It’s a mouthful, yet a delicious one!
If you are familiar with the hot pepper jelly and cream cheese appetizer that’s really popular in the South, this is my rendition of a Thanksgiving version. I’m the type of person who thinks cream cheese can get stuffed into any breakfast item, glazed over a decadent dessert, or mixed into any delicious dip. AND, of course, cheesecake is a no brainer, I mean COME ON. I’m even more so the type to say more is more when it comes to the cream cheese to bagel ratio. A New York style bagel is most definitely the only way to go. This appetizer is fool proof! Anyone can create it and it will without a doubt be a hit for hosting, or bringing to your friends and families homes.
If you’re a cream cheese and pumpkin pie lover, this recipe is the one for you!
Speaking of a recipe, there really isn’t one if you want to get technical. That is how super simple it is to concoct! Let me be a doll though, and walk you through the steps!
- Place an 8oz. block of cream cheese on a serving platter.
- Spread a thick layer of pumpkin butter right over the cream cheese. I purchased mine from my local farmers market, but I’m sure you can find some at a supermarket you frequent for weekly grocery trips.
- In a small soup pot melt, two tablespoons of salted butter.
- Once the butter is bubbling, drop in two tablespoons of pumpkin butter. We’re using the same pumpkin butter that we slathered right on top of our block of cream cheese!
- Add some sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Trust me Diamonds, just go with it!
- A handful of dried cranberries.
- An entire bag of 2.25oz chopped pecans. Save some for garnish! (If you’re allergic, just skip over this step completely! It will still be just as decadent!)
- Two tablespoons of brown sugar.
- One tablespoon of honey
- A handful of chopped parsley.
- A few good dashes of cinnamon.
- Once everything is warmed and combined you can cut the heat!
- Let the mixture cool a few minutes before topping it over the cream cheese and pumpkin butter.
Garnish with the rest of the pecans that you saved for the top, sprinkle a few more dried cranberries, chopped parsley, and a dash of cinnamon.
Cinnamon sticks because I’m a fancy gal!
What to serve the spread on?
- Club crackers, considering that traditionally, those are what the southern appetizer is always served with. It is the best plain cracker for a dip or in this case, spread! (In my opinion.)
- Pumpkin pecan pie for me was absolutely screaming to be paired with a pecan sandies. These cookies are so special and nostalgic to me. My nanny without fail always had them in her house. I ate at least one every visit. It was a necessity.
My boyfriend’s family works on Thanksgiving day. Therefore, we had our big turkey dinner on Monday night, including this amazing appetizer. I wanted to bring something simple, yet succulent. I also wanted to choose something that I was sure no-one ever indulged in before. This was what I decided on and it was perfect. Everyone loved it! They even asked me to make it again for their Christmas Eve party. Of course, I said yes. However, I will make holiday version of it which I am very excited to create, I will be sure to show you Diamonds as well!
Deepfrieddiamonds 
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