Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly Tart Recipe

When candy, spicy pepper jelly got here in the marketplace in Seventies Texas, it tore by means of the American South. Many dishes have been born of it, amongst them cream cheese and pepper jelly dip, a storied occasion appetizer that my in-laws in Virginia first launched me to in 2018. The dip had the best stability of candy, savory, and creamy. May it get any simpler than dumping a jar of pepper jelly on a block of Philadelphia’s best? Most likely not. One would possibly suppose it is unimaginable to enhance upon, however one is perhaps forgetting about puff pastry. 

Frozen puff pastry is the house prepare dinner’s finest buddy: It is a handy possibility that saves you from hours of constructing it from scratch. Not all frozen puff pastry is created equal, although. It was a impolite awakening for me some years in the past after I realized that the majority puff pastry manufacturers do not really comprise butter. In a recipe as easy as this—the place the flavour of each single component issues—you need each ingredient to be the absolute best model of itself. That is why I extremely advocate reaching for puff pastry made with precise butter, which can be richer and extra flavorful than one made with vegetable shortening and/or palm oil.

I examined two variations of this tart throughout improvement. In a single, I baked a sheet of puff pastry till achieved, then unfold it with cream cheese and pepper jelly whereas it was nonetheless heat. I even returned it to the oven simply lengthy sufficient for the 2 components to soften barely and meld collectively. It was tasty, however that temporary spin within the oven wasn’t sufficient to essentially convey the cream cheese and pepper jelly collectively. They nonetheless tasted like their usual selves, solely hotter. 

The second model was much more profitable: spreading the cream cheese and pepper jelly onto a uncooked sheet of puff pastry earlier than baking. The result’s a extra subtle tart, each visually and texturally. The cream cheese companies up barely within the oven, whereas the pepper jelly thickens and intensifies in taste. Scoring the sides creates a border that rises above the middle, which I selected to season with salt and pepper for extra taste.

Remember to briefly freeze the tart earlier than baking: If the pastry is just too heat, the butter will soften onto the baking sheet as an alternative of staying trapped within the dough. Conserving the pastry as chilly as potential ensures the butter stays strong till it hits the oven, the place it will soften and produce steam, lifting the layers for spectacular top. 

Use Your Favourite Pepper Jelly

Pepper jelly is available in all kinds of flavors, colours, and textures, and all of them are acceptable right here. Some are made with bell peppers and have a vegetal be aware, however no warmth. Then there’s jalapeño or habanero pepper jelly, which packs a punch for those who’re searching for a spicier tart. Others have a extra savory profile, incorporating garlic or herbs, whereas others are sweeter, mixing the peppers with fruits like cherries or strawberries. After all, you’ll be able to at all times make your individual for true customization.