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 photo of you! I’m a creature of habit so I still like your old sight better as I feel it felt a bit more homey. That being said, I’m sure once I get use to the change I’ll like this new look too. Very easy to navigate so far. Big fan of dozer so really like that he’s got his own section now ❤️
Hi Nagi,
The new look is great! Easy, clear, with my favourite colours.
I found your website just a couple months ago but already tried some recipes which were delicious, I must say.
And Dozer…very handsome fella 😃 I have a German Shepard, so can relate to some situations.
Keep up with good work!
Merry Christmas and greetings from Calgary, AB
I only recently discovered your website and love your recipes and your wonderfully helpful comments.
I’ve checked out your new website and it’s great… very easy to maneuver through. Your recipes are so good and so smart. I’m using your port wine slow cooked lamb shanks for Christmas dinner, your make ahead mashed potatoes, your honey glazed carrots and your Brie with pomegranate seeds recipe. My mouth is watering already.
Thank you!!
I am for sure going to make the Italian cheese log. Your website is great and I love the pictures
I love the cheese log recipe. So Christmassy. But i would leave out the salami and mix candied jalapeño peppers.
Nagi, thank you so very much for the new website! You will be saving me a lot of email storage on my phone, now that it’s all consolidated here. Your recipes are always delicious, and foolproof!
I love the quality that you have in your content, and the marvelous photography! It’s such a pleasure to peruse. Do you do your own photos?
I adore your inclusion of Dozer updates. He’s a wonderful addition as your (our) official mascot!
In closing, I thought it important that you know. I love to cook, but do not subscribe to any other email lists. Nobody else has the variety and consistently high quality of recipes that you provide. I actually look forward to your emails!
Keep up the great work, and I appreciate what you’re doing!
Nagi, the new website has been very easy to browse this morning on first visit. I’m sure it will be a great tool for all of us. Well done.
Holy Categories Batman!! I love it!! Makes it so simple and easy to find,what you’re looking for! Congrats on the new site
What’s not to love! Great recipes, Dozer pics and the new website is easy on the eyes and easy to use! You are my go to website when I want to try something new. Merry Christmas!
The new site is very bright and cheery looking. I liked the minimalism of the prior site, but this is definitely going to make me spend more time browsing for recipes. I like that Dozer is still on each post 🙂
The new layout of the website has given me so much inspiration. I’m on holiday at the moment (in Norway, in search of Christmas snow!) but am itching to get back and host a get together using some of your party food recipes with the cheese log taking centre stage!!!
Love to Dozer! My dog’s called Sparkle! They both sound like Santa’s reindeers 😂💕🐾🎄🎉
Love your new website, Nagi. I’ve just perused all the different sections and find that everything is very easy to navigate. When I first saw your email today, I immediately wondered if Dozer would have a section of his own, and was so glad to see that he does! I’m definitely a member of Dozer’s fan club! As for the Christmas Italian cheese log, I’ve been making something similar for years, using cream cheese, chopped olive mix, pesto and feta cheese. My family loves it, and now I will try your Italian version. It looks amazing and so festive! Happy Christmas to you and Dozer, and to your entire family. In my opinion, you, Dozer and your wonderful recipes are the gifts that keeps on giving. Thank you, Nagi! xxx
Forgot to add, my recipe always includes the sun dried tomatoes in oil, as well!
The new website looks fab!!
I love your recipes and the new website makes it even easier to find my favorites or to try new ones!
Love the new look website
I’ll be making this for New Year’s! Website looks much brighter and love the updated pics of you & Dozer.
Love the website! Easier to toggle around and great pics. I’m craving the cranberry sauce and will e looking for a main to pair it with.
New look is great easy to read and find recipes.
Cheese log , never thought of making one, great idea ! Will be on our holiday menu.
Love the new website! Easy to navigate and looks amazing!!
Love the new Website! Love your recipes and your Prime Rib Roast is going to be Christmas Dinner.
Thank you for the great recipes and Life of Doozer!!❤️