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!!!
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!! 🎄🎄🎄
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
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!
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!!! 😇
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!
CHRISTMAS APPETISER – ITALIAN CHEESE LOG!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Christmas Appetiser: Italian Cheese Loaf
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:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Cute Christmassy photos of Dozer is all part of the Christmas tradition. Except…… he fell asleep mid photo shoot! 😂
Wow , I made this as a starter and it was a big hit , don’t wait for Christmas, such an easy recipe , thanks Nagi
It’s never a bad time for cheese! N x
I have made this twice, we absolutely love it. My question is, can this recipe be halved and still be good?
Hi Inez – yes that should be fine! N x
love the Italian Christmas log…but no meat on Christmas Eve for us. What would be a good substitute & still add flavor?
Thank you
You can leave it out…just add more of the chopped peppers! N x
I’m going to use goat cheese in place of cream cheese. This recipe sounds great.
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
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
I love all your recipes! Can I use goat cheese instead of cream cheese? Not a fan of it🤔 thanks for sharing
Hi Ivi, I feel like goats cheese in this would be too overpowering in flavour! N x
Wow! Great flavor and really beautiful festive presentation! Thank you!!
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!
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.
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
Hi Brenda, you can simply eave them out if you prefer! I find black to be a little too salty. N x
I rate. This as a 4, what’s not to like.?
Hi Carole! You can hit the stars 🙂 N x
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
Hi Cathryn,
Just another Nagi fan here, but she mentions meatless options in the 6th note under Customise It. Hope this helps!
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.
Another delicious dip recipe! Made this with the ‘gourmet homemade crackers’ and it was amazing!
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.
Great idea!! N x
This is the absolute best! Made for friends over xmas and have now been asked to repeat again for an upcoming event. Highly recommend.
That’s great to hear Tracey!! N x
Hey I’m vegetarian what can be replaced with salami ?waiting to try this recipe ..
Hi Amrita, you can just leave it out 🙂
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?
This is Delish! Everyone loved it! And so easy to make