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Home Christmas

Christmas Appetiser – Italian Cheese Log!

By:Nagi
Published:13 Dec '18Updated:16 Dec '19
2,688 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 324 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 @recipe_tin.

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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2,688 Comments

  1. Kathleen says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:15 pm

    Looks delicious! Hope the holidays treat you as well as you treat us Nagi! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Lisa Lindstrom says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:15 pm

    5 stars
    Nagi, this looks sooo good! Will definitely be trying this. And I love the new website design. The colors are lovely. Looking forward to exploring it even more!

    Reply
  3. YL says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:15 pm

    Nagi I have been trying out so many of your recipes. Love them –they are so easy and looks and tastes great! Hope to try your cheese log soon.

    Reply
  4. Lee says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:15 pm

    Love the new website and this recipe is one I’m going to try

    Reply
  5. Cheryll says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:15 pm

    Congratulations on the new website! Recipes look more alluring and are easy to find!

    Reply
  6. Susan says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    5 stars
    This cheese ball looks amazing! Planning to make it for a Holiday party this weekend. Love your website, your recipes and “The Life of Dozer”. Please enter me in the knife giveaway. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  7. Kyle says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    The new website looks great! And you have really stepped up the food photography over the years. Fantastic!

    Reply
  8. Marnie says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    Website looks great…nice and clean, we’ll done and merry Christmas 🎄

    Reply
  9. Shirley says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    Can wait to serve it. Love the new look.

    Reply
  10. Emily says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    5 stars
    Wow, love the new site Nagi! This cheese log looks to die for too.

    Reply
  11. jeff says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    The Site looks awesome! Ur still my fav!

    Reply
  12. Barbara says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    Looks easy and tasty – I will definitely be trying this over the Christmas break.. Have a wonderful holiday season Nagi!

    Reply
  13. Lauren says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    The new look is great! Can’t wait to use it to cook my favourites.

    Reply
  14. Alison says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    Love the new search ability – can now find all sweets without having to hope I’m using the right key word!

    Reply
  15. Erica Ellis says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    Love the new website! I especially like that you can find recipes through both categories and collections.

    Reply
  16. Lee says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    Looks a great recipe, definitely going to try this one and love the new website design

    Reply
  17. Linda Garbutt says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    Love the new design I have made a lot of your recipes love them all

    Reply
  18. Nancy McMahon says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    Great job on your new website! I LOVE your recipes and your photography! you are so talented. Thank you for countless inbox gifts over the years!

    Reply
  19. Laura says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:12 pm

    Love the new website, specifically the recipe “index cards” that pop out a lot more. The little bar that increases/decreased ingredients according to portion servings is still there and is very very handy. Best of all is the link to your official taster.!!

    Reply
  20. Richard Abe says

    December 13, 2018 at 11:12 pm

    Your new look is great, easy to follow.
    Your recipes are delicious!

    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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Join my free email list to receive THREE free cookbooks!

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