Swanky Marinated Cheese Appetizer with Salami & Pickles Recipe

Cheese lovers find pure bliss in this delectable marinated cheese appetizer that combines creamy textures with zesty salami and tangy pickles.

Bold flavors dance across your palate with each carefully crafted bite.

The appetizer brings together rich, marinated cheese cubes that sit perfectly alongside crisp pickle slices and savory salami.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients create a stunning harmony of tastes and textures.

Each ingredient is selected to complement and enhance the overall dish.

Layers of robust flavors promise a memorable culinary experience that will impress even the most discerning guests.

Prepare to elevate your appetizer game with this irresistible combination.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10-12 minutes per batch

Total Time: 27 minutes

Calories: 278 kcal

Servings: 12

Ingredients for Marinated Cheese Appetizer with Salami & Pickles

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy foundation with smooth texture that helps bind ingredients.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create crisp cookie edges with golden color.
• Brown Sugar: Delivers deep caramel notes and moisture for soft, chewy cookie center.
• Eggs: Act as crucial binding agent that provides structure and richness to cookie dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile with warm, classic aromatic complexity.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates essential cookie structure and provides sturdy foundation for delicate texture.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly while promoting beautiful golden-brown coloration.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies all other flavor dimensions in the recipe.

• Maraschino Cherries: Introduces vibrant color and sweet-tart fruity bursts throughout cookie.
• Chocolate Chips: Delivers rich, melty pockets of decadent chocolate that complement cherry flavors.

Tools That Help Prepare This Marinated Cheese Appetizer

• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining wet ingredients smoothly and creating cookie dough.
• Electric mixer or whisk: Essential for beating butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy.
• Separate mixing bowl: Needed for whisking dry ingredients before combining with wet mixture.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Cookie scoop or tablespoon: Helps create uniform cookie sizes and even baking.
• Baking sheets: Line with parchment paper or silicone mats for easy cookie removal.
• Wire cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly and prevent soggy bottoms.
• Whisk: Great for blending dry ingredients thoroughly.

Put Together the Cheese Appetizer with Pickles and Salami

• Prepare Cheese Platter

Select your favorite soft and hard cheeses, slicing them into bite-sized pieces. Arrange on a beautiful serving board with delicate overlap.

• Create Zesty Marinade

Whisk together olive oil, minced garlic, fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme, cracked black pepper, and a splash of white wine vinegar for tangy depth.

• Layer Flavor Elements

Drizzle the vibrant marinade over cheese slices, allowing herbs to cling and infuse. Add thin salami slices and crisp pickle wedges around the marinated cheese.

• Chill and Enhance

Cover the platter and refrigerate for 30 minutes, letting flavors meld and intensify. The marinade will gently soften cheese edges and boost overall taste profile.

• Serve and Enjoy

Remove from refrigerator 10 minutes before serving to allow cheese to reach room temperature. Provide small spreaders or toothpicks for easy sampling. Pair with crusty bread or crackers for a delightful appetizer experience.

Tips to Maximize Flavor in This Cheese Appetizer

• Use an ice cream scoop for perfectly uniform cookie sizes, ensuring even baking and professional-looking results.
• Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and create chewier, more robust cookies.
• Replace butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine to make these cookies suitable for dairy-sensitive individuals while maintaining rich flavor.
• Experiment with different fruit mix-ins like dried cranberries, chopped dried cherries, or white chocolate chips to create unique flavor combinations that complement the original recipe.
• Cookie dough can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for several weeks, allowing flexible baking schedules and instant dessert preparation.

Serve the Marinated Cheese with Pickles and Salami Creatively

• Cheese Board Companion: Arrange your marinated cheese on a rustic wooden board alongside extra salami slices, whole pickles, and grainy mustard for a stunning presentation that invites guests to create their own bites.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Match this appetizer with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Grigio that complements the tangy cheese and salty salami flavors.
• Mediterranean Mezze Style: Transform the appetizer into a Mediterranean-inspired spread by adding olives, roasted red peppers, fresh herbs like basil or oregano, and toasted crusty bread for a vibrant, shareable experience.
• Cocktail Party Star: Serve these bite-sized marinated cheese pieces on small toothpicks during cocktail hour, making them easy to grab and enjoy while mingling with friends and family.

Store the Cheese Appetizer and Keep It Flavorful

• Keep your marinated cheese appetizer fresh and delicious with these handy tips.
• Store the appetizer in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Seal tightly to maintain flavor and prevent absorption of other food odors.
• Make the marinated cheese mixture up to 2 days before serving. This extra time allows flavors to meld and intensify, creating a more delectable appetizer.
• Remove the appetizer from the refrigerator 20-30 minutes before serving. This gentle warming helps release full flavor profiles and ensures the cheese reaches a perfect, slightly soft texture.
• When storing, place wax paper or parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain the appetizer's beautiful presentation. Gently stack components to avoid crushing delicate ingredients.

FAQs

• What cheese works best for this appetizer?

Soft cheeses like feta, goat cheese, or mozzarella are perfect as they absorb marinades wonderfully and provide a creamy texture.

• Can I make this appetizer ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the marinated cheese up to 2-3 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator, which actually allows the flavors to develop more intensely.

• Do I need special equipment to make this appetizer?

No special equipment is required. Just a simple container or jar for marinating and basic kitchen tools like a knife and cutting board are enough.

• Is this appetizer vegetarian-friendly?

While the cheese part is vegetarian, the addition of salami makes it non-vegetarian. You can easily omit the salami or replace it with vegetarian alternatives like olives or roasted vegetables.

Elegant Marinated Cheese Appetizer With Salami & Pickles

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4.9 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Savor this Easy Marinated Cheese Appetizer with its tangy blend of Italian cheeses, salami, and pickled delights. Mediterranean flavors complement crisp crackers, offering a quick, elegant starter perfect for gatherings and spontaneous snacking.

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Ingredients

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• 2 ½ cups (310 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (225 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (175 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
• ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
• ¾ cup (150 grams) brown sugar, packed
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¾ cup (100 grams) maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
• 2 tbsps maraschino cherry juice
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
2. Mixing: In a large bowl, thoroughly blend softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy, then introduce eggs one at a time, mixing completely after each addition. Stir in vanilla and cherry extracts.
3. Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together, then gently fold into the wet mixture until just combined. Carefully incorporate chocolate morsels and maraschino cherries, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
4. Portioning: Scoop dough using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, placing portions with 2-inch spacing on prepared baking sheets.
5. Baking: Transfer sheets to preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for golden edges while maintaining soft centers.
6. Cooling: Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely, allowing them to set and develop optimal texture.

Notes

• Preserve Cheese Texture: Marinate cheese at room temperature to maintain its soft, creamy consistency without breaking down its delicate structure.
• Strategic Layering Technique: Arrange salami and pickles carefully to ensure balanced flavor distribution and prevent ingredient overcrowding.
• Temperature Control Matters: Keep appetizer chilled before serving to maintain optimal texture and prevent cheese from becoming too soft or oily.
• Customize Marination Time: Experiment with marinating duration between 2-6 hours to develop deeper flavor profiles without compromising cheese integrity.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes (per batch)
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 317
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 90 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 52 mg