Name: Pimento Cheese Log with Bacon
Total time: 3 h 25 min
Ingredients: 8 slices bacon; 6 ounces extra-sharp yellow cheddar cheese, shredded (1 1/2 cups); 6 ounces cream cheese; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1 small shallot , minced; 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 small garlic clove , minced; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/2 cup jarred chopped pimentos , patted dry

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted a cheese log firm enough to hold its shape but soft enough to easily drag a cracker through at room temperature. To get there, we settled on a simple mixture of half cheddar cheese and half cream cheese with an addition of creamy mayonnaise. To flavor our pimento cheese–based log, we stirred in jarred pimentos, a pinch of cayenne, some Worcestershire sauce, and minced garlic. This mixture was pliable enough to be easily shaped in plastic wrap, and after a trip to the freezer it had firmed up enough for us to roll it in crumbled crispy bacon.

Before You Begin

We chill the cheese log in the freezer because it’s much easier to roll in the bacon when firm. Once the cheese log has been garnished, it can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to two days.

Instructions

Cook bacon in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until crispy, 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer to paper towel–lined plate to cool. Once cool, chop bacon fine.

Process cheddar, cream cheese, mayonnaise, shallot, Worcestershire, garlic, pepper, and cayenne in food processor until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, about 1 minute. Add pimentos and pulse until combined, about 3 pulses.

Lay 18 by 11-inch sheet of plastic wrap on counter with long side parallel to counter edge. Transfer cheese mixture to center of plastic and shape into approximate 9-inch log with long side parallel to counter edge. Fold plastic over log and roll up. Pinch plastic at ends of log and roll log on counter to form tight cylinder. Tuck ends of plastic underneath. Freeze until completely firm, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Spread bacon on large plate. Unwrap cheese log and roll in bacon to evenly coat. Transfer to serving dish and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Serve.