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! 😂
Hey I’m vegetarian what can be replaced with salami ?waiting to try this recipe ..
Hi Amrita, you can just leave it out 🙂
This was a huge hit at my Christmas Eve party, it’s going to be a staple at all my gatherings from now on! 😊
Would like to know if leftovers can be frozen though?
This is Delish! Everyone loved it! And so easy to make
Has anyone tried swapping pickles for olives? How does it taste? This recipe looks crazy delicious but I just can’t with olives!
I made it with gherkins not olives and it is amazing!
Just LOOOOVE this OMG!!
It’s so addictive isn’t it Yvonne!
Ticks all boxes – looks fab, quick & easy, feeds a crowd. Thank you once again Nagi, on my Christmas menu
Hi Nagi, we celebrated Christmas yesterday with my family as my brother and his wife were down from Queensland. What a successful day it was everyone loved the menu., All of the recipes I used were from your Christmas recipes. Started with the Italian log, then juicy roast turkey buff with your recipe, brown sugar glazed carrots, crunchy baked potatoes, green bean salad with cherry tomatoes, roast pumpkin, spinach and feta salad, prawns with 2 dipping sauces ( cocktail sauce & Thai lime sweet chilli sauce) and finished with the Christmas trifle made exactly as you instructed. All dishes were a big hit with all the family (14 of us in total). Both my sister in law and niece asked for the recipes, and my brother even commented how delicious everything was. I have cooked a lot of your recipes over the last 4 months (since retiring from work) and love all of them. The videos are so helpful too.
And just to add love Dozer’s stories as well.
Thanks again.
Hi Nagi, I’ve just about walked all over the Hills district to buy Asagio cheese, but unsuccessful. So, I’ve bought Grana Padano, Romano and Parmesan and I’m wondering if you can tell me of these cheeses would be OK as alternatives separate or combined and how much of each to make up the 2 cups. In need of a quick answer too, please. TIA.
Josephine B walked all over looking for Asagio cheese. So did I, although in Canada rather than Australia, and for a different recipe than the cheese log. Until one kind, understanding deli clerk said Asiago, and I realized that I’d been asking for something that may not even exist. I am quite sure that some of the people knew too, and had a bit of fun at my expense!
Denise Banadyga, Actually I checked it out on “Dr Google” and found the pronunciation, but admit I also was pronouncing it incorrectly at first. A lot of fun when people look at you strangely not knowing what you’re trying to say. I have still been looking for it elsewhere and still can’t find it. Nagi and I live in the same city, but in different suburbs, so I don’t know where she came across it. I did make it with other suggestions from Nagi and took it to our church Christmas gathering and everyone loved it.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year anyway.
Hi Josephine! Those hard cheeses aren’t suitable unfortunately, you need something like cheddar, tasty, Swiss etc – anything that is gratable into shreds as per the video at 27 seconds. The ones you have are more intense, the fine grating type like you put on pasta, so they will have too strong a flavour for this recipe unfortunately! N x
OK, thank you. Looks like we’ll have extra cheese to nibble on and I’ll go back out and get your suggestions. Thank you for your quick response because I need to make it tonight for tomorrow lunch time.
Hi Nagi, I know you were thinking of me when you made this as it’s right up my alley being on Keto. I’m serving it with celery and carrot sticks, but adding some crackers on the plate for those that aren’t doing Keto.
Thank you for all your wonderful recipes throughout the years and wish you, Dozer and all your family a blessed Christmas and fantastic New Year. Also to the lovely homeless man that you tirelessly share your baked goods with.
Olives and salami are off my low salt diet, but they are a small part of this loaf and I think I can cheat my lo salt diet by limiting them, leaving just enough for flavor. Can’t wait to try it on Christmas, my gift to me!!!!!
I love your recipes and have used them extensively in the past before my salt intake was so regulated. Even using aminos to substitute for soy, the salt content is often to high for me now so I modify a lot of your ideas into no salt added recipes!!!!!
I know you’ll love it Josephine! I hope you have a fantastic Christmas ❤️
Nagi I made the cheese log and took it to our church Christmas gathering and everyone loved it. Thank you for another great recipe even though I couldn’t find the Asiago I used your suggestion.
OHHH! This is gonna be a hit for sure! I’m gonna put it in my bundt pan and turn it into a wreath. The fresh rosemary will look fab! Thank you Nagi and Merry Christmas to you and Dozer XX
FABULOUS idea Patty!!!
LOVE YOUR RECIPES AND GIVING ALTERNATIVES FOR THINGS I DON’T HAVE ON HAND. I PIN ALMOST ALL OF THEM!
That’s great to hear Mary!
Just wondering if you can freeze this??
Hi Janelle, I’m sure you could! It does last up to a week in the fridge as well 🙂
Took this to a birthday bash on the weekend. Everyone loved it. Next time I will divide it into 2 logs as 1 was just too big. Someone wants it as their Xmas gift!!!
I’m so glad it was a hit Mary!
Hi Nagi, I made this for my daughter’s winter Christmas themed birthday party today and it was a huge hit. I also made your potatoes au gratin and Brown Sugar Ham Glaze (can you tell I’m a huge fan of yours??). All were wonderful but the cheese log was outstanding I was told! Thank you 🙂 Rita
This looks wonderful. What kind of sun dried tomatoes do you purchase?
Hi Dee, I’ve used deli bought tomatoes and even ones in the jars – both work fine!
Amazing!!! Was a real hit with EVERYONE! I will be making this again very soon!
I made this for Christmas Eve and it was a hit, especially with the 8, 9, and 10 year old kids. Go figure! For New Years, we’re going to try it with a Mediterranean bent, perhaps with feta, Kalamata olives, artichokes, and some chopped pepperoncini for a bit of heat. Not sure it will beat this flavor profile, however!
It was such a hit at our Christmas party! No one can’t stop picking this delicious cheese log. My daughter requested it for our new year gathering too. Thanks for the awesome recipe, Nagi.
You’re so welcome!
Olives and salami are off my low salt diet, but they are a small part of this loaf and I think I can cheat my lo salt diet by limiting them, leaving just enough for flavor. Can’t wait to try it on Christmas, my gift to me!!!!!
Planning to make this into a wreath as one of the writers suggested. Olives and salami are off my low salt diet, but they are a small part of this loaf and I think I can cheat my lo salt diet by limiting them, leaving just enough for flavor. Can’t wait to try it on Christmas, my gift to me!!!!!
Wow! This is deliciously addictive. I divided the mixture to make two free-form logs, served at two gatherings, and everyone raved. Great flavours and presentation was suitably festive. This recipe is going in my keeper file for sure. Well done!!
I know what you mean! I’ve had to stop myself eating it all on so many occasions 😂
Hi Nagi, me again! Could you please add metric measurements for this Italian Cheese log as I would like to make it this weekend.
Thank you