Fluffy, luscious fruit dip adds a decadent note to dessert

By SARA KELLY

Dessert, to me, is more sacred than sweet. Whether served at the end of a lovely dinner party or presented as the crowning glory of a potluck spread, your dish must impress all who lay eyes on it.

Despite this credo, I find I am often under-whelmed by the commonplace brownie or lemon bar that seem to be stock characters of the culinary world. A dessert should be a light, delicate indulgence. Which brings me to this week’s recipe for “The Best Fruit Dip Ever,” courtesy of the blog Iowa Girl Eats.

This rich dip, reminiscent of an orange Creamsicle, is the perfect accompaniment to bite-size pieces of fresh fruit. The recipe includes an entire jar of Marshmallow Fluff, but I try not to judge based on ingredients alone. I think of it as a nod to the housewife of the 1950’s, and I always like to save room for a little bit of kitsch in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

One 7-ounce jar Marshmallow Fluff

One 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

Two tablespoons frozen orange juice from concentrate

Fruit: strawberries, grapes, pineapple, melon…

To start, get out your blender. On a medium speed, mix the two tablespoons of frozen orange juice from concentrate, followed by the room-temperature cream cheese.

Then, mix in the Fluff. You will feel very silly doing this. You will also undoubtedly get some funny looks from the checkout girl at the grocery store when you buy orange juice from concentrate and Fluff exclusively. Disregard.

When everything is blended and creamy, use a spatula to place into a serving bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

On to the fruit. I used grapes, strawberries, melon and pineapple, all of which were a hit with my guests. I also always like to make sure there are extra strawberries on hand. I’ve made a few mistakes in my life, but running out of strawberries need never be one of them.

I chopped the fruit into small squares and served with little toothpicks alongside the dip.  It’s not a party without cubed food on a stick in my book.

And there you are: a delicious, original dessert in no time flat. Everyone’s going to love it, trust me.