Classic Jezebel Sauce

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 08/30/23
Jezebel Sauce on Cream Cheese
Diana Rattray
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Yield: 1 bowl

Jezebel sauce is a sweet and spicy sauce with some sharpness and heat from the horseradish and mustard powder. The sauce makes an excellent condiment to serve over a block of cream cheese or along with a ham or pork roast meal. Jezebel sauce also makes a tasty burger topping as well. Make it a day in advance for the best flavor. For more ideas, try even more serving suggestions and variations on how to use this tasty sauce.

The origin of Jezebel sauce isn't clear, but it might have come from the gulf coast (Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Texas). Recipes can be found in numerous cookbooks dating as far back as the 1950s, and you'll find it on many restaurant menus. The sauce probably gets its name from the "wicked" heat.

For another variation, change it up slightly with some hot pepper jelly or diced canned mild chiles or jalapeño peppers. Minced ginger is another possible flavor variation. Look for the pineapple preserves and apple jelly in cheese shops, gourmet grocery stores, on online retailers. Or, find a friend who makes their own preserves and jellies and snag a jar or two.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. In a bowl, combine the pineapple preserves, apple jelly, horseradish, mustard, and black pepper. Blend well. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled before serving.

  2. Make it a day or two ahead of time for best flavor.

  3. Store Jezebel sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Tips

  • Jezebel sauce and cream cheese is a very popular appetizer in the South. Spoon the sauce over a block of cream cheese and serve with crackers or sturdy chips. It's an easy preparation and your friends and family will love it!
  • Use the sauce as a dip for chicken wings or tenders. It would also make an excellent sauce with cocktail hot dogs or little smokies.
  • Use the sauce to top canapes.
  • Serve the sauce along with roasted pork, ham, or grilled meat. 
  • Spoon some of the sauce over a ham about 10 minutes before it comes out of the oven.

Recipe Variations

  • Replace the dry mustard with 4 tablespoons of Creole Mustard.
  •  or a whole grain brown mustard.
  • For a milder sauce, decrease the horseradish to 1/4 cup or less.
  • Other possible flavor variations include canned and drained minced mild chiles or jalapeño peppers.
  • If pineapple preserves aren't available, use apricot or peach preserves.
  • To make gingered Jezebel sauce, add 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger to the sauce and reduce the pepper to 1 teaspoon or omit it.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
224 Calories
1g Fat
54g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 224
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 66mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 54g 20%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 38g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 9mg 46%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 99mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)