Whip up this easy appetizer that requires just two ingredients. It comes together in less than 5 minutes, ideal for the busy holiday season and entertaining.
Merry Thursday!
A party bite that’s also crowd-pleaser brings me joy, so I’m spreading the joy
and sharing a last-minute appetizer, ideal for holiday entertaining!
This cream cheese and pepper jelly is a tasty combo that you may have had before.
If you haven’t tried it let me introduce you!
To make this you’ll need an 8 oz. block of cream cheese and a jar of red pepper jelly.
Like a lot of things these days cream cheese can be harder to find due to supply chain issues.
You can substitute Neufchâtel for cream cheese, which has a lower fat content but is still tangy and creamy
or try this with goat cheese which is equally good.
Public Service Announcement:
Do yourself a favor and pick up a couple of jars of red pepper jelly from the grocery or specialty food store!
I used a freezer jar from a batch of pepper jelly I made this summer, recipe to come.
If you’re not familiar with pepper jelly it has a bit of sweet heat that’s great paired with cheese.
We like pepper jelly with Thumbprint Cheese Wafers with Pecans and on Pimento Cheese Drop Biscuits.
It’s good mixed with maple syrup for Mini Chicken and Waffles Party Bites
and in Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette on Watermelon, Pecan, and Gorgonzola Salad.
It also tasty combined with Buffalo sauce for wings or party meatballs on game day.
Start by cutting block of cream cheese diagonally in half; arrange on serving platter
to form a triangle / tree shape.
Alternatively just place your block of cream cheese without cutting, to make this in 2 minutes. :)
Spoon your pepper jelly over the cream cheese and you’re good to go, just add crackers!
Optional: I added a piece of celery for the tree trunk and cut
a star shape out of some red pepper for the top of the tree.
These cute Christmas Tree Crackers are by Valley Lahvosh.
My sister found them for me at Sprouts Farmers Market in Georgia.
They’re available on the Valley Lahvosh website in case packs.
Click on the ‘where to buy’ tab at the bottom for
a list of stores where you might find them.
‘Spread the Joy’ spreader is from Willliams-Sonoma several years ago
but there are some by Towle available on Amazon, HERE.
Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly Christmas Tree Spread
Ingredients
- 8 oz. brick of cream cheese or Neufchatel
- 10.5 oz jar red pepper jelly
Instructions
- Cut block of cream cheese diagonally in half; arrange halves on serving platter to form triangle and make tree shape.
- Spoon 3/4 - 1 full jar of pepper jelly over cream cheese. Serve with crackers.
- Optional: Cut star out of a yellow or red pepper with star-shaped cookie cutter; place at top of tree. Place a piece of celery at the base of the tree for trunk.
If you’re looking for other easy appetizers, try an Antipasto Skewer Christmas Wreath!
Easy to put together in 20 minutes with a trip to olive / antipasto bar at your grocery store.
Or a Spinach Tortellini Appetizer Wreath
A 10-minute appetizer using tortellini from the refrigerator section of the grocery store.
Serve with marinara for dipping.
Find 30+ Season’s Eatings Recipes for Holiday Entertaining with recipes for
appetizers, cookies, cocktails, food gifts and more, HERE.
Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Bite! ♥
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Between Naps on the Porch
Oh, my…I already had all of this “out” last nite…today’s lunch accompaniment!! We luv it…must make a star…franki
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. Thank you for so much enjoyable reading, amazing pictures and great ideas throughout the year! Peace!
Clever cutting trick for the tree shape! Merry Christmas Mary-enjoy:@)
Looks darling, love the crackers! In CA there is a cream cheese shortage, you are ahead on this one!
Very cute Mary, I love the celery tree trunk! Merry Merry!
Jenna
What a wonderful recipe, Mary!! A quick appetizer for company, family, or myself! You are so creative. Thank you for sharing with all of us
Thank you Mary for this wonderful recipe. I have all the ingredients in my fridge. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Mary, I had this app Monday night when I had dinner guests. It is one of my faves. I was glad I had cream cheese in my refrigerator because it is very hard to find here. Merry Christmas Eve, Eve!
This is one of the items I keep on hand during the holidays in the event someone drops by unannounced with a gift or to say hello. It’s a quick pull-together appetizer that everyone enjoys. Love the idea of forming it in the shape of a Christmas tree!
So easy and so cute. Thanks for sharing your festive app. Merry Christmas.
Where can I purchase the star garland???
Happy holidays
Hi Ethel, The stars are mini LED lights, you can find some HERE. Happy Holidays to you!
I like your idea of how to cut the tree from your block of cream cheese. I’ve been giving jars of my red pepper or my jalapeño jelly as gifts, along with crackers and cream cheese. Merry Christmas to you! 🎄❤️🎄
So many thanks, I will serve this Christmas Day….. May you and your family have a wonderful Holliday. Many blessings to your sweet pups too.
Just stopping by to wish you a very merry Christmas, have loved everything you
have shared since day one, happiest of days to you and your family.
Thank you! Wishing you, Scott, the girls and your kitties the Merriest! ♥
It sounds delish, and I truly love the presentation. Merry Christmas, Mary!
Holy moly, we had this at my sister-in-law’s for Christmas Eve lunch and it was devoured! Guys and gals both loved it. I love how you cut the cheese (lol). Merry Christmas, Mary.
Mary, this looks simply delicious. Love your presentation too. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas!
Blessings, Cindie
Mary, Hope you had a Very Merry Christmas. I had a jar of green pepper jelly which I found recently when getting my fig preserves out to give as Christmas gifts. The green pepper jelly was left from last year. Fortunately I had cream cheese in the fridge so I copied your idea and make a tree. My trunk was a top from a green onion and I made a star from pomegranate arils. Thank you so much for this great last minute idea. Happy New Year to you, your husband and your little pups.
Merry Christmas Virginia! Love the idea of the Pom arils for the star in contrast to the green pepper jelly! Wishing you and your hubby a Happy New Year. ❤️🎄
I have had this many times and it iS delicious. I like how you cut the tree shape! Hope you had a WONDERFUL Christmas, mary.
I grew an abundance of peppers this year and therefore made an abundance of pepper jelly. I made up all kinds of pepper jelly gift baskets for friends and family. I wish I had read your post on how to make the cream cheese tree before I served my pepper jelly appetizer at Christmas. How simple, clever and festive! Not to worry – I pinned your post for next year. And I’ve been thinking about how I can shape the cream cheese for New Years. Thanks again Mary!