This old fashioned Cheese Log recipe is the perfect party appetizer. It’s studded with pecans and rolled in chili powder for a little bit of spice!
Featured Comment:
“My grandmother used to make this cheese log back in the 40’s for her parties. It was always my dad’s favorite. I always make it and people love how different it is from the usual cheese balls.” -Christy
This old fashioned Cheese Log is a lovely addition to an appetizer spread or cheese tray.
I found the recipe in a spiral-bound church cookbook from the 1970s, but readers have told me that it goes back at least to the 1940s. The original recipe calls for Longhorn cheese, which I replaced with Colby Jack (which is easier to find). I kept the rest of the recipe the same, and it is a winner!
This recipe one of the reasons that old church cookbooks are a treasure trove of recipes. It got rave reviews from my husband and neighbors. I hope you’ll love it, too.
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Here’s What You’ll Need
- A mixture of Colby Jack cheese and cream cheese are the base of this recipe. A reader mentioned that she uses cheddar instead of colby jack, which sounds like a great idea to me.
- Pecans add a nice crunch!
- Chopped onion, garlic, and worcestershire sauce provide the flavorings.
- The cheese roll gets rolled in chili powder for a pop of color and flavor. You could substitute paprika if you prefer. One reader adds a little smoked paprika to the chili powder for a bit of smoky flavor.
How to Make A Cheese Log
- Start by letting the cream cheese come to room temperature. If you’re in a hurry, follow these instructions for softening cream cheese. Then, shred the colby jack cheese. I recommend shredding the cheese yourself vs. buying pre-shredded cheese. It’ll incorporate better into the cheese log.
- Chop the pecans as finely as you can. You want very small pieces here so they can be spread on a cracker. You could also purchase “pecan chips” from the grocery store.
- Place the shredded cheese, cream cheese, pecans, worcestershire sauce, chopped onion, and minced garlic in a large bowl. Mix to combine. I find that using my hands is the easiest way to mix everything together.
- Form the mixture into a 12 inch log. It’ll be roughly 2–3 inches in diameter. Sprinkle chili powder onto a cutting board, and roll the log into it. You may need to use your fingers to sprinkle the chili powder and pat it into the roll in order to get it completely covered. It’s now ready to serve!
Cheese Log: Frequently Asked Questions
Cream cheese is essential for holding the cheese roll together. The shredded cheese, however, can be varied. You can use colby jack, monterey jack, cheddar, longhorn, or Swiss in a cheese roll.
You can substitute ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder in place of the minced garlic.
You can use an equal amount of soy sauce in place of worcestershire sauce.
You can omit the pecans from this recipe, or substitute finely chopped walnuts instead.
Yes! Form the cheese mixture into a ball with your hands, and then roll in chili powder. You can also form it into 1-inch balls for single-serve portions.
Serving/Make Ahead Instructions
This Cheese Log recipe can be made up to 2 days ahead. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve it. Let it sit at room temperature for 2 hours before serving, in order to soften it slightly for spreading.
You can also freeze it, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a resealable freezer bag for up to two months.
The Cheese Log is a great addition to a large cheese board, or just served on its own with crackers. I recommend serving it with a butter knife or cheese spreader next to it, so that guests can cut off slices themselves.
Take care when placing this on any marble serving trays, as the chili powder can stain the marble. I recommend putting it on something washable or wooden if possible.
More cheesy appetizers
- Hanky Panky appetizers
- Ham & Cream Cheese Pinwheels
- Hawaiian Roll Sliders
- Reuben Dip
- Cold Crab Dip
- Crockpot Chili Cheese Dip
📖 Recipe
Cheese Log
Ingredients
- 1 lb Colby Jack cheese
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- To serve: crackers
Instructions
- Grate the Colby Jack on a box grater or with the shredding disk of a food processor.
- Very finely chop the pecans.
- Place the grated cheese, cream cheese, chopped pecans, onion, worcestershire sauce, and garlic in a large bowl. Mix with a spoon or your hands to combine.
- Pat the cheese mixture into a 12-inch long log. It will be 2–3 inches in diameter.
- Sprinkle the chili powder on a cutting board, and roll the cheese log in the chili powder to coat. Use your fingers to sprinkle or pat the chili powder onto the roll as necessary.
- Serve the cheese roll by slicing it into thin slices and spreading on crackers.
My recipe calls for 1/4-1/2 cup hidden valley ranch dressing is that right
I haven’t seen that added to the recipe before!
My grandmother used to make this cheese log back in the 40’s for her parties. It was always my dad’s favorite. I always make it and people love how different it is from the usual cheese balls.
I love that! Thanks for sharing that family memory! <3
You’ll be pleased to know this recipe predates the 1970’s! My mother was making it in the 1950’s, and she got the recipe from my grandmother! They both used sharp cheddar. Mama used one of those aluminum meat grinders that attached to the kitchen counter to mix the cheeses. She always made two smaller logs out of the recipe, so that my dad would have one of his own 😉 She, too, used her hands to get things fully incorporated after the initial “grinding”. I have been thinking about making one for years, but had forgotten the ratios of cheeses, and the flavoring other than chili powder, so I was thrilled to frun across this recipe! Out of nostalgia, I did this batch with cheddar; next time I will try Colby, or a mix of the two. Seriously, I don’t think you can go wrong with this! Also, I added smoked paprika to my chili powder coating – the combination is definitely a keeper. I may try rolling one small log in all smoked paprika and the other in all chili powder next time to compare and contrast. Thank you for posting! (PS I so agree about church cookbooks being treasures! I have quite a collection.)
Hi Maggie-beth, I love everything about this! Thank you so much for sharing—this really makes my heart happy to know that it jogged a particular memory for you (and LOL on your dad getting his own!). I love the smoked paprika idea, and thank you for the info on when it dates back to!