Cheesy Thumbprint Appetizers with Hot Pepper Jelly Recipe
These Cheesy Thumbprint Appetizers are delightful bite-sized treats featuring cheese-filled dough balls with a luscious center of hot pepper jelly. Perfect for parties or casual snacking, they offer a perfect balance of savory cheese and sweet-spicy jelly baked to golden perfection.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 33 minutes
- Yield: About 24 appetizers 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 large egg
Filling
- Hot pepper jelly, about 1/2 cup
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and black pepper. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the shredded cheddar and Parmesan cheese. In a separate bowl, beat the egg with the milk and then add to the dry ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms but do not overwork.
- Form dough balls: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them spaced apart on the sheet. Use your thumb or the back of a small spoon to make an indentation in the center of each ball.
- Fill and bake: Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of hot pepper jelly into each indentation. Bake the appetizers in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the jelly is bubbly.
- Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and let the appetizers cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring to a serving platter. Serve warm or at room temperature for best flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute the hot pepper jelly with any other sweet or savory jam to change the flavor profile.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before shaping can help prevent spreading during baking.
- Make sure to space the dough balls well on the baking sheet as they will expand during baking.
- These appetizers can be made a few hours in advance and reheated briefly before serving.
- For a vegetarian diet, ensure the cheese used is free of animal rennet.
Keywords: cheesy appetizers, thumbprint appetizers, hot pepper jelly, cheese balls, party snacks, baked appetizers
