One of my favourite flavour combinations combined with cream cheese, this Apricot Almond Cheese Log is totally delicious.
I have recreated one of my favourite cheese platter treats. I have gone a little cheeseball crazy recently, trying different combinations and sharing recipes I have enjoyed over the years.
Cheeseballs or Cheese Logs are lovely ways to create something homemade and special to add to your party snacks or cheese platter. They are super simple to make and really versatile.
I love anything with Apricot and Almonds so this one was an easy idea to test. I have kept the ingredients really simple for this one so that those flavours shine through.
If you love Cheeseballs be sure to check out the Classic Cheeseball below.
Cheeseballs originated way back in the 1800’s and have had many revivals over the years, most notably in the 1970’s and 1980’s but I am all about bringing back those retro favourites and I know it’s a reader favourite.
The ingredients are simple
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Cream Cheese
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Dried Apricots
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Almonds
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Dried Mango
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Honey
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Parsley
There is nothing tricky about making a cheese log, it is quick to make and can be made ahead of time. If the ingredients are fresh and have a long shelf life it can be for a week or so. It can be a little messy but worth it!
You can freeze them but lots of care needs to be taken in terms of storage and thawing and they may not be as good as fresh.
I like to use already diced apricots and almond slivers, but whatever version of apricots and almonds you use you will still need to cut them smaller. You want the flavour dispersed evenly throughout.
I also set aside some of the apricots, almonds and parsley for the coating.
To make the cheese log you will need room temperature or soft cream cheese, to make mixing easier. Once you have stirred this well with a wooden spoon or a food mixer to soften add the apricots, almonds, dried mango and honey and mix it all together. Ensuring no lumps of plain cream cheese are visible.
Then using a rubber spatula I like to scrape down the sides of the bowl and begin to bring the cream cheese mixture together to form a rough log shape.
Before I handle the cheese log, I set up a plate with the extra mixed apricots, almonds and parsley that I will use for coating and also a large piece of plastic wrap (gladwrap) so I am prepared as the next steps are a little messy.
I then pick up the cream cheese mixture in damp hands and begin to shape it into a log shape with flat ends. You can make this smaller and longer if you choose. A nice idea is to consider the size of the crackers you will be using.
You can of course also make this a cheese BALL and make a round ball shape.
Once you are happy with the shape and it is smooth and packed firmly, pop it onto the plate with the coating mix, roll and press the coating into the sides and edges of the cheese log, and keeping the shape you desire.
Once it is completely coated with no gaps remaining place on the plastic wrap, and with clean hands fold firmly ensuring it is fully covered. Then pop that in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until ready to serve. I like to get it out around 20 minutes before I will be serving it.
So onto the full recipe, I hope you love this one
While you are here check out my other delicious cheeseball variations to try next!
Salmon Cheeseball
Sweet Chilli Cheeseball
Pineapple Macadamia Coconut Cheese Log
Classic Cheeseball
Apricot Almond Cheese Log Recipe
Apricot Almond Cheese Log
Delicious cream cheese flavoured with dried apricots and almonds.
Ingredients
- 225 grams Cream Cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 Cup Dried Apricots, finely diced
- 2 Pieces Dried Mango, finely diced
- 1 Cup Almonds, finely diced, you can use whole or slivered almonds
- 1 Tablespoon Runny Honey
- 2 teaspoons Parsley, fresh, finely diced
Instructions
- Allow the cream cheese to soften or come to room temperature
- Finely dice the almonds, apricots and mango, 2-3mm pieces.
- Once the dried ingredients and almonds are finely diced, take half a cup of almonds, a few tablespoons of apricots and the parsley and mix in a small bowl and set aside, this is for the coating.
- In a medium bowl add the cream cheese and with a strong wooden spoon mix this until soft
- Add to the cream cheese the remainder of the diced apricots, mango, almonds and runny honey.
- Mix well to fully combine with no lumps of plain cream cheese remaining.
- Place the coating of apricots, almonds and parsley and spread onto a flat plate.
- Cut off a large piece of plastic food wrap and set aside on a flat surface.
- With a rubber spatula begin to bring together the cream cheese mixture, scraping the sides and forming a log shape
- With damp hands lift up the log and gently form into a square or round log shape as best you can, ensuring you flatten the ends also.
- Pop this into the coating mixture and roll to coat, pressing the coating into all surfaces, continuing to shape it into the log shape as you go and no gaps remain.
- Place this onto the piece of plastic wrap and firmly wrap, again ensuring it is still a log shape.
- Pop this in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set.
- This will keep for up to 5 days ahead of time in the refrigerator if your ingredients are fresh.
- For best experience get out of the fridge 20 minutes before eating.
- Enjoy!
Notes
You can omit or add ingredients that suit your needs.
I hope you love this recipe, be sure to let me know when you try it in the comments below
Thank you so much for stopping by to check out this recipe. If you are not already please do follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more delicious ideas.
Happy Baking!
Anna
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Sarah says
For the love of God , the pkts of cream cheese are 250gm, why not eliminate the need to measure and just say a full tub of cream cheese. Any nincompoop could work out just had another few almonds or fruit… Anither blob of crran cheese saved from the fridge that no one aye and wasted 🤣
justamumnz says
The packets of cream cheese I use are 225 grams. You are more than welcome to use 250 grams if you prefer.
eilalija roze says
Looking forward to trying this – are you also sharing the seed cracker recipe – those look amazing!
justamumnz says
Hi, do you mean these ones? https://justamumnz.com/2023/10/30/the-best-seeded-crackers/ otherwise google just a mum “crackers” to see my other recipes.