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! 😂
Made this for ‘bring a plate’ after Christmas Eve Service, everyone loved it. Have since made it another three times for taking along to Christmas events. Putting the peppers, olives, green onions and salami in a blender saves a lot of chopping time. Thanks for a great recipe.
Everyone loves it, thanks Nagi. I followed the recipe, but it was a bit salty, so, I added more cream cheese and roated bell pepper, which balaneced it out nicely. I will leave the salt out next time.
Ive made this 2x already and again in the morning for another party.
We use Nagis recipes ALL the time, she has yet to disappoint
Did a quick search for a Christmas cheese ball or log, and this baby popped up. Made it exactly as specified, and it turned out amazing. The amount made is enough to feed 15-20 people, so halving the recipe of less people are in attendance might be a wise idea.
I made this again for the I don’t know how manyeth time. I ended up with way more chopped salami, roasted peppers, sun dried tomatoes and olives than I needed. So I had to tell you what I did! I sauteed some cherry tomatoes, garlic, red pepper flakes in some s.d. tomato oil. Then I added the leftover salami etc, added a bit of white wine, 2 laughing cow wedges and a can of clams. Added 2 portions of cooked pasta with a little pasta water, oh boy! I asked my husband if he wanted a threesome, cause I want to marry that pasta!
Thank you for this recipe! Made this last year and had to make again this year or I’d be in trouble. Halved it this time as had so much leftover. Put into 3 x small glass containers for separate events. Didn’t change a thing but agree with other comments, probably would leave adding salt next time.
Anyone tried to make these into individual small balls and roll them in herbs, similar Cheese Truffles (Mini Cheese Balls recipe?
Since the first time I made this recipe I have been constantly asked to make it again. Without fail everyone loves it!
Having friends for a pool party. It’s July in the Caribbean, but what better to serve than this? I’ve made it several times at Christmas, but why limit ourselves to the holidays? It’s delicious!
It was amazing as a cold dip but next level as a a baked in cob loaf dip!
i am hoping to make this and am wondering, is there a substitute for the Salami? I have a non-meat eater coming over. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Just omit the salami, I make it without it and it’s still amazing.
Note #6 explains what to do…
I just wondered what size loaf tin this recipe requires please? Can anyone help? I’m guessing 2lb because there is 1lb of cream cheese plus all of the other ingredients? Thanks
How long can I keep in the fridge once I’ve made it?? Plus how long after can I keep the leftovers in the fridge? Thanks
Notes say it can keep for up to a week
This does make a lot but I cut the loaf into slabs & freeze them individually. Thaw as much as you need when you need an appetizer!
This is so delicious. Made it for the first time for a Christmas party last year and everyone kept coming back for more, it didn’t last long. I get asked to make it every time we get together now. Thanks Nagi x
I swapped the Capsicum for gherkins. Absolutely delicious!
This was a huge hit with family and friends on Boxing Day. I was asked where I purchased it! I don’t think they could believe I made something so wonderful and tasty. Thank you Nagi!
Made this awesome appetizer for Christmas lunch…it was a super hit!! Love u Nagi…u never dissapoint
I made this absolutely yummh log this year and it is so good! Balanced flavours and everyone loved it. Will be my go to appetizer from now on. Thank you Nagi!
Made this for an xmas party last night and it looked incredible and tasted even better! Had about 12 guests and with the other food, we only got through about half the log. So I join the other commenters suggesting halving the recipe unless there’s 20+ of you! Thanks Nagi
I made this last year it was a big hit. Just made it again for Christmas Day. Maybe it’s a bit salty but I am sure everybody will love it. I must remember to leave the salt out next time..thank you For your recipes Nagi and a Merry Christmas to you