Bacon Pepper Jelly Cheese Cups are a highly addictive appetizer that will disappear at your next party! Flaky pastry cups are baked with an irresistible combination of cream cheese, pepper jelly, and crispy bacon. The filling is rich, creamy and the perfect mix of sweet and salty flavors!
Bacon Pepper Jelly Cheese Cups Recipe
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Growing up we loved the classic pepper jelly cheese dip! A brick of cream cheese topped with pepper jelly. It was the simplest two ingredient appetizer. Since then we have levelled up the classic dip with our Bacon Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip and now we've taken things up another notch with our pepper jelly cheese cups!
Made in a muffin tin with only 4 ingredients these are perfect for holiday entertaining, game days, and family get togethers. But be warned... they are highly addictive! We can't be blamed if these disappear faster than you can get a second batch in the oven.
What are Pepper Jelly Cheese Cups
Pepper jelly cheese cups are an easy 4 ingredient appetizer made in a muffin tin. Store bought pastry is cut into squares and shaped into a mini muffin tin to create pastry cups. They are filled with cream cheese, pepper jelly, and cooked bacon. Baked until golden brown the pastry is flaky and the filling is oh so rich and creamy!
More Fun Appetizers
Ingredients
- Pepper Jelly - this sweet spread with a bit of spice has such a unique flavor that pairs perfect with bacon and cream cheese. It creates the ultimate sweet and salty combination!
- Cream Cheese - this appetizer is a twist on the classic pepper jelly cheese dip which features a brick of cream cheese covered in pepper jelly. The cream cheese is cut into cubes and baked into pastry cups. The cheese becomes oh so creamy when baked!
- Crescent Rolls or Puff Pastry - this recipe can be made with either type of pastry. We like using crescent rolls because they are stored in the fridge so there is no thawing time. Puff pastry works great just ensure you thaw it fully according to package directions for best results.
- Bacon - who doesn't love bacon? We are huge fans of sweet and salty appetizers so the bacon in these appetizer cups is the perfect match for the sweet pepper jelly!
How to Make Bacon Pepper Jelly Cheese Cups
Full Printable Recipe at Bottom of page
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 24 cup mini muffin tin, or two 12 cup mini muffin tins with cooking spray.
- Cook 6 slices of bacon. Crumble into small bite sized pieces.
- Unroll the Pillsbury Crescent roll sheet onto a lightly floured surface. Firmly pinch and press the cuts together to seal completely. Cut dough into 24 equal squares (6 by 4 grid cuts).
- Place 1 dough square into each mini muffin tin cup and gently press down to form the cups.
- Evenly cut the half brick of cream cheese into 24 squares.
- Add a piece of cream cheese into each muffin and top with small spoonful of pepper jelly. Evenly distribute the cooked bacon into each cup.
- Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 12-15 minutes, until the crescent dough is golden brown.
Note: ensure to bake on the middle rack of your oven for the dough to evenly bake. If baked too high the tops may burn, if baked too low the bottoms may burn. - Remove from the oven and place the muffin tin a cooling rack.
- Optional: garnish with thinly sliced green onions.
- Serve warm or at room temperature and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Cups
- Pastry - this recipe can be made using Pillsbury crescent rolls or puff pastry. The benefit of using crescent rolls is that they are not frozen so you don't need to spend any time waiting for them to thaw. The crescent rolls also add a subtle sweetness to the bites which pairs well with the cream cheese and the pepper jelly.
- Muffin Tin - if you do not have a mini muffin tin (24 count), you can use a regular sized muffin tin (12 count). Instead of cutting the crescent roll sheet into 24 pieces (6 x 4 grid cuts), you will only need 12 pieces (4 x 3 grid cuts). You can also cut the cream cheese into 12 pieces instead of 24.
- Flavor Variations - pepper jelly is more sweet than spicy. It has only a hint of spice. If you are worried about these being overly spicy you can prepare half of the muffin tin with pepper jelly and in the other half you can use fig jam, apricot jam/preserves, or peach jam/preserves. All three of these jams pair perfect with the salty bacon and cream cheese!
FAQ
To reheat leftovers, place them on a baking sheet and heat them in the oven at 350°F for 8 - 10 minutes or until heated through, or Air Fry at 350°F for 4 - 6 minutes.
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Leftovers can be frozen in an air tight container for up to 3 months. To reheat, bake or air fry the cups from frozen covered in foil until the centers are warmed through, about 10 - 12 minutes at 350°F
To cut down on prep time the day of serving, you can fully prepare the recipe and cover the muffin tin in plastic wrap and store in the fridge up to 1 day in advance. Just before serving preheat your oven and bake.
Swap the bacon for a plant based alternative or omit the bacon.
Use gluten free store bought or homemade puff pastry.
Use a dairy free creamy cheese and dairy free pastry.
More Muffin Tin Recipes
Enjoy!
- Sab
Bacon Pepper Jelly Cheese Cups
Ingredients
- 1 tube Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (or 1 tube of Crescent Sheets, or 1 sheet of puff pastry rolled into a rectangle)
- ½ brick cream cheese (4 ounces, 125 grams)
- ½ cup pepper jelly
- 6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
Garnish (Optional)
- 1 green onion (thinly sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 24 cup mini muffin tin, or two 12 cup mini muffin tins with cooking spray.
- Cook 6 slices bacon. Crumble into small bite sized pieces.
- Unroll the 1 tube Pillsbury Crescent Rolls sheet onto a lightly floured surface. Firmly pinch and press the cuts together to seal completely. Cut dough into 24 equal squares (6 by 4 grid cuts).
- Place 1 dough square into each mini muffin tin cup and gently press down to form the cups.
- Evenly cut the ½ brick cream cheese into 24 squares.
- Add a piece of cream cheese into each muffin and top with small spoonful of the ½ cup pepper jelly. Evenly distribute the cooked bacon into each cup.
- Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 12-15 minutes, until the crescent dough is golden brown. Note: ensure to bake on the middle rack of your oven for the dough to evenly bake. If baked too high the tops may burn, if baked too low the bottoms may burn.
- Remove from the oven and place the muffin tin a cooling rack.
- Optional: garnish with thinly sliced 1 green onion.
- Serve warm or at room temperature and enjoy!
Nutrition
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