Description
Pepper jelly cheese dip brings zesty Southern charm to any gathering, blending creamy cheese with sweet-spicy pepper jelly. Cool cream cheese meets bold jalapeño notes, creating a crowd-pleasing appetizer that sparks conversation and delights your taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cheese Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese
- 4 ounces (113 grams) sharp cheddar cheese
- 7 ounces (198 grams) pepper jelly
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) onion flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) salt
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) to prepare for the cheesy creation.
- Combine cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, onion flakes, and salt in a mixing bowl, blending until the ingredients form a uniform mixture.
- Transfer the cheese blend into an oven-safe dish, carefully spreading it to create an even layer that will ensure consistent heating.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 15 minutes, watching for the surface to become bubbly and heated through.
- During the baking process, gently warm the pepper jelly in the microwave, heating in short 30-second bursts and stirring between intervals until the jelly becomes smooth and liquid.
- Remove the cheese dip from the oven and immediately drizzle the melted pepper jelly across the top, using a spatula to distribute the spicy glaze evenly.
- Present the dip alongside an array of dipping companions like crisp crackers, crunchy tortilla chips, or fresh vegetable sticks for a delightful appetizer experience.
Notes
- Swap regular cream cheese for low-fat or dairy-free alternatives to create a lighter, diet-friendly version of this appetizer.
- Adjust the pepper jelly quantity based on your spice tolerance, gradually adding more for a bolder kick or less for a milder experience.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like pepper jack or gouda to personalize the flavor profile and add complexity to the dip.
- Prepare the cheese mixture ahead of time and refrigerate, allowing flavors to meld together before baking for enhanced taste and convenience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 190 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg