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! 😂
Hi Magi, My name is Gerry from Quebec , Canada. I have made many of your recipes with success. My wife and i love your food and always anxious to see more. Many thanks and eager to see your new sight.
Hi Nagi, as always you have provided an absolutely magnificent dish. I am so looking forward to making this Italian Cheese Loaf this weekend
Your recipes have brought a lot of happy meals to me and my family as they would have for all your other fans.
I love your new website, so easy to read. Great recipe. I’m making your juicy roast turkey this weekend for a family Christmas lunch!
Hi Nagi, I have tried so many of your recipes, all winners! Congrats on the new website, it looks amazing. Love the updated photo of you! So pretty!
Love your recipes, have a file I save them to from my inbox. I especially appreciate all the notes you add. This cheese log looks great. I’m making it to take to New Years party. New website looks great. Thank you!
Hi,
Really like your approach and recipes. The rosemary chicken with flavors under the skin is outstanding and turned out to be easier than I first thought.
The website looks great! The only thing I would add is a section of ideas for last minute appetizers to take to a party and a section for Dozer and his favorites.
I really like the new look, and I find the new recipe format very clear and a bit easier to follow. It’s lovely to see such a good photo of you, and of course, Dozer’s starring role too. This recipe’s really good for me; I’m lactose intolerant, so I can use lactose-free cream cheese to make this instead of having to miss out on the standard flavoured versions you can buy in store. This is going to get totally demolished!
New website is fab and easy to navigate. Can’t wait to make this 😊
Like the new search on your updated web site!
New site is great Nagi your recipes are inspiring and I have several go to ones manyx thanks Elliot
Hi Nagi, I love your recipes and your new website, very nice!! Happy Holidays. 🙂
Hi Nagi,
I love the new look of your site – it’s very upbeat and bright. I am loving Dozer’s page as well. Just keep putting his pics on your page too. They always make me smile.
Can’t wait to try this Cheese Loaf – looks incredible!
Love the new website! Every photo is gorgeous!
Hi Nagi. Great looking recipe and good looking website to match. Very user friendly well done
Hi Nagi, I’m so happy to have found you! I like your new website and viewed it from my iPhone! I like the recipes by region. When possible can you make comments on what cookware you use.
Love your new website – especially the page for beautiful Dozer!!
I love the new layout – easier to find recipes and inspiration while I’m getting my Dozer fix for the day.
Hi Nagi. Great looking recipe. As well as a good looking website to match. Very user friendly.. well done!
Love your recipes, love your writing, love your website old or new!
The website is great. Everything is so well organized now and the pictures are a great visual aid for those who may not be familiar with certain dishes.