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Jalapeño Cheese Spread Recipe

Sharing a recipe for a smoky and spicy Jalapeño Cheese Spread, an easy appetizer recipe.

I was born in Charleston, SC and have lived half of my life in the Southeast United States, so I can honestly call myself a ‘Southerner’.

That being said, despite my southern roots, I am not a fan of Pimento Cheese (GASP!!) Now I love cheese and I love cream cheese, but pimentos…eh, they leave me flat. So, instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, I make my ‘pimento’ cheese without pimentos!

Jalapeno Cheese Spread in a jar.

What readers are saying…

“Wow, I made your Jalapeno Cheese Spread for our book club meeting yesterday and everyone loved it. I will be sharing your recipe with them all. The great news is that I made a dent on my jalapeno harvest, 2 out of 1573 left to go!! Great recipe!

Lori

Where is it written that you have to have pimento in your Pimento Cheese Spread? Oh… never mind.

Well…so I bend the rules a bit and made a pimento-less Pimento Cheese Spread. In this case, jalapeños are a great stand-in and bring a little heat to the game.

All that being said, feel free to add pimentos to yours! A 4-ounce jar of diced pimentos would be just the right amount.

Jalapeno Cheese Spread in a jar.

And since I was already breaking the rules by not inviting pimentos to the party anyway, I decided to go completely off-course and use smokey Gouda and Gruyere cheese instead of the traditional cheddar cheese for my Jalapeño Cheese Spread. And, I must say, it is a nice change!

A little spicy and a little smoky, this Jalapeño Cheese Spread is an easy-to-make appetizer and a great spread on crackers or little rye toasts.

In case your grocery store doesn’t carry those little rye toasts, buy the thinly sliced loaf of Rye Bread, slice off the edges to make a nice rectangle, and then toast them for the perfect rye toast for your Jalapeño Cheese Spread.

overhead of jalapeno cheese spread

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze the jalapeño cheese spread?

Freezing is not recommended as it may affect the texture and consistency of the cheese spread.

What are some variations of this recipe?

There are so many variation options for this recipe. Use your favorite cheese or a blend of cheese. Add ingredients like bacon bits, chives, or even a dash of hot sauce for extra flavor.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, this spread actually tastes better when made a day ahead as it allows the flavors to meld together more fully.

jar of jalapeno cheese spread.

Jalapeño Cheese Spread

Lynn
A smoky and spicy cheese spread featuring Gruyere, Smoked Gouda, and Jalapeño peppers.
4.50 from 28 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Appetizer Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 2 cups
Calories 1465 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 8 ounces smoked Gouda cheese shredded
  • 8 ounces Gruyere cheese shredded
  • 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup of mayonnaise more if needed
  • 2 finely diced Jalapeño peppers’
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 – 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/3 – 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients and mix until combined
  • Store in the refrigerator
  • Serve with crackers or toasted rye bread

Notes

Let soften slightly at room temperature before serving

Nutrition

Calories: 1465kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 69gFat: 128gSaturated Fat: 68gPolyunsaturated Fat: 17gMonounsaturated Fat: 35gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 380mgSodium: 2854mgPotassium: 434mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 3708IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 2055mgIron: 1mg
Keyword appetizer, Brazilian cheese puff, jalapeno, jalapenos, spread
Well, what did you think?Please rate this recipe here! It helps other readers and also helps to support our site.

More Appetizer Recipes

If you are looking for more easy-to-make appetizers, you might like these Roasted Olives with Feta. And for more easy cheese appetizers, Fromage Fort and Rosemary & Goat Cheese with Ginger Preserves are always popular with cheese lovers.

To refer back to this Jalapeño Cheese Spread recipe in the future, bookmark this page or pin the following image. And after you’ve made it and agree that it is DELICIOUS, pop back in and leave a comment on the post or the pin!

Smoky Jalapeno Cheese Spread
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Signature of Lynn

Thanks for making my day by SHARING!!

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12 Comments

  1. Not sure what pimento was made of. Knew about them enough to know I agree with Lynn! I learned they are small red peppers. I’ve only seen them in stores as canned soft foods. But I’m from the northeast.

    1. Hi Linda,

      Hmmm…I didn’t realize that they were such a regional food. Yeah, I can take them or leave them, they just don’t do too much for me. So I was happy to realize that this cheese spread is perfectly delicious with them.

      Many hugs, Lynn

    1. Hi Michelle,

      You should be able to pin all the images, but the specific pin image is underneath the recipe. Also, if you have the pin extension, there should be a bunch of pins that show up.

      Have a great day!

      Hugs,

      Lynn

  2. Wow, I made your Jalapeno Cheese Spread for our book club meeting yesterday and everyone loved it. I will be sharing your recipe with them all. The great news is that I made a dent on my jalapeno harvest, 2 out of 1573 left to go!! Great recipe!

    1. Hi Lori,

      Oh yay! I do love that cheese spread…and at least you made a dent in your jalapeno haul! 😂 Guess you could get busy and make some for the rest of your state too!

      Thanks for sharing your kind comment and review! Makes my heart sing.

      Hugs, Lynn

  3. I really wanted to make this, but did not have the Gouda or Gruyere cheese. I did have a package of the Kroger brand shredded Italian blend cheese (Mozzarella, Smoke Provolone, Romano, Parmesan, Fontina and Asiago cheese). So I used that. I also put the cheese, cream cheese and mayo and spices in a mini chopper/ food processor to make it creamy. We like ours creamy. Then stirred in the Jalapenos. Otherwise followed the recipe just as it was, only I halved the recipe. Served it with a sliced French baguette that I cut into slices and toasted in my toaster oven. Got to say it was sooooo delicious!

    1. Hi Stella,

      I love that you put your own spin on the recipe! I am so glad your version turned out so yummy!Thanks for sharing your variation.

      Lynn

  4. Hi Lynn,
    I only had to make a variation of your recipe because I didn’t have the different cheeses it called for on hand. I got lucky it turned out good.
    I really want to try your recipe as written. I’m sure it will be even better!

    1. Thanks Stella, I’m glad to add to the recipe that others have tried different cheeses with great results too! Helps other readers who may be in the same situation. I really appreciate you sharing that!

      Have a great day,

      Lynn

4.50 from 28 votes (28 ratings without comment)

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