Marinated Olive & Cheese Ring

Name: Marinated Olive & Cheese Ring
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 16 servings.
Ingredients: 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cold; 1 package (10 ounces) sharp white cheddar cheese, cut into 1/4-inch slices; 1/3 cup pimiento-stuffed olives; 1/3 cup pitted Greek olives; 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley; 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 jar (2 ounces) pimiento strips, drained and chopped; Toasted French bread baguette slices

We love to make meals into celebrations, and antipasto always kicks off the party for Italian dinners. This one is almost too pretty to eat, especially when sprinkled with pimientos, fresh basil and parsley. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania

Ingredients

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cold
1 package (10 ounces) sharp white cheddar cheese, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/3 cup pimiento-stuffed olives
1/3 cup pitted Greek olives
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jar (2 ounces) pimiento strips, drained and chopped
Toasted French bread baguette slices

Directions

Cut cream cheese lengthwise in half; cut each half into 1/4-in. slices. On a serving plate, arrange cheeses upright in a ring, alternating cheddar and cream cheese slices. Place olives in center.
In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, oil, parsley, basil and garlic until blended; drizzle over cheeses and olives. Sprinkle with pimientos. Refrigerate, covered, at least 8 hours or overnight. Serve with baguette slices.

Test Kitchen Tips

This stylish appetizer is super adaptable. Any cheeses will work in place of the cream cheese and sharp cheddar. Just keep the overall weight the same.

For more variety, fold thin slices of deli cuts such as pepperoni and salami in half and tuck them between the cheese slices.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving: 168 calories, 16g fat (7g saturated fat), 34mg cholesterol, 260mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 6g protein.

Originally published as Marinated Italian Cheese Ring in Taste of Home December 2013

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Neco2007

Dec 13, 2018

This was a hit, with some of my guests immediately asking for the recipe! It looks quite festive for the holidays too!
ladams1221

Dec 9, 2018

I haven't made this yet, but I gave it 5 stars because I just KNOW by looking at it
doreensanzone

Apr 16, 2018

Made this for a potluck dinner and it was a huge hit. I made it exactly as written. Very easy to prepare the night before. Served with toasted baguette slices. I’ll be making it again very soon.
the4puts

Jan 28, 2018

Some of our older family members raved about this recipe as " this is antepasto from back in the day .... this is how it should be made". I added rolled traditional hard salami and placed between layers of cheese. No other changes should be made to this EXCELLENT recipe. Thank you for sharing!
wblair

Jan 21, 2018

Delicious!!!
Jellybug

Jan 1, 2018

I MADE THIS FOR THE FAMILY TODAY AND IT WAS A HIT, NEXT TIME I WILL USE A MILDER CHEESE, BUT OTHERWISE THIS RECIPE IS A KEEPER..
daisyapron

Dec 30, 2017

The stars don't seem to be working but I give it 5! This is a great recipe and easy, a little time consuming if you want it to look perfect. I sliced the cream cheese but used a knife to kind of stick it to each piece of cheddar (the first time I used extra sharp and it was too much flavor), I have it chilling now with organic white cheddar and it's going to be better. Be sure to use a platter that is deep with sides to prevent the marinade from overflowing. I'm using small rosemary and sea salt packaged crostini with it.
Kristin

Dec 17, 2017

I would not change one thing about this recipe. Not only is it beautiful with minimal effort. It s savory and delicious. Dont let the cream cheese part scare you away, the marinated cream cheese is so good it doesnt even taste like cream cheese anymore. This is a definite keeper. Everyone was wowed by the presentation and the taste!
fran'scooking

Sep 23, 2017

This was the easiest appetizer I made during the holidays. I will definitely serve it again. I followed some suggestions and substituted the cheese selections. I used a soft mozzarella, feta slices, provolone and gruyere. I also added some artichoke hearts as suggested. I've taken it to several get togethers and have been asked for the recipe many times.
ebramkamp

May 28, 2016

My husband absolutely loves marinated olives and can practically make a meal out of them. This was a no brainer to make. I read the other reviews and used regular cream cheese as recommended. I used rosemary olive oil bread because that is what I had on hand. It was a HUGE hit with him and his mother.