Festive cheese log with creamy cheeses, herbs, nuts, and edible decorations for an elegant holiday table.
# What You Need:
→ Cheese Mixture
01 - 300 g cream cheese, softened
02 - 150 g fresh goat cheese (chèvre), softened
03 - 120 g sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
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
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 Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, goat cheese, cheddar, butter, and sour cream together until smooth and fluffy.
02 - Add chives, parsley, thyme, garlic, black pepper, smoked paprika, lemon zest, and salt; mix thoroughly until evenly blended.
03 - Transfer the mixture onto plastic wrap and gently shape it into a 25 cm (10 inch) long log, smoothing edges to resemble a yule log.
04 - Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.
05 - On a clean surface, combine chopped nuts, parsley, and rosemary. Remove chilled log from wrap and roll it in the nut-herb mixture to coat all sides evenly.
06 - Place log on serving platter. Use a fork to create bark-like texture. Garnish with pink peppercorns, edible flowers, rosemary sprigs, and cranberries to mimic winter foliage.
07 - Serve alongside crackers, crostini, or fresh vegetable sticks.
