Description
Pepper jelly cheese dip combines creamy cream cheese with zesty jalapeño jelly for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Southern hospitality shines through this simple, delicious spread that welcomes guests with bold flavors and easy preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (120g) pepper jelly
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (100g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Fresh chives, chopped (for garnish)
- Crackers or toasted baguette slices (for serving)
Instructions
- Cheese Blend Preparation: Blend softened cream cheese with cheddar, infusing garlic and onion powder for complex flavor profiles, seasoning with salt and black pepper until achieving a silky, homogeneous texture.
- Dish Assembly: Transfer the cheese mixture into a compact oven-safe ceramic dish, ensuring smooth, uniform distribution across the surface with precise, gentle movements.
- Baking Process: Position the prepared dish in a preheated oven at 350°F, allowing the cheese mixture to transform into a golden, bubbling masterpiece for 15-20 minutes, developing rich, caramelized edges.
- Jelly Preparation and Finishing: While the cheese bakes, warm pepper jelly in short microwave intervals to create a fluid consistency, then elegantly drape over the hot cheese base, creating a vibrant crimson and ivory marbled effect.
- Garnish and Serving: Sprinkle finely chopped chives across the surface for a fresh, herbaceous accent, then serve immediately alongside crisp crackers or toasted baguette slices, presenting a harmonious blend of creamy and spicy flavors.
Notes
- Temperature Control: Maintain precise 350°F for even melting and preventing cheese from burning or becoming grainy, ensuring a smooth, creamy texture.
- Cheese Selection: Use room temperature cream cheese and freshly grated cheddar for optimal blending and preventing lumpy consistency; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can affect texture.
- Jelly Warming Technique: Microwave pepper jelly in 10-second intervals, stirring between bursts to prevent overheating and maintain a silky, pourable consistency for elegant drizzling.
- Garnish Strategy: Chop chives finely and sprinkle immediately before serving to preserve their bright color and crisp flavor, adding a fresh contrast to the rich, warm cheese base.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 162
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 205mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 30mg