My Mom’s 2-Ingredient Appetizer Is Still the First Thing to Disappear Every Thanksgiving (It Takes Less Than 5 Minutes to Make)

Published on November 19, 2025

For as long as I can remember, my mom has been setting out cream cheese and pepper jelly at parties, holiday gatherings, and Friday night dinners. She always served the dish with a sleeve of Ritz crackers and a sleeve of saltines. And it's always earned rave reviews. As a kid, I didn't fully appreciate the transcendent combination of sweet pepper jelly and tangy cream cheese. Now that I'm an adult, the dish has become one of those back pocket recipes I turn to any time I entertain. Here's why it's always the first dish to disappear at my family's Thanksgiving dinner.

Why I Love This Easy Appetizer

It literally doesn't get easier than assembling this app. To make it for yourself, simply open a package of slightly softened cream cheese and spread it into a low bowl or plate. Pour over your favorite pepper jelly (I like Stonewall Kitchen's red pepper jelly) and serve with crackers. That's it. I can have the whole thing done and on the table in just about 5 minutes. You can also serve the dip with crusty bread, your favorite fresh vegetables, or chips.

How to Dress It Up

There's not much to the dish, but I think its simplicity is what makes it so good. That being said, it's a great recipe to put your own spin on. Here are a few of my favorite ideas.

• Add herbs. Finely chopped rosemary or thyme gives the dish a subtle savory flavor. The cream cheese is also delicious with freshly cracked black pepper or red pepper flakes stirred in.
• Go for crunch. My husband's aunt makes a variation of this dish but she stirs toasted pecans and sliced green onions into her softened cream cheese before adding the pepper jelly. Walnuts or slivered almonds would be great here as well.
• Try a shape. If you want to be extra fancy, try spreading the softened cream cheese into a mold and chilling until firm. Pop it out and top with red pepper jelly before serving.
• Add fruit. The dish is delicious with dried cranberries or chopped dates stirred in. I've also had it with pear and apple slices—delicious.
• Get creative with your dippers. I still think Ritz crackers are the best for this dish, but my husband prefers Club crackers. I've also tried it with rippled potato chips, cucumber slices, and toasted bread. They were all great vehicles for getting as much of the dip as possible in each bite.
• Build a board. This easy appetizer is a great addition to a cheese plate or charcuterie board. I like to add it to the middle of my board and build around it with sliced meats, nuts, fresh fruits, olives, and more.