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Pineapple Cranberry Holiday Cheese Log served on a festive platter

Pineapple Cranberry Holiday Cheese Log

A festive and easy appetizer perfect for busy hosts. This cheese log blends sweet tropical pineapple and tangy cranberries, making it a crowd-pleaser for any holiday gathering.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cheese Mixture
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
  • 4 oz goat cheese or Neufchâtel optional for tang
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple well drained
  • 1 cup dried cranberries chopped
  • 1/2 cup salted butter softened, optional for spreadability
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans reserve 1/4 cup for coating
  • 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder optional; balances sweetness
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
For Serving
  • Crackers, sliced baguette, or apple slices for serving
  • Fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs for garnish (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer (or a wooden spoon if you’re feeling old-school) to beat the cream cheese and goat cheese until smooth. If using, beat in the softened butter for extra creaminess.
  2. Add the drained crushed pineapple, chopped dried cranberries, honey, lemon zest, garlic powder, and black pepper. Fold gently with a spatula.
  3. Stir in the chopped pecans, reserving 1/4 cup to finish the outside.
Shaping and Refrigeration
  1. Spoon the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and roll it into a log about 8–9 inches long, twisting the ends of the wrap to tighten. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Coating and Serving
  1. Unwrap the chilled log and roll it in the reserved chopped pecans until well coated.
  2. Arrange crackers, sliced baguette, or apple slices around the log. Serve with a small cheese knife or spreader.

Notes

Make the cheese log a day ahead for better flavor. For a lower-sugar version, reduce honey/maple to 1 tablespoon and use unsweetened cranberries.