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 Nagi,
The new look is great! Very clear and easy to use, blue and navy blue – my favorites colors.
I found your website just a couple months ago, but already tried a few recipes which were very delicious, I must say.
And Dozer…love to see him on your pictures! I have a German shepherd, so definitely can relate to some situations. 🙂
Keep a good work and Merry Christmas!
Greetings from Calgary, AB
Love the new website, especially the many different ways the recipes are categorized; makes it easy to find recipes, very intuitive. Also love how I can access so many recipes on just one page by clicking on a photo. Thank you!
Love the new look. I appreciate the larger font (can ditch the glasses 🙂 and love the updated pics. The bottom footer with What’s for Dinner is very eye catching as well.
Congrats!
Looking forward to trying this!
Enjoyed browsing round the new site, especially enjoyed Dozers new page!
I do need this in my life. Your timing is always perfect!
The website looks fabulous!
Hi Nagi! I love the new site! I really like the new logo for it. Was checking out your Mexican shredded chicken recipe last night and was like ooooo she’s switched things up! Thank you for all the wonderful recipes. You’ve made me, and my husband very happy. Seriously, everything I have made from your site has been yum. Can’t wait to give this cheese log a go!
bless you for this recipe! it comes just in time for my holiday party on Sunday. FYI, I will be serving several other of your party recipes including kielbasa, smoked salmon sandwiches and Thai chicken salad cups. merry Christmas, Nagi!
The new website looks very classy and great!
New site is better. Happy holidays
Your new website is wonderful. It makes your delicious food look even more inviting! Congrats!!
Thanks for making it easier for me to spot what I want to make. This cheese log was served to my Italian friend , and she loved it! Your new website is tops for me. I’ve tried most of your recipes, and enjoyed eating and sharing them with family and friends. Thanks for your great work.
P.S. Big fan of Dozer and your mom’s recipes.
New website looks great!!
Love the new website, and loved the old as well. You are simply the best recipe site on the internet. I look forward to it every day, and save my favourites in a file. Love Doser too!|
New site looks great. Love the collections area. Agree with others, not more light gray. I looked at your older recipes that I saved and it had the light gray as well. If we have a chance to change it then let’s do it. Patti
Love the site’s new look and ease of searching for my favorite recipes!
My mouth is watering! The cheese loaf is perfect for our friends New Year’s Eve bash. Now I know what to make THANK YOU
I love your new website! Your recipes are fantastic and I love hearing about Dozer!
I like your revised website much more with buttons/links for Dozer and recipes. Many pictures to scroll thru which show what the outcome looks like.
As long as I can print your recipes and Dozer is in it; I am good
Nummy nums! Changed a couple of items, but just for our little taste differences. No rosemary except for top, added toasted chopped pecans in mix and on top with tomatoes. Also used Shiracha sauce instead of pepper flakes. Was a huge hit at my party. Will probably make two for company dinner. Love the new look, looking forward to the Dozers whole page! Happy Holidays, Dee (TexGal)