This goat cheese dip is a delicious flavor explosion in your mouth with each bite. Between the creamy goat cheese and cream cheese, combined with the pepper jelly and a few other ingredients it’s seriously the best (unexpected) goat cheese appetizer. The best part? It’s ready in under 30 minutes… probably more like 15.
What is Pepper Jelly?
Pepper jelly seems to be making a rise in popularity. At least in mainstream foodie trends and not just the super trendy crowd.
A few years back my husband and I traveled to St. Lucia in the Caribbean. For the most part we participated in resort activities and outings, but kept hearing about “Mango’s Tours”.
Usually not risk takers, especially in foreign countries, we decided to break out of our norm and take Mango up on his cash-only offer. It was one of the best vacation decisions we ever made.
In the middle of the tour we landed at Mango’s home for lunch prepared by his wife, one of the most memorable meals ever! I received a tour of her kitchen and was able to ask some questions.
One of her staple ingredients was pepper jelly. Sold in the US for decades, it is a newer trend in swanky restaurants, fine food magazines and starting to mainstream.
Prepared from a Caribbean pepper, the scotch bonnet, this is a mouth watering, tangy, savory-sweet jelly. Most commonly it is used to glaze meats, fish and vegetables, as a spread for sandwiches, to toss chicken wings, in stir fry or for a tasty goat cheese dip appetizer!
Of course you can grab a jar at the grocery store, but also try your hand at making homemade pepper jelly.
Goat Cheese
Goat cheese too has always been available, but gained momentum about a decade ago. Do you ever wonder what other foods exist out there that you don’t even know about and are totally missing out on?
Any how, goat cheese refers to any cheese made from goat’s milk. It can be hard or soft, however most of the time when someone refers to goat cheese they mean soft. I find it to be a little more zingy than cow’s milk cheese.
If you’re wondering if goat cheese is dairy, then the answer is yes. It comes from an animal just like you get milk from a cow, therefore it’s technically considered a dairy product.
Our dip isn’t merely just a baked cheese dip. It also boasts cream cheese, garlic, honey and a little salt to accentuate all the flavors.
Baking Goat Cheese
The biggest issue people have when baking goat cheese and other soft cheeses is separation. When cold or even room temperature, milks are a solid, but when heated, they melt.
On an even nerder note, calcium atoms holds the casein molecules together, but when heated they all fall apart and separate.
So you’ll want to heat it, but not too hot and not too long. In fact, this dip is fantastic served room temperature too.
What To Serve With Goat Cheese Dip
Garlicky crostini or crackers are my first pick. The creaminess of the dip and the crunch of the bread complements each other.
But if you want to go a low carb route, or just make a colorful serving platter, try baby carrots, radish slices, celery sticks or baby sweet peppers.
Even more easy appetizer recipes!
- Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Dip
- Hot Caprese Dip
- Mexican Cream Cheese Shrimp Dip
- Olive Oil Bread Dip
- Goat Cheese Log
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Best Hush Puppy Recipe
Air Fryer Burrata
Pepper Jelly Goat Cheese Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ounces creamy goat cheese room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 4 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- 6 ounces pepper jelly
- 1/4 cup scallions chopped, whites and greens, divided
- Cucumber slices or crostini for serving
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachments, blend goat cheese, cream cheese, honey, fine sea salt and garlic until smooth and creamy.
- Spread evenly in a baking dish or 8-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Top with pepper jelly.
- Bake goat cheese dip for 5 minutes, remove and top with scallions. The key here is to warm it up, but not too much as goat cheese can separate and become grainy if it is heated too much.
- Remove from the oven and serve with crostini and cucumber slices.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.
Nutrition
Love this recipe! I have served it to people who say “they don’t like goat cheese” and they love it! It’s easy to make and delicious.
Thank you for stopping by to let us know!! We love it too!
At first I was skeptical then the plate was finished! The contrast between the goat cheese and the pepper jelly is mouthwatering. Easily my new potluck and party entree. Thanks for sharing!