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
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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! 😂
The new website looks clean and fresh.
Love the new site, browsing categories for recipes is much easier! This recipe is definitely going to be a part of my holiday eating! 🙂
Love the website! I always enjoy receiving the email with a new recipe! i have several in my rotation. Keep up the good work!
Love the new site! I am especially appreciating the “by category” tab and how easy it is to find specific recipes!
Great web page. I love the larger font. The recipe looks really yummy too!
Great new site, love the organization and the dedicated Dozer pages!
Looks delish!
Sure it will earn enthusiastic responses.
Love everything you do. I can’t tell you how many of your recipes I’ve made. The new site looks great. Can’t wait to explore all of it.
Website looks great, keep up the good work!
Hello Nagi.
I really like the look of the new website. Everything is very clear and concise. I especially like the way the written recipe is presented – very organized. One thing I think you mentioned is that there was a “healthy” section. I didn’t see anything specifically for this. As someone who does Weight Watchers, I am always looking for something that might fit into the plan a little more without having to try and make substitutions. Other than that, great job! Your recipes are wonderful.
I can’t wait to try this; it’s so festive and I think the salami will add a nice twist to the usual cream cheese log. The new site looks great, but I liked the old one, too. Thanks for sharing Dozer with us…you two are such fun! Merry Christmas!
the recipe looks good and the website seems to look smoother if that word can be used? Hard to say what exactly is different but it looks nicer
Your new website it sooo awesome! I might be showing my failing eye sight age here, but the large font allows me to read and add comments without finding my glasses or pop my contacts in! Pictures are fantastic and steps are clearly marked. So easy to view a recipe on my iPad while cooking! Two Thumbs UP Ü
Looking forward to trying this one.The new site is great and good to see Dozer finally getting his own space.
Posted but forgot to say that your new site is perky and fun. I love it.
Love the new website and this appetizer looks great as well!
This is exactly what I was hoping to find for our Christmas this year. We are making some changes from our usual traditions and I am excited to try this. The ingredients are all family favorites. Thank you.
Love the new look, can’t wait to try this new recipe.
Your new blog design is so snappy and gorgeous, Nagi. I love it!
Love this tasty app too…must prefer the log to the ball. Prettier on the platter and more convenient too!
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and Dozer! xo
I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but I will. I love all your recipes and have so many. Plus I love your free cookbooks and have downloaded them all. Also LOVE the new website Merry Christmas and have a happy new year!!!!