If you are looking for the perfect, easy, and absolutely delicious appetizer for your next holiday party, look no further! This Festive Pineapple Cranberry Cheese Log is a certified crowd-pleaser.
It’s the ultimate combination of flavors: creamy, tangy cream cheese, sharp cheddar, sweet bursts of pineapple, tart cranberries, and the savory crunch of green onions and pecans.
The best part? It looks beautiful and impressive on a cheese board, but it’s incredibly simple to make. You can even make it a day ahead—in fact, it tastes even better when the flavors have time to meld together.
🎄 Why You’ll Love This Cheese Log
- Perfect Flavor Balance: It’s the ideal mix of sweet, savory, tangy, and sharp.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare it a day in advance to make party day even easier.
- Festive & Beautiful: The red cranberries and green onions give it a natural holiday look.
- Incredibly Versatile: Serve it as a log or shape it into a classic cheese ball.
🧈 Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup crushed pineapple, drained well
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped
- ½ cup chopped pecans (plus more for coating)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Cheese Mixture
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Use a spatula or hand mixer to blend them until smooth.
2. Add Flavorings
Stir in the well-drained crushed pineapple, chopped cranberries, green onions, ½ cup of the chopped pecans, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix until everything is evenly distributed.
3. Shape the Log
- Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on your counter. Spoon the cheese mixture onto the plastic wrap.
- Use the plastic wrap to help you gather the mixture and form it into a log shape (or a ball, if you prefer).
- Wrap the log tightly in the plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours, or until it is firm.
4. Coat and Garnish
- Once chilled and firm, remove the plastic wrap.
- Spread your additional chopped pecans (and/or some chopped fresh parsley) on a plate or shallow dish.
- Gently roll the cheese log in the pecans, pressing lightly to make sure the coating sticks.
5. Serve
Place the finished cheese log on a serving platter. Garnish with a little extra fresh parsley or a few dried cranberries for color. Serve with your favorite crackers, pretzels, pita chips, or fresh veggies.
🍽️ Storage Tips
- To Store: Keep the cheese log wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Make-Ahead: This is the perfect make-ahead dish! You can make the log and keep it wrapped in plastic (without the nut coating) for up to 3 days. Roll it in the fresh pecans and parsley just before serving to keep them crunchy.