Description
Holiday magic meets creamy delight in this spectacular Festive Holiday Antipasto Cream Cheese Log, blending zesty Italian flavors with seasonal cheer. Rich cream cheese embraces tangy olives, herbs, and savory meats, promising a crowd-pleasing appetizer you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) grated Parmesan cheese
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup (15 grams) fresh parsley, chopped
Vegetables and Garnish:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) roasted red peppers, finely chopped and drained
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) green and black olives, chopped
- 1/2 tablespoon (7.5 milliliters) olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Serving Suggestions:
- Crackers
- Bread
- Vegetable sticks
Instructions
- Blend softened cream cheese with roasted red peppers, chopped olives, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until uniformly combined.
- Shape the mixture into a cylindrical log using plastic wrap or parchment paper, ensuring a compact and smooth surface.
- Refrigerate the log for 2 hours at 40°F to allow flavors to develop and structure to set firmly.
- Remove plastic wrap and transfer the chilled log to a decorative serving platter.
- Enhance the presentation by drizzling extra virgin olive oil across the surface.
- Garnish generously with finely chopped fresh parsley and optional grated Parmesan cheese.
- Accompany the antipasto log with an assortment of crisp crackers, sliced baguette, or crunchy vegetable crudités for elegant dipping.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is completely softened at room temperature for smooth, easy mixing without lumps.
- Drain roasted red peppers and olives thoroughly to prevent excess moisture that could make the log runny.
- Customize the herb blend by experimenting with fresh herbs like basil or thyme for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Make it gluten-free by serving with gluten-free crackers or fresh vegetable crudités for a healthier alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 234 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg