Yuletide Log Cheese Centerpiece (Printer View)

Creamy cheeses blended with herbs and nuts, shaped and decorated for a festive holiday centerpiece.

# What you'll need:

→ Cheese Mixture

01 - 10.5 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 5.3 oz fresh goat cheese (chèvre), softened
03 - 4.2 oz sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
04 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 tbsp sour cream
06 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1.5 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
09 - 1 garlic clove, minced
10 - 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper
11 - 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 0.5 tsp lemon zest
13 - 0.5 tsp salt

→ Coating & Decoration

14 - 2 oz walnuts or pecans, finely chopped
15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
16 - 1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
17 - 1 tbsp pink peppercorns (optional)
18 - Edible flowers, small rosemary sprigs, or fresh cranberries for garnish
19 - Crackers, crostini, or fresh vegetable sticks for serving

# Method:

01 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, goat cheese, cheddar, butter, and sour cream together until smooth and fluffy.
02 - Stir in chives, parsley, thyme, garlic, black pepper, smoked paprika, lemon zest, and salt until evenly combined.
03 - Transfer the mixture onto plastic wrap and shape gently into a log approximately 10 inches long, smoothing the sides to resemble a yule log.
04 - Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least one hour to firm up the shape.
05 - On a clean surface, mix chopped nuts, parsley, and rosemary. Unwrap the chilled log and roll it in the nut-herb mixture to coat evenly.
06 - Place the coated log on a serving platter. Use a fork to create bark-like texture. Decorate with pink peppercorns, edible flowers, rosemary sprigs, and cranberries to evoke winter foliage.
07 - Present alongside crackers, crostini, or fresh vegetable sticks.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Elegant holiday centerpiece
  • Creamy and tangy cheese blend
02 -
  • Contains milk/dairy and nuts
  • For nut allergies, substitute nuts with seeds or omit entirely
03 -
  • Chill the log well to ensure firm shaping
  • Create bark texture using a fork for an authentic yule log look
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