The Single Ingredient You Need To Add A Sweet Crunch To Deviled Eggs

How can hard-boiled eggs be boring when deviled eggs exist? These tangy, creamy little delights originated in ancient Rome and evolved over millennia throughout Europe before becoming an American dinner party staple in the 1940s. Today, they remain an iconic appetizer and snack year-round due to their incredible versatility. Deviled eggs can easily be customized with many ingredients that amp up texture and taste. For example, adding crunch and sweetness to deviled eggs can elevate them to a new level, and all you need to accomplish both is one extra ingredient: sweet pickle relish.

Sweet pickle relish typically contains cucumbers, onions, mustard and celery seeds, apple cider vinegar, salt, and sugar. It's commonly used as a topping on hot dogs and burgers or as an ingredient in mayo-based cold salads like macaroni salad and potato salad. While similar to savory dill pickle relish, which is also often added to deviled eggs, sweet pickle relish lacks dill and has a higher sugar content. Incorporating sweet pickle relish into the filling for deviled eggs will impart a fresh burst of sweetness and crunchy tartness to offset the rich creaminess of egg yolks and mayonnaise while still balancing heat from mustard and other spices.

To make this dish, start by hard-boiling eggs as you would for any homemade deviled eggs recipe, and stir 1 ½ tablespoons of the star ingredient into the yolk mixture. Pipe the mixture into halved egg whites and top each mound of the filling with a pinch of paprika for a pop of color and a touch of smokiness. You can serve these crowd-pleasers immediately or after chilling them in the refrigerator — whatever you prefer. 

If you don't have a jar of sweet pickle relish at home or want to think beyond this ingredient, plenty of other toppings can take your deviled eggs to the next level. Homemade candied bacon is an excellent choice for adding texture and salty sweetness. If you're feeling more adventurous, toppings like caramelized onions, dried cranberries, or toasted coconut flakes can introduce exciting new flavors to this timeless dish. With so many possibilities for experimentation and creativity, deviled eggs become a perfect canvas for creating your own unique and innovative interpretations.