
  2. Vaughn says

    January 29, 2023 at 5:52 pm

    I made this for a pre-Christmas party and NYE. Always a huge hit! I have passé this recipe along to many friends and coworkers who all rave about it. Like others have said, the recipe makes A LOT. If you aren’t having a party for 30 people, cut the recipe in half. And definitely make it at least a day before!

    Reply
  3. michael kelly says

    January 1, 2023 at 11:55 pm

    Made this for New years eve, it’s amazing! Was a massive hit

    Reply
  4. Lee Downes says

    January 1, 2023 at 11:02 am

    5 stars
    Hi – I made this New Year’s eve. I made some slight additions to my taste. It was fabulous.. I may halve it next time❤️

    Reply
  5. Tamara says

    December 30, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for Christmas Eve for 8 people and halved the recipe and it still made a huge ball! It was a hit. Everyone loved it. And here’s a tip.. try serving it warmed in a ramekin like queso.. OMG it takes it to another level!

    Reply
  6. Tracy says

    December 26, 2022 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    Made this Christmas Eve to serve Christmas night. It was delicious. I have plenty left over, not realising how much it makes. This feeds a large crowd.

    Reply
  7. Jane Campbell says

    December 21, 2022 at 2:59 pm

    5 stars
    I made this last night for a get together tomorrow. I am trying very hard to resist having another test taste!! It is delicious. So handy at this time of year to be able to make ahead. Great flavours and lovely texture. Another winner Nagi.

    Reply
  8. Liz says

    December 19, 2022 at 5:01 am

    4 stars
    I made this for a holiday party and it was yummy! It’s, obviously, a very rich dish. You don’t tend to eat a ton of it. If I make it again, I’ll definitely halve the recipe. As written, it would be at home for a party of 10+.

    Reply
  9. debbie johnston says

    December 16, 2022 at 3:49 am

    I was wondering if a drizzle of balsamic glaze would add a nice flavour

    Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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