Jezebel Sauce is a funny name for an extraordinarily versatile and delicious southern condiment. Spread it over cream cheese and serve it with crackers for an incredible appetizer. This sweet and spicy sauce also makes an excellent glaze for ham, pork, and chicken.
Like the biblical Jezebel, this easy Southern sauce will seduce you with its taste and simplicity and will tempt you to come back for more!
Jezebel Sauce also makes the perfect homemade Christmas gift for the foodies in your life. Just spoon it into a cute jar and add a ribbon and you have a great hostess gift! If you want to get fancy, add it to a basket along with a block of cream cheese, some crackers, a cheese spreader knife, and maybe a beautiful Christmas dish towel, and you have a wonderful gift basket.
Jezebel sauce history:
The history of this famous sauce is a little murky, but recipes first started showing up in cookbooks along the Gulf Coast in the 1950s. And, ever since, it has been a popular condiment in the South.
A note about the horseradish:
I’m not sure where you stand on the subject of horseradish, but I’ve always avoided it. But somehow, the combination of flavors in this tasty sauce works together to produce something magical, and I hope you will try it!
Ingredients:
Classic ingredients include apple jelly, pineapple preserves, dry mustard, prepared horseradish, and cracked black pepper. I’ve also included some other flavor variations you might want to try in the notes section.
How to make it:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
Whisk until combined.
Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
Serve over cream cheese!
More holiday appetizer recipes:
- The Ultimate Blue Cheese Spread with Pecans
- The Ultimate Guide to Relish Trays
- Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls
- 3-Ingredient Easy Cranberry Brie Bites
- Hot and Cheesy Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip
- Easy Creamy Crab Mornay Dip
- Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
- Jezebel Sauce Recipe
If you need more holiday appetizer recipes, check out my roundup post,37 Fun and Festive Holiday Party Appetizers, or all of my appetizer recipes here.
Sharon’s Expert Tips:
- To serve, spoon the sauce over a block of cream cheese and serve with crackers
- For the best flavor, let the sauce sit in the refrigerator overnight to allow time for the flavors to come together.
- This sauce will keep covered in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- Flavor variations you might want to try include replacing the pineapple preserves with apricot preserves or replacing the dry mustard with creole or whole grain mustard.
- Jezebel sauce makes a wonderful glaze for ham, pork tenderloin, or roasted chicken. Brush on during the last ten minutes of cooking and let the oven do its magic.
- You can reduce the heat in this dish by reducing the amount of horseradish you add. However, even though it seems like a lot, the amount of horseradish called for in this recipe works perfectly. I would encourage you to try it just as it’s written.
★ If you make Jezebel Sauce, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!
Thanks so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!
📋 Recipe:
Classic Jezebel Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 18 oz jar apple jelly
- 18 oz jar pineapple preserves
- 5.25 jar prepared horseradish
- ¼ cup dry mustard
- 2 teaspoon black pepper coarse ground
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until combined.
- Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
Notes
For the best flavor, let the sauce sit in the refrigerator overnight to allow time for the flavors to come together. This sauce will keep covered in your refrigerator for up to two weeks. Flavor variations you might want to try include replacing the pineapple preserves with apricot preserves or replacing the dry mustard with creole or whole grain mustard. Jezebel sauce makes a wonderful glaze for ham, pork tenderloin, or roasted chicken. Brush on during the last ten minutes of cooking and let the oven do its magic. You can reduce the heat in this dish by reducing the amount of horseradish you add. However, even though it seems like a lot, the amount of horseradish called for in this recipe works perfectly. I would encourage you to try it just as it's written. Nutritional information is for one cup of sauce.
What can replace the apple jelly? I’ve been to a few stores and can’t find it.
Thanks.
Hi Elaine, I’ve only ever used apple jelly, but you could try equal parts of grape jelly and apple juice; however, it might turn the sauce purple. You could also try orange marmalade, pear jelly, or apricot jelly. I hope this helps!
Sharon
My Mother used to make this and after many years I am going to make it to go with the Christmas ham. It’s delicious.
Definitely a keeper!! The flavor is amazing! And, different from the usual pepper jelly on cream cheese!
Thanks!!
5.25 oz of horseradish?
Yes, I know it seems like a lot, but it works with this sauce!
Delicious! Wonderful with cream cheese/crackers, and also pork roast, chops, ham or chicken. I also tried it to glaze chicken wings for a change from traditional barbecue or buffalo sauces….
I haven’t had any complaints when served!
Love this sauce!