Description
Pepper jelly cheese dip blends creamy textures with spicy-sweet Southern charm. Tangy cream cheese and zesty pepper jelly create an irresistible appetizer you’ll want to share at gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (120g) pepper jelly
- 1 cup (100g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- 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
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C), creating an ideal thermal environment for the cheese dip’s transformation.
- Cheese Fusion: Blend softened cream cheese, sharp cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and homogeneous, ensuring a rich, creamy base with balanced seasoning.
- Baking Ritual: Transfer the cheese mixture into an oven-safe dish, spreading evenly to promote consistent heating and optimal texture development.
- Thermal Alchemy: Bake for 15-20 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and bubble, developing a luxurious, golden-edged surface that promises decadent flavor.
- Jelly Enhancement: Gently warm pepper jelly in the microwave, creating a more fluid consistency that will gracefully drape over the molten cheese foundation.
- Final Flourish: Remove the baked cheese from the oven and artfully drizzle the warmed pepper jelly across the surface, creating a vibrant, sweet-and-spicy layer that adds visual and gustatory complexity.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped chives over the dip, adding a pop of color and fresh herbaceous note, then immediately present with crisp crackers or toasted baguette slices for an irresistible appetizer experience.
Notes
- Cheese Temperature Check: Ensure cream cheese is genuinely softened at room temperature for smooth blending, preventing lumpy texture and promoting even mixing.
- Jelly Consistency Control: Microwave pepper jelly in short 10-second intervals, stirring between each to prevent burning and maintain perfect drizzling consistency.
- Flavor Balancing Trick: Adjust spice levels by selecting mild or hot pepper jelly based on personal heat preference, allowing customizable taste experience.
- Serving Strategy: Keep dip warm in a small slow cooker or chafing dish during parties to maintain ideal melted texture and prevent rapid cooling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 144
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 156mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg