Yuletide Log Cheese Centerpiece (Printable)

Creamy cheeses mixed with herbs and nuts, shaped and decorated as a festive holiday cheese centerpiece.

# What You Need:

→ Cheese Mixture

01 - 300 g cream cheese, softened (10.5 oz)
02 - 150 g fresh goat cheese (chèvre), softened (5.3 oz)
03 - 120 g sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated (4.2 oz)
04 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 tbsp sour cream
06 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1½ tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
09 - 1 garlic clove, minced
10 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
11 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
12 - ½ tsp lemon zest
13 - ½ tsp salt

→ Coating & Decoration

14 - 60 g walnuts or pecans, finely chopped (2.1 oz)
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

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, goat cheese, cheddar, butter, and sour cream until smooth and fluffy.
02 - Stir in chives, parsley, thyme, garlic, black pepper, smoked paprika, lemon zest, and salt until fully blended.
03 - Transfer mixture onto plastic wrap and gently shape into a 25 cm (10-inch) log, smoothing the sides to resemble a yule log.
04 - Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm.
05 - On a clean surface, mix chopped nuts, parsley, and rosemary.
06 - Unwrap the chilled log and roll it in the nut-herb mixture, ensuring all sides are evenly coated.
07 - Place log on a serving platter; use a fork to create bark-like texture. Garnish with pink peppercorns, edible flowers, rosemary sprigs, and cranberries for a festive appearance.
08 - Present with crackers, crostini, or fresh vegetable sticks.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Elegant and festive centerpiece
  • Blend of creamy & tangy cheeses with herbs and nuts
02 -
  • Contains milk/dairy and nuts
  • For nut allergies, substitute nuts with seeds or omit entirely
03 -
  • Chill the cheese log thoroughly before coating to ensure the nuts stick well
  • Use a fork to create bark texture for a realistic yule log appearance
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