Description
Creamy cranberry pecan cheese log blends tangy cream cheese with sweet-tart cranberries and crunchy pecans. Festive appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings and elegant entertaining, promising rich flavor in every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (50 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup (30 g) pecans, chopped
- ¼ cup (30 g) dried cranberries, finely chopped
- ¼ cup (30 g) dried cranberries, finely chopped for coating
- ¼ cup (30 g) pecans, finely chopped for coating
- 1 tsp honey
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional, for color)
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly combine cream cheese, cheddar, cranberries, pecans, honey, garlic powder, and salt in a mixing bowl until ingredients meld into a cohesive, smooth mixture.
- Shaping: Use plastic wrap to carefully form the cheese mixture into a compact, cylindrical log (6-8 inches long), ensuring smooth and even surfaces while tightly sealing the wrap.
- Chilling: Refrigerate the wrapped log for at least one hour, allowing flavors to intensify and mixture to firm up completely.
- Coating: Finely chop additional cranberries, pecans, and parsley to create a textured exterior garnish.
- Finishing: Unwrap the chilled log and gently roll its surface in the prepared cranberry-pecan-parsley mixture, pressing lightly to create an even, decorative coating that adheres completely.
- Serving: Transfer the finished cheese log to a serving platter, accompanied by an assortment of crackers, pretzels, or bread slices for an elegant appetizer presentation.
Notes
- Soften Cheese Carefully: Allow cream cheese and cheddar to reach room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to ensure smooth, lump-free blending without overmixing.
- Control Moisture Levels: Pat chopped cranberries dry with paper towels to prevent excess liquid from making the cheese log watery or losing structural integrity.
- Chill for Perfect Texture: Refrigerate the log for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to achieve a firmer consistency that makes slicing and coating easier.
- Customize Coating Options: Experiment with alternative coating mixtures like chopped herbs, toasted seeds, or dried fruit to create unique flavor profiles and dietary variations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 197
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg