I whipped up a favorite concoction of mine this week, which got me thinking that now might be a good time to share it. This Hot Berry Dip is a pretty basic cream cheese dip with a sweet flavor, but chili powder & cayenne pepper give it an added heat sensation that keeps things interesting. I like it for so many things, whether it’s giving my meat a little extra flavor, as a sweet alternative to sour cream with taquitos or quesadillas, or simply paired with crackers or chips.

To make:

Put 16 oz cream cheese in a bowl

Add 8-10 oz of a berry jam/preserves/jelly of your choice (I used a 9.5 oz jar of Fischer & Wieser’s Triple Berry Jam)

Mix these with a hand mixer on low, or if the cream cheese is soft enough, a spoon might be enough. You want the jam blended thoroughly throughout without reaching a point where the dip starts to get soupy.

Sprinkle in 1/2 tablespoon chili powder

Add cayenne pepper to taste & mix again. (I recommend testing it a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired level of heat—my preference is 1/2 tablespoon, but I’ve gone up to a full tablespoon),

Voila! You’ve got a dip that will pair well with a whole range of appetizers, depending on your cravings.