Description
A festive and easy-to-make cheese log featuring a delightful blend of creamy cheese, tart cranberries, crunchy pecans, sharp cheddar, and fresh chives.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250g / 9oz full fat Cream Cheese, softened
- 150g / 5.3oz Dried Cranberries, roughly diced
- 125g / 4.4oz Pecans, roughly diced
- 100g / 3.5oz Mature/Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 4 tablespoons finely diced Chives
Instructions
- Ensure cream cheese is softened by leaving it at room temperature for about an hour. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the grated mature/sharp cheddar cheese. Mix gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until a relatively uniform base is formed.
- Add the roughly diced dried cranberries and roughly diced pecans to the cheese mixture. Gently fold these ingredients in with a spatula or your hands, being careful not to overmix, ensuring even distribution of cranberries and pecans.
- Incorporate the finely diced chives into the cheese, cranberry, and pecan mixture. Gently fold them in until evenly dispersed for a bright flavor and visual appeal.
- Lay out a piece of plastic wrap on a clean, flat surface. Spoon the entire mixture onto the center of the plastic wrap. Shape the mixture into a log using your hands, then carefully wrap the plastic wrap tightly around the log, tucking in the ends.
- Refrigerate the wrapped cheese log for at least 2-3 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and the log to firm up for easy slicing.
- When ready to serve, unwrap the cheese log. Optionally, re-roll it in chopped pecans or a mix of chopped dried cranberries and chives. Slice into rounds using a sharp knife and serve with crackers, fresh fruit, or jam.
Notes
- Let the cheese log sit at room temperature for a few minutes before slicing for easier cutting.
- This recipe can be made a day in advance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 30mg