Volcanic Flow Fiery Appetizer (Printable)

Crisp black crackers form a ring around spicy red pepper jelly, creating a fiery fusion appetizer sensation.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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, adjusted to taste
09 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
10 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

# Steps:

01 - Set the oven to 375°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine flour, activated charcoal powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Add olive oil and water, stirring until a dough forms.
03 - Roll out the dough thinly between two sheets of parchment paper and cut into irregular lava rock shapes using a knife or cookie cutter.
04 - Arrange the pieces on the prepared tray and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until crisp and dry. Allow to cool completely.
05 - In a small bowl, mix red pepper jelly, hot sauce, chili flakes, and fresh lime juice. Warm gently if necessary to achieve a pourable consistency.
06 - Arrange crackers in a ring on a serving plate, leaving the center clear. Spoon the spicy jelly into the middle to create a fiery crater effect.
07 - Serve immediately, using crackers to dip into the warm, spicy jelly.

# Tips from the Pros:

01 -
  • It looks dramatically impressive but requires zero special skills or fancy equipment.
  • Your guests will spend more time talking about the presentation than the actual dish, which is always a win.
  • The warm-spicy jelly and crispy crackers hit that sweet spot between indulgent and light.
02 -
  • The crackers will continue to crisp and harden as they cool, so pull them from the oven while they still feel slightly pliable—they firm up fast and can become brittle if overdone.
  • Cold jelly won't cling to crackers as satisfyingly, so that gentle warming step matters; the warmth also reawakens the spice.
03 -
  • Don't skip rolling the dough thin—thick crackers feel heavy and bread-like instead of crispy and sophisticated.
  • If you want extra heat without extra liquid, mince fresh chili and scatter it over the jelly just before serving for texture and a punch that builds as people eat.
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