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Home Christmas

Christmas Appetiser – Italian Cheese Log!

By:Nagi
Published:13 Dec '18Updated:16 Dec '19
2,685 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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2,685 Comments

  1. Christine King says

    November 17, 2021 at 7:38 pm

    5 stars
    Wow , I made this as a starter and it was a big hit , don’t wait for Christmas, such an easy recipe , thanks Nagi

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      November 18, 2021 at 10:06 pm

      It’s never a bad time for cheese! N x

      Reply
  2. Inez says

    November 11, 2021 at 12:18 am

    5 stars
    I have made this twice, we absolutely love it. My question is, can this recipe be halved and still be good?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      November 12, 2021 at 9:54 am

      Hi Inez – yes that should be fine! N x

      Reply
  3. nora andreanelli says

    October 18, 2021 at 11:57 am

    love the Italian Christmas log…but no meat on Christmas Eve for us. What would be a good substitute & still add flavor?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      October 20, 2021 at 10:03 am

      You can leave it out…just add more of the chopped peppers! N x

      Reply
  4. Barbara says

    April 26, 2021 at 12:40 pm

    I’m going to use goat cheese in place of cream cheese. This recipe sounds great.

    Reply
  5. Anna Kara says

    January 14, 2021 at 12:03 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for my friends and it was a hit. Its what I am going to be know for. Will be making this again and again

    Reply
  6. S. Stout says

    January 2, 2021 at 6:49 am

    I used spicey giardiniera ,(i made mine with extra black and kalamata Olives, no cauliflower)instead of just olives and light on s.d. tomatoes. Was HUGE HIT. thanks for the recipe sharing

    Reply
  7. Ivi says

    December 24, 2020 at 5:14 am

    I love all your recipes! Can I use goat cheese instead of cream cheese? Not a fan of it🤔 thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      December 24, 2020 at 11:55 am

      Hi Ivi, I feel like goats cheese in this would be too overpowering in flavour! N x

      Reply
  8. Shelley says

    December 21, 2020 at 1:59 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! Great flavor and really beautiful festive presentation! Thank you!!

    Reply
  9. Jill Blunden says

    December 13, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    5 stars
    I made this yesterday to take to a birthday party. It was a total hit and the most commented on plate of food there. People raved about it and I’ll be making it to take to every party. Easy to make and presents so well. Totally yummy!

    Reply
  10. Helen says

    December 11, 2020 at 2:00 pm

    5 stars
    Once again recipetineats ones to the rescue! I was wanting something different to take to a small Christmas breakup luncheon with friends and here it is. Thank you again Nagi.

    Reply
  11. BRENDA BAL says

    December 10, 2020 at 3:00 am

    I didn’t make this yet but it looks delicious. My question is, I absolutely hate green olives-should I sub with black olives or something else? Thanks in advance. I love all your recipes

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      December 10, 2020 at 5:07 pm

      Hi Brenda, you can simply eave them out if you prefer! I find black to be a little too salty. N x

      Reply
  12. Carole Doerfler says

    November 12, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    I rate. This as a 4, what’s not to like.?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      November 12, 2020 at 7:08 pm

      Hi Carole! You can hit the stars 🙂 N x

      Reply
  13. Cathryn says

    September 30, 2020 at 2:46 pm

    My daughter is vegetarian so wondering if I could leave out the salami, I know its a key ingredient but it looks so good I’m hoping someone has tried it without the salami and it’s still good or is there a veg alternative I could add.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Christine says

      October 1, 2020 at 1:39 am

      Hi Cathryn,

      Just another Nagi fan here, but she mentions meatless options in the 6th note under Customise It. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  14. Mary Tognazzini says

    August 1, 2020 at 1:23 am

    CAN WE HAVE HALLOWEEN FIRST? NEVER LIKED CHRISTMAS EVEN AS A KID. BUT I AM MAKING THIS RECIPE AND MOST OF YOUR RECIPES. YUM. PS LOVE YOUR DOG.

    Reply
  15. Marie says

    April 26, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    5 stars
    Another delicious dip recipe! Made this with the ‘gourmet homemade crackers’ and it was amazing!

    Reply
  16. Li Cheng Tan says

    February 10, 2020 at 1:54 pm

    Made it for friends’ gathering. Everyone loved it! AS the recipe was too big, I cut up the log into smaller serving portions and kept it in the freezer.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      February 11, 2020 at 6:39 am

      Great idea!! N x

      Reply
  17. Tracey says

    January 29, 2020 at 6:58 am

    5 stars
    This is the absolute best! Made for friends over xmas and have now been asked to repeat again for an upcoming event. Highly recommend.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      January 29, 2020 at 8:47 am

      That’s great to hear Tracey!! N x

      Reply
  18. Amrita says

    January 10, 2020 at 1:41 am

    Hey I’m vegetarian what can be replaced with salami ?waiting to try this recipe ..

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      January 10, 2020 at 11:23 am

      Hi Amrita, you can just leave it out 🙂

      Reply
  19. Lori says

    December 26, 2019 at 5:30 am

    5 stars
    This was a huge hit at my Christmas Eve party, it’s going to be a staple at all my gatherings from now on! 😊
    Would like to know if leftovers can be frozen though?

    Reply
  20. Lori says

    December 23, 2019 at 10:56 am

    5 stars
    This is Delish! Everyone loved it! And so easy to make

    Reply
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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! Read More

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