Volcanic Flow Spicy Cracker Appetizer (Printer-friendly)

Crisp black crackers paired with spicy red jelly offer a bold, shareable party snack.

# What You Need:

→ Crackers

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons activated charcoal powder (food grade)
03 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1/3 cup water

→ Spicy Red-Hot Jelly

07 - 1 cup red pepper jelly
08 - 1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce, to taste
09 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
10 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, activated charcoal powder, sea salt, and ground black pepper.
03 - Add olive oil and water to the dry mixture, stirring until a dough forms.
04 - Roll dough thinly between two sheets of parchment paper. Cut into irregular lava rock shapes using a knife or cookie cutter.
05 - Arrange crackers on the lined baking tray. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until crisp and dry. Allow to cool completely.
06 - In a small bowl, combine red pepper jelly, hot sauce, chili flakes, and fresh lime juice. Warm gently if needed to achieve a pourable consistency.
07 - Arrange black crackers in a ring on a serving plate, leaving space in the center for the jelly.
08 - Spoon the spicy jelly into the center crater formed by the crackers. Serve immediately for dipping.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter that actually tastes incredible, not just pretty.
  • The contrast between crispy, salty crackers and the sweet-spicy jelly is genuinely addictive.
  • You can make it completely ahead of time and assemble it moments before guests arrive.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the crackers completely before serving—they continue to crisp up as they cool, and serving them warm can make them disappointingly soft.
  • The charcoal powder should be food-grade only; cosmetic-grade charcoal is not safe to eat, so double-check your source.
  • Taste your jelly mixture before serving because hot sauce brands vary wildly in heat and salt levels.
03 -
  • For extra heat, mince fresh chili directly into the jelly just before serving so the flavor stays bright and fresh.
  • If you can't find food-grade activated charcoal or don't want to use it, quality black sesame seeds create a similar dark visual effect with added nutty flavor.
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