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! 😂
Jan says
Congrats on the new website – it looks great! 🎉. Love your site- your writing is fun and the recipes are superb! I am so happy I have found your site and recommend it to many people!
SJ says
Love the new website design….so fresh and easy to navigate! Merry Christmas to you and Dozer!
Mini iPad says
thank you for the veggie version!!
love Dozer xxx
Liz says
I like the new website not that the old one wasn’t great. My fvourite…the Direct to Dozer link…I love Dozer. I have my own spaniel version who is a professional bench surfer having appropriated salmon, loaves of bread, t-bone steak, meatballs etc etc. Anyway, great recipes Nagi, I always get a lift from browsing your site, so many choices though and so little time!
Jo -Anne Case says
Another fantastic easy recipe to try!
Loving the new website making it easier to find like tasting/making recipes!
Congratulations Nagi on your easy to follow recipes, that I’m always forwarding to others!
Tony Wright says
Love the new website, especially the drop down lists in the categories. They make it so easy to browse.
Amy Milton says
This sounds so delicious, I just showed everyone at my workplace and they all said “WE NEED TO MAKE THAT !!” So it may be made and eaten on our Christmas Eve celebration.
P.s new website = awesome ! Love the layout and colours and everything. And can’t get rid of the Dozer update ! Well done
V says
I plan on making this beautiful cheese log for a Christmas party this Saturday! Yum!
XiaoFan says
Why didn’t I ever thought of doing this? Gonna try this Xmas.
By the way, refreshing look of your site
Monica Pride says
Love the new look. Have a lovely Christmas. I have enjoyed receiving your recipes
Steve Bransom says
Looks interesting. Not really a fan of cheese logs/balls; I prefer a selection of cheeses au naturelle.
Gillian DidierSerre says
Wow Dozer did you fall asleep after gobbling that delicious christmas cheese log..and speaking of Log that is beautiful and just on time for christmas in Toronto 🎄💕🍷
Mary Iuliano says
I need a recipient for an office potluck next week. This might be it. Everything I tried from your site is amazing. Everyone in the famiky gets excited at diner time… thank you
shirley says
Love love love your new website. I’m in recipe heaven!
Mary says
Congratulations Nagi on a great new look.
Alana Morrissey-Smith says
Nagi, this looks spectacular! Have added it to my Christmas day treats. Love the new website, so fresh, easy to read and easy to use. It is so easy to find my fav recipes like your Pork Carnitas and Blueberry Lemon Yoghurt Cake. Love the related posts feature and that Dozer has his own space. Love your work Nagi. Thanks for making every one think I am a good cook!
Anna says
Beautiful! Love your new and updated name design 🙂
Lanie says
I love the function where you can click to have only quick and easy! (because that’s why I come here!)
Connie says
Nice. You outdid yourself.
Pam Susandri says
Website looks great and this recipe looks fabulous – will definitely make it for the festive season.