This is the EASIEST Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip recipe! Whip up softened Boursin cheese with a splash of half and half, and then layer it with a sweet and spicy pepper jelly for a delicious and quick appetizer! Perfect for parties, gatherings, and the holidays!
Step aside complicated appetizers.
There’s a new dip in town, and it’s GORGEOUS!
This easy, breezy pepper jelly cheese dip comes together with – 3 ingredients and minimal prep time! It’s perfect to pregame with on Thanksgiving or Christmas, and unlike most cheeseballs appetizers or cheese dips, you don’t need sharp cheddar cheese, or any other shredded cheese for that matter. Something about the shredded cheese texture in a cold dip doesn’t sit right with me! But wait, I haven’t gotten to the best part. This dip also doesn’t need oven time, a precious holiday commodity.
This easy appetizer will become a staple when you’ve got guests for the holidays! Just whip it up in a stand mixer, a food processor, or a hand mixer and pop it into your favorite dish. Top it with pepper jelly, a handful of green onions, scallions, or chopped chives, and watch how quickly this dip disappears! Even the leftovers will be gone before morning!
Who would have thought that a bit of room temperature cheese and a jar of hot and sweet pepper jelly could become the base for something so darn delicious?
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Pepper Jelly Dip
- Soft, spreadable cheese: So I typically use two blocks of Boursin cheese for this recipe. I love the flavors from the shallot and chive Boursin, but I also can’t resist the garlic and herbs. So, I use a block of each of these. However, if you prefer a particular flavor, you can use two blocks of that. Boursin cheese is readily available in most grocery stores in the fancy cheese section! It’s also already flavored with garlic, shallots, chives, and other herbs, so you don’t need to add anything to the cream cheese mixture. You can also swap some of the Boursin cheese for softened cream cheese to make this dip more economical, or even goat cheese. Remember that the cream cheese’s flavor will be milder unless you use scallion and chive cream cheese spread or some other flavored variety.
- Half and half: just a splash helps thin out the cream cheese mixture so that it’s easily scoopable with a cracker.
- Pepper jelly: You need half a jar of pepper jelly spread for this recipe. The kind of pepper jelly you use is entirely up to you! I like sweet and hot variety, so that’s what we use. You can also use cranberry pepper jelly, leftover cranberry sauce, or even caramelized onion jam on top of this whipped cheese dip,.
- Chopped chives: This is an optional ingredient that just adds a bit of color to the dip.
- Crackers or chips: I like to serve these with wheat thins! But butter crackers, club crackers, pretzels, pita chips, ritz crackers, would all work as well.
Making Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Dip
Blink, and you might miss it! It’s that easy to make this whipped cream cheese dip.
- Whip it, whip it good. Start with softened cream cheese. Remember, it’s much easier to mix when it’s not cold from the fridge. Add the blocks to a food processor or mixing bowl if you’re using a hand mixer. Add a splash of half and half to help loosen the block of cream cheese. Whip or pulse just long enough for the Boursin to combine and smooth out. Don’t run the mixer for too long; otherwise, it will become too thin.
- Spread it out. Grab a clear pie plate or your favorite bowl if you’d like to serve this on a platter. Pop the cream cheese in the base of the plate or bowl.
- Top it off. Depending on the consistency of the pepper jelly you’re using, you may want to zap it in the microwave for a few seconds so that it’s smooth. Spread or spoon the pepper jelly over the cream cheese mixture. SPrinkle with some fresh chives for a little color if you’re serving this right away. If you’re preparing this for later, coverwith a plastic wrap andpop it in the refrigerator.
- Serve it. I serve this around room temperature with my favorite homemade pita chips or multigrain crackers. Storage for leftovers is best in an airtight container.
FAQs about this recipe
A variety of different cheeses can be paired with pepper jelly. I particularly like something creamy, like Boursin or cream cheese. But cheddar cheese or even pepper jack work as well.
You can use leftover cranberry sauce, caramelized onion jam, or a variety of preserves, such as raspberry or fig, with these ingredients.
You could heat it up at 350ºF for 10-12 minutes if you want to serve a warm dip, but I honestly think the recipe is great as written.
Other soon-to-be favorite appetizers:
- Cheesy Baked Garlic Bread Dip
- Caramelized Onion Puff Pastry Bites
- Garlic Herb Baked Brie
- Jammy Hot Caramelized Onion Dip
- Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread
Easiest Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip
This is the EASIEST Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip recipe! Whip up softened Boursin cheese with a splash of half and half, and then layer it with a sweet and spicy pepper jelly for a delicious and quick appetizer! Perfect for parties, gatherings, and the holidays!
Ingredients
- 2 (5.3 ounce) block Boursin cheese, softened (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon half and half
- ½ (10 ounce) container pepper jelly (see notes for subs)
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives, optional
- 1 (10-ounce) container of wheat crackers, butter crackers, etc.
Instructions
- WHIP: Add the two softened blocks of Boursin to a food processor or mixing bowl. Add the half and half and pulse until the cream cheese is combined and whipped, about 20-30 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl to ensure the cream cheese is combined.
- SPREAD: Add the whipped Boursin to your favorite bowl or plate.
- ADD JELLY: Depending on the consistency of your jelly, you may need to zap it in the microwave for a quick 10-30 seconds to help loosen it up, I did. Then pop it right on top of the prepared Boursin. I like to use half the jar, but you can certainly add more pepper jelly if you prefer for this dip to be sweeter. Top with the chopped chives if desired.
- SERVE: with homemade pita chips or your favorite multigrain crackers!
Notes
- Cheese: you can use 2 blocks of garlic and herb or shallot and chives. I like to use one of each to give it the best flavor! Feel free to swap half of the Boursin for softened cream cheese as well, this will help make the dip a bit more economical!
- Pepper jelly substitutes: You can use cranberry pepper jelly, leftover cranberry sauce, or even caramelized onion jam on top of this whipped pepper jelly dip, if you’d like.
