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! 😂
I have never been a big fan of cheese balls and logs, but this one may easily change my mind! It actually looks and sounds delicious. I hope to make one for a friend’s holiday party. I really like your new web-site, Nagy!
The website looks great. The photos are popping and the navigation looks easier.
The new website is Awesome, Loving the new easy user friendly design. Keep the good recipes rollin’
Thank you for the amazing Christmas appetizer idea! Love the new layout of your website. Easier to see different recipe options. I always feel confident making anything that you post!
Nagi your old website was wonderful but this new one is the Bomb. I adore the layout and ease of finding everything.
When I’m going to cook, first I’m looking at Nagi. And when I’m cooking the childrens are saying: “Yeah, daddy is cooking!” Thank you. After a few minutes I was at home at your new side. Your mother’s recipes are very interisting to German tastes; but great. And Dozer!!! – what a life.
Looks delicious!! Will definitely give this one a try this Yuletide season.
Love the new website-very easy to find recipes.
The log looks fantastic! I can’t wait to try it. Your new website looks very organized making it easy to find things. I’m a cat person, but I admit that Dozer is one sweet dog. I love seeing his pictures.
I love your website, very easy to find the recipe, i love all of you recipe keep up the good work. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas, I will try this Italian Cheese log looks delicious.
Love the new logo! So clean and modern! Also loving the “skip to” tabs! And that you have one for Dozer. =D
PS: I got my “I can only make an egg or boil water” husband to cook FREQUENTLY thanks to your recipes! Thank you Nagi!
sooo gorgeous! I LOVE how easy it is to navigate and so clean looking. well done!
Hi Nagi. I love your new website. It’s bolder and cleaner looking and it’s much easier to view because of the framing and colour contrasts. Thanks for your terrific recipes.
Your new website is very user friendly. I am not a cook but the instructions, pictures, and videos make me feel like I can do this.
I love the new website! It is easier to navigate and find what I’m looking for.
I’m not a fan of cheese but gosh this recipe loooks great! Love your new website Nagi, keep up with filling our plates and bowls qith delicious food. Merry Christmas!
This looks amazing!
This cheese log looks absolutely delicious! Will definitely make for this holiday season.
Love the new website – like the organization of recipes.
Love your recipes and your instructions. My wife and I have been living off your recipes for the pass year. Our cooking skills have also improved due to trying recipes.
Hi Nagi, I thought your old website was great but this new one is fantastic! The Italian cheese log sounds excellent for Christmas Eve. Dozer always looks cute! Hope you and he have a wonderful Christmas!
I just saw Dozer’s page! It’s fantastic!!! What a dog!!!
Your new website is great. Easy reading, beautiful pictures