Southern Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip: Creamy, Cheesy Perfection

Pepper jelly became quite popular in the South back in the 1980s, especially during the holidays. With 4 simple ingredients of vinegar, pectin, sugar and of course, peppers for flavoring. Although the original recipe started with just jalapeño, a variety of fruit flavored pepper jellies followed. With peach, strawberry and pineapple being some of the most popular today. If you have never tried pepper jelly, you might think it's extremely spicy but quite the opposite. It's a sweet and spicy treat that is perfect on its own or used in various recipes, like this pepper jelly cheese dip. It's the perfect combination of creamy, cheesy goodness perfect for any occasion.

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Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces of sharp cheddar, shredded
• ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 8 ounces of pepper jelly

Photo bytipsyhousewife.com

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, sharp cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt, mix until combined.
• Evenly spread the mixture into a baking dish or pie pan.
• Bake for about 15 minutes until bubbly and hot.
• Heat up the pepper jelly in the microwave for 2 30-second intervals until melted.
• Remove cheese mixture from oven and pour the pepper jelly over the top and spread evenly.
• Serve with crackers and tortilla chips and enjoy!