Recipe: Holiday Cheese Log | Cooking On the Side

Holiday Cheese Log with Cranberries & Pecans

December 13, 2009 ·

Holiday Cheese Log

It isn’t the holidays until someone breaks out a cheese log, am I right? Well this year I guess that someone is me. I can honestly say I’ve never really been all that into cheese logs. The whole concept is so odd…rolling out cheese into log form, crusting it in nuts and serving it with crackers? It’s just always seemed like this strange retro holiday food that’s continued to show up on appetizer tables inexplicably over the years.

I decided to make one – what the heck? What convinced me was the ingredient list in this recipe, which actually sounded like something I’d want to eat. Feta, cream cheese, Swiss cheese and honey? That combo was sure to be super tangy and a little bit sweet. And I’ve definitely demonstrated my affinity for cranberries and pecans over the past month. It would come together quickly and I could easily refrigerate and transport it to the holiday party I’m attending on Tuesday. Really…what’s not to like?

So I abandoned my past judgments on the issue and made one tasty holiday cheese log.

Holiday Cheese Log

Holiday Cheese Log with Cranberries & Pecans
From the side of the Lucerne Reduced Fat Milk carton

Makes 24 servings

INGREDIENTS:

4 oz. crumbled feta cheese, at room temperature
4 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
Assorted crackers for serving

DIRECTIONS:

Using an electric mixer or food processor*, mix the cream cheese, feta, Swiss and honey until combined. Transfer cheese onto a sheet of foil and roll into a 1.5″ x 10″ log. Close foil and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

Mix pecans and cranberries, and spread into a rectangle on a clean sheet of foil. Roll log over the mixture to coat all sides evenly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate. (Log may be refrigerated up to 3 days.) Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers.

* I opted to use a food processor, as I wanted the Swiss cheese to be chopped up really finely amongst the two softer cheeses.

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Tags: cranberries, cream cheese, feta, pecans, Swiss cheese

Appetizers, Christmas

15 Comments

By Debs, December 14, 2009 @ 2:22 AM

How lovely. Not sure I like the sound of the cranberries as a crust, but I may just make something similar; thanks.
Debs´s last blog ..Thai Yellow Prawn Curry

[Reply]
Kathy Reply:
December 14th, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Dried cranberries are actually really good with a lot of cheeses, but maybe you might try dried apricots instead if you like those more?

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By chocolate shavings, December 14, 2009 @ 2:54 AM

That’s the perfect, festive cheese log!

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By Lauren, December 14, 2009 @ 7:32 AM

I’ve had goat cheese coated with cranberries, but this version blows that out of the water! I bet the combination of different cheeses tastes wonderful.

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By Haley, December 14, 2009 @ 9:30 AM

Beautiful combination.. I love the colors! It sounds so delicious too. I adore the tart cranberries with the variety of tangy cheeses with the crunch of the pecans! Perfect.
Haley´s last blog ..Basil and Matcha Green Tea Muffins

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By Amy (Sing For Your Supper), December 14, 2009 @ 11:01 AM

Oh yum! I will definitely be giving this a try!!! Looks amazing!
Amy (Sing For Your Supper)´s last blog ..Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies…

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By Dawn Hutchins, December 14, 2009 @ 1:54 PM

I love anything with dried cranberries and cheese. This looks SO good. I bet it would be good spread on a turkey sandwich too.
Dawn Hutchins´s last blog ..Snowball Bark

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By Michelle, December 15, 2009 @ 10:50 AM

This is really lovely. I’m not usually a big fan of cheese logs/balls, but you may have just changed my mind.
Michelle´s last blog ..Reindeer cookies

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By Thea, December 17, 2009 @ 1:08 PM

I made it yesterday and served it last night at a party. It was a big hit. Much yummier than I even expected!

[Reply]
Kathy Reply:
December 17th, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Fantastic! So glad you liked it!

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By Maria, December 17, 2009 @ 2:50 PM

Love this idea. Cranberries go so well with the cheese!

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By Christi, January 7, 2010 @ 6:45 PM

oh my holy waistband just expanded! this looks amazing.

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By Mary R, January 25, 2010 @ 9:05 AM

I made this exactly as suggested and it was a hit at book club! (Which is more than I can say for the book under discussion.) Very nice flavor and texture. Thanks for the recipe. It’s a keeper.

[Reply]
Kathy Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 9:43 AM
Excellent – so glad to hear it!

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