It’s a classic Easter afternoon in full swing. Great aunts and uncles sporting their Sunday best and sugared-up nieces and nephews in pastel gingham fill the halls and spill onto the porch. But there’s one place everyone wants to be: in the kitchen, with the food.
When you need something quick and easy to feed the whole cast, let a golden, buttery pantry staple serve as a sturdy vessel. Here are six dips, spreads, and toppings to elevate a Ritz cracker.
Classic Pimento Cheese
There’s no need to overthink this addictive favorite. Pair our recipe for classic pimento cheese with a sleeve of Ritz crackers for a dependable dip that never lasts long.
Lowcountry Pickled Shrimp
“It’s a nibble, an appetizer, something to eat at a cocktail party or with crackers or on a salad,” Hank Shaw says of this bright briny recipe from his cookbook Hook, Line, and Supper. We’re willing to bet Ritz is an approved accompaniment.
Spreadable Deviled Egg Salad
Deviled eggs have earned their place on any Easter tablescape. But executive chef Nick Fisherkeller offers a delicious adaptation with his spreadable deviled egg salad, a creamy, scoopable spin studded with diced bread-and-butter pickles.
Loquat Pepper Jelly
The loquat’s unique almond, cherry, peach, and vanilla flavors signal spring’s arrival on the Gulf Coast. Spoon this loquat pepper jelly, dreamed up by New Orleans chefs Amarys Koenig Herndon and Jordan Herndon, over a ball of burrata or melt it over your favorite cheese for a dip so delicious, you’ll be checking your guests’ Easter baskets on their way out the door.
Sweet Pickle Potato Salad
You can’t go wrong with this pickle potato salad from Gullah-Geechee chef Alexander Smalls. It’s simple, traditional, and sticks to the sweet basics. Top it with shrimp or scallops for the perfect one-bite appetizer to pass around your party.
Fancy Ranch Caviar Dip
Chef James London of Chubby Fish in Charleston shares his tried-and-true secret for enjoying caviar: “Make it casual and approachable.” The James Beard Award nominee’s Fancy Ranch caviar dip features rich, tangy crème fraîche topped with a touch of beady caviar for an elevated egg hunt.
