Festive Holiday Cream Cheese Antipasto Log Recipe
This festive holiday cream cheese antipasto log is a flavorful and elegant appetizer perfect for any celebration. Cream cheese is blended with roasted red peppers, black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs, seasoned with garlic powder and red pepper flakes, then shaped into a log and chilled. The chilled log is rolled in toasted nuts to add texture and flavor. Serve it with crackers, sliced baguette, or fresh vegetables for a delightful start to your holiday gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 8 oz cream cheese (1 package, softened)
Mix-ins
- 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
- 1/3 cup black olives, pitted and chopped
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (preferably oil-packed)
- 1/4 cup fresh herbs, finely chopped (such as parsley, basil, or chives)
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Coating
- 1/2 cup toasted nuts, finely chopped (such as walnuts or pecans)
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all the necessary ingredients and ensure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
- Mix Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with chopped roasted red peppers, black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs. Add garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well blended and evenly distributed.
- Form the Log: Lay a piece of plastic wrap on a clean surface. Spoon the cream cheese mixture onto the center of the plastic wrap. Using the wrap, roll the mixture tightly to form a compact log shape, ensuring no gaps or air pockets.
- Chill: Place the cream cheese log in the refrigerator and chill for at least one hour. This firming step allows the flavors to meld and the log to set.
- Coat with Nuts and Serve: Once chilled, remove the log from the plastic wrap and roll it in the finely chopped toasted nuts until evenly coated. Arrange on a serving platter and serve with crackers, sliced baguette, or fresh vegetables for dipping.
Notes
- Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for richer flavor, but drain excess oil before use.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Choose nuts that complement your taste, such as walnuts for earthiness or pecans for sweetness.
- Make the log a day ahead to let flavors develop even more.
- If you prefer a smoother texture, you can pulse the mixture in a food processor before forming the log.
Keywords: cream cheese appetizer, antipasto log, holiday appetizer, no-cook appetizer, cream cheese log, festive appetizer, party appetizer
