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! 😂
Love the new website design. It’s easier for me to read the recipes. Nice work !
Anthony
The new website looks fantastic!
Everything is to like with the new website – same with the recipes! Well done.
New site looking mighty fine, Merry Christmas, will make the cheese log for Christmas day, thanks for that. Your recipes are always the bomb, the always work!
Cheers
Denneise
Stunning look! Pleasing range of fonts with impact. Drop-down menu, quite complete. Impressed by your grouped list of cuisines. Search feature is exactly precise, ranked by date.
The Italian Cheese Log:- I’ve pre-warned the family. It’s going to be hot!
Nagi, I love your pracical, easy to make yet fabulous recipes! The new website is great with more pics and info. Dozer is so cute. Thanks from Pam
I love the new look Nagi, I especially love how the Christmas recipes are all together. Thanks, Elisabeth
I love how streamlined and classy the new site looks!
Love the new website! Also Dozer’s page. Easier to find and read your recipes. Getting the fixens for this loaf this weekend for Christmas party next week. Thanks for your great recipes.
I enjoyed getting to read about how you started out with Dozer and meaning of his name! Your recipes are really good and you instructions are clear to follow. I always watch the video! Thanks
The new website is great – very easy to find the recipe i want!!!
New site is a lot easier to read recipe sounds yummy
I didn’t think you could improve anymore, but your new website looks fantastic! Thank goodness Dozer still gets a mention. Love your work!
I really love the size of the text – makes it so much easier to read and the photos now do justice to the dishes you make :). The only issue I found was it is quite slow to upload all the content.
It appears the issue was with my computer and not your site.
Hi Nagi, you are the best. Your recipes are now my absolute go-to. You have changed my cooking life!! I love your new website. I have passed on your website to so many friends. I’m making your slow cooked turkey breast for Christmas oh and I guess now I’ll be making this mouthwatering Italian cheese log. Merry Christmas to you and Dozer! Leonie
Congrats on launching the new website! Love the bright and fresh look! Great job in reorganizing the categorues! It must be huge foryou and your team. And…I like this Italian cheese log. It looks so yummy and easy to make. Thank you for sharing!
I always love the hints and suggestions you give along with the recipe and you do such s great variety. The new website is fantastic
New website looks great, easy to navigate
Wow Nagi – I didn’t realise it was possible, but your website just got even better! Your website is my go-to for cooking inspiration and I’ve had many family members and friends rave over your website. I am always telling friends and family to check it out. Next thing on the list to try is your Standing Rib Roast.
Loving new look – I always like the note section so you can add alter or use different cuts. Always so clear and informative