In the world of Southern entertaining, few condiments command as much respect and generate as much excitement as Jezebel Sauce. This deceptively simple concoction transforms humble ingredients into a flavor powerhouse that’s been gracing dinner tables, church socials, and holiday gatherings for generations.
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Table of Contents
What Is Jezebel Sauce?
Jezebel Sauce combines the sweet and tangy twang of pineapple preserves and apple jelly with the mild heat of dry mustard and prepared horseradish. If you have never tried Jezebel Sauce before, what are you waiting for? This makes an easy appetizer for a party.
What Makes Jezebel Dip Perfect for a Party and a Meal?Â
The brilliance of Jezebel Sauce lies in its perfect proportions and the way each ingredient complements the others. The preserves and jelly create a sweet foundation that can handle the assertive flavors of horseradish and mustard without being overwhelmed.
The sauce improves with time as the flavors meld and develop, making it an ideal make-ahead condiment for entertaining. The consistency is thick enough to cling to foods while remaining smooth enough to pour easily.
Ingredients You Will Need
To make Southern Jezebel Sauce, you’ll need:
- Pineapple preserves – Provides tropical sweetness and chunky texture that forms the fruity base of the sauce
- Apple jelly – Adds delicate apple flavor and creates the perfect consistency for pouring and spreading
- Dry mustard – Contributes subtle heat that builds gradually without overpowering the sweet elements
- Prepared horseradish – Delivers the signature bite that makes Jezebel Sauce so distinctive and memorable
Ingredient Notes
Read the label for the horseradish carefully. You want prepared horseradish, not horseradish sauce, for this recipe.
You won’t find apple jelly in every supermarket, but you can buy apple jelly online. Don’t try to substitute the more common apple butter, but you can make Jezebel Sauce with orange marmalade or apricot jam instead.
How to Make Jezebel Sauce
This recipe is so easy to make! Here’s all you have to do:
- Drain the prepared horseradish and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Combine the pineapple preserves, apple jelly, dry mustard, and prepared horseradish in a mixing bowl.
- Whisk well. Heating the jelly and preserves in the microwave until warm makes incorporating the other ingredients much more manageable.
- Transfer the sauce to a container with a lid and put it in the fridge.
Recipe Variations
Changing up the taste of this sauce is simple.
- Replace the apple jelly with pepper jelly for a hotter sauce spice. No pepper jelly on hand? Finely chop a few jalapeños or habaneros and add them to the apple jelly.
- Add an Asian twist to this recipe by substituting apricot jam for the apple jelly and replacing a tablespoon of grated ginger for the dry mustard.
Serving Suggestions
- Classic Jezebel Dip – Pour over a room temperature block of cream cheese and serve with Ritz crackers, Wheat Thins, or Triscuits.
- Meat Glaze – Brush over pork tenderloin, ham, or chicken during the last 15 minutes of cooking for a beautiful, flavorful glaze.
- Sandwich Spread – Use as a condiment for grilled pork or chicken sandwiches.
- Dipping Sauce – Serve alongside chicken tenders, egg rolls, fried shrimp, or little smokies.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator Storage – Store in airtight containers for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator
- Reheating Method – Serve at room temperature, no reheating necessary
- Freezing – Not recommended as freezing affects the texture of the preserves and jelly
Do You Love Sauces? Try These Recipes
- Campfire Sauce
- Chick Fil A Sauce
- Homemade Cocktail Sauce
- Raising Cane’s Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Thai Peanut Sauce
Popular Appetizer Recipes
- Chicken Liver Pate
- Cream Cheese Rangoon
- Fried Mushrooms
- Garlic Parmesan Wings
- Italian Rice Balls
- Jalapeno Poppers
- Rotel Cheese Dip
Check out my easy sauce recipes and the best appetizer recipes here on CopyKat!
Southern Jezebel Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 ounces pineapple preserves
- 15 ounces apple jelly
- 3 tablespoons dry mustard
- 1/2 cup prepared horseradish
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl, and stir until well combined.
- Transfer the sauce to an airtight container, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- To serve, pour over cream cheese and serve with crackers.
Trying this sauce for the first time today over a brick of smoked cream cheese that is covered in my favorite rub. Thought the addition of the sauce over the top sounded good. It only takes a couple hours to smoke the cheese at 200 degrees.
Smoked cream cheese is the bomb!
Should have made 3 bricks.
Many thanks for this amazing sauce!
Stephanie, I want to make this sauce for our church bazaar. I just don’t think “Jezebel” would go over very well. Could you suggest a different name for this sauce? I thank you for a response and your thoughts.
You can name is anything you like. You can name it special kicked up sauce, or my Aunt Sally’s sauce 😉 It’s really good, you know I think I am going to make a batch of it soon!
Ms Childrrs, try Beelzabub Sauce.
Can this be canned rather than refrigerate? I would love to make this and give it as gifts. Please let me know.
I don’t know if this can be canned. I can say that I have never canned it before.
we do a savory with Picapepper and for an easy sweet I use cherry pie filling,many possibilities.this sounds great,gonna try!
Wow, I really like your ideas about the savory Picapepper sauce. I never thought about this recipe having so many possibilities.
I’m making Jezebel sauce for wedding favors. We will be making them a month in advance. Do we need to can them? Or can we just put them in the mason jars without canning them?
I think that may be a little bit on the edge of how long this sauce would be good for. Do you think everyone will eat up the sauce immediately? It may be fine.
What a cool wedding favor idea!
Try using the horseradish that has beets in it. (Jarred in the dairy aisle). It makes it a very pretty red color.
You have a great idea about the horseradish with beets.
Usually with Smucker’s other ice cream toppings. I use the recipe w/o cream cheese for a dipping sauce for chicken tenders
I have substituted the pineapple preserves with aprricot or plum preserves as well as orange marmalade. Very tasty!
My aunt would make this for Christmas, but hers was red. She used apple jelly and cinnamon. The kick came from chili peppers. I am excited to try your recipe it looks good.
I pat the horseradish with a paper towel, so as to remove most of the juice. It is more palatable.
I’ve always wondered where this sauce got its name. Do you suppose it’s because it’s sweet yet spicy?
I love Jezabel sauce! I have my uncles recipe that I’ve been wanting to put on the blog but I can’t find pineapple preserves here anywhere! For some reason I’ve been reluctant to order it online, who knows why. I’m glad to see it here, you always do a nice job with everything.
You know I found the preserves at the grocery store, I used Smuckers brand. I hope that helps. ~Stephanie