Four Sweet & Savory Appetizer Recipes with RITZ Crackers

Four sweet & savory party appetizers that can each be prepared in 10 minutes or less. Hosting a get together with friends? Going to a potluck? Want a sweet snack to share with the family? We've got you and your entertaining needs covered!

I'm the queen at starting a recipe without making sure that I have all of the ingredients that I need. It's lead to many creative substitutions over the years, and many new flavor combinations! I've become pretty good at scanning my pantry and coming up with a tasty snack with a few basic ingredients. Necessity is the mother of invention, right? One thing that I always have, as a mother of five, are crackers. RITZ Crackers make great little snack canvases. You can pretty much pair them with anything and instantly they become a delicious appetizer to share!

Here are 4 easy appetizers that are all made with cream cheese and RITZ Crackers that I picked up at Safeway.

Are you hosting a get together with girlfriends? Perhaps a baby shower or book club?

These Mini Cherry Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes are a great finger food dessert!

Going to a game night?

Bring along a platter of Jalapeño Popper Toppers! Pop them in the oven right before serving, they only take 5 minutes to heat!

Looking for a sweet after dinner treat to share with the family?

RITZ Strawberry Cheesecake Bites are made from ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

In the mood for a bite sized version of a favorite sandwich? Top a RITZ with your favorite tuna or chicken salad!

My smoked almond chicken salad packs a punch in the flavor department and be customized in so many different ways.

Combine all four recipes for a party spread that caters to everyone's tastes. Sweet, salty, rich, and savory! I found the recipes for my Jalapeño Popper Toppers and RITZ Strawberry Cheesecake Bites here and it got my creative juices flowing to see what other sweet and savory appetizers that I could come up with!

Mini Cherry Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes

Ingredients:

24 RITZ Crackers

4 oz. cream cheese

½ c. powdered sugar

½ tsp. vanilla

2 T. mini chocolate chips

½ c. cherry pie filling

Directions:

Whip cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon onto a RITZ Cracker and add a cherry from the pie filling.

Jalapeño Popper Toppers

Ingredients:

36 RITZ Crackers

4 oz. cream cheese

½ c. shredded Mexican Cheese

3 jalapeños, cut into 12 thin slices

Directions:

Mix cream cheese and shredded cheese. Place crackers on baking sheet. Spread crackers with cheese and heat at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Top with peppers.

RITZ Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients:

24 RITZ Crackers

4 oz. cream cheese

½ c. strawberry pie filling

powdered sugar, optional

Directions:

Spread crackers with cheese. Top with pie filling. Dust with powdered sugar, optional.

Smoked Almond Chicken Salad on a RITZ

Ingredients:

36 RITZ Crackers

4 oz. cream cheese

¼ tsp. garlic powder

2 T. green onion, sliced

¼ c. dried cranberries

1 (12.5 oz.) can cooked chicken, drained and rinsed

36 smoked almonds

Directions:

Combine cream cheese, garlic powder, green onion, dried cranberries and chicken. Distribute evenly over crackers. Top with a smoked almond.

RITZ Crackers are the delicious cracker for all your entertaining needs. Save $1 on cream cheese (8 oz. or larger, selected varieties) when you buy 2 (two) boxes of RITZ Crackers (10.3 oz. or larger, selected varieties) at Safeway! Click here for more RITZpiration!