Description
This delicious Festive Holiday Antipasto Cream Cheese Log is the perfect appetizer for your holiday gatherings! With a rich cream cheese base, roasted red peppers, olives, artichoke hearts, and Parmesan cheese, it’s bursting with flavor. Garnished with fresh parsley, rosemary sprigs, and cranberries, it’s both tasty and visually stunning. Serve with crackers, baguette slices, or veggie sticks for a festive and easy-to-make dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, finely chopped and drained
- 1/3 cup green and black olives, chopped
- 1/4 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup parsley, finely chopped (for coating)
- Fresh rosemary sprigs and cranberries (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, roasted red peppers, olives, artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface. Scoop the cheese mixture onto the plastic wrap.
- Shape the cheese mixture into a log, ensuring it is compact and smooth.
- Wrap the log tightly in the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
- Spread chopped parsley on a large plate.
- Unwrap the chilled cheese log and roll it in the parsley, pressing gently to coat it evenly.
- Transfer the cheese log to a serving platter.
- Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and cranberries.
- Serve with crackers, toasted baguette slices, or fresh vegetable sticks.
Notes
- Make sure the vegetables (roasted red peppers, olives, and artichokes) are well-drained to avoid extra moisture in the cheese mixture.
- You can refrigerate the cheese log overnight for easier handling and to allow the flavors to meld.
- For extra flavor, feel free to add in some diced sun-dried tomatoes or capers to the cheese mixture.
- This recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Customize the garnish with other fresh herbs or fruit if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1 oz)
- Calories: 100 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 25mg