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! 😂
Happy Friday Nagi!
Loving your re-vamped website -very fresh
and loving this recipe – PRINT!
Thanks for this recipe. Going to Xmas party on Saturday and this will be the bomb!
I would love your website no matter how it looks.
Hi Nagi!
In my opinion, this is the most festive looking cheese log I’ve seen in a long time and I will definitely be adding it to my holiday appetizer offerings.
The new web design is organized in a positive fashion which allows for absolute ease in locating recipes and other great information.
Thanks for loving what you do……..it shows!
Love the Dozer tab!!! (Forgive me if this is a repeat, as I am having difficulty posting a comment.
But am loving the new look. It is so clear and makes it easier to follow the recipes.
Love the new website and will definitely be making this beautiful cheese log
Somebody invite me to a Christmas soiree, now! Can’t wait for an excuse to make this.
like new site clean and crisp looking just like your recipes and photo
Merry Christmas to you and Dozer
Love the new website. I noticed it this morning when I was looking for a shrimp recipe.
Great new site, always great recipes. Thanks
Cheese and sun dried tomatoes! My two favourite things in the world! Thank you for the recipe and you did an amazing job on the new website as well!
Hi Nagi I loved the old website because of the way you included your Mothers recipes as well as your own and also Dozer so with that in mind I must say that the new website is so easy to navigate and absolutely fantastic just keep you in there because thats what we all love
looks good so far like crisp clean look bit like your recipes and photos
Merry Christmas to you and dozer also like your Moms recipes to
The new website is much better. Particularly love your improved “Categories” and “Collections” – much easier to navigate and find the right recipe. Love your recipes by the way!
I love your site and the recipes are always spot on. No having to improvise. They are perfect as is. The new site is great, especially the Dozer section. Thanks. As the former owner of a 90 pound dog, I appreciate what you are experiencing with your fur baby.
Good morning Nagi, we are having old friends Saturday that we haven’t seen for years. This log will be perfect, looks yummo!.
Website looks amazing, so much easier to read. Clear points and great photos/videos. Love it, well done 😊
Your website is always a joy to read and see. Your new site seems even brighter and more delicious. Dozer photos make my day!!
Gonna have to try this recipe soon! Looks scrumptious & divine!😋 Love the new website! Super easy to navigate! All the best for the holidays to you & yours🎄
One word – “AWESOME”
Love the new website – so easy to navigate on my phone!