Fruit Dip with Cream Cheese Recipe

Do you want to know how to make an easy fruit dip recipe? We have a recipe for you that is so easy to make. It is cream cheese-based so it is extra creamy and delicious. 

The fruit dip is so versatile. Yes, we make it to go with fruits but you can also dip veggies in it and pretzels too. Don’t feel limited by the name. Let people dip however their tastebuds guide them.

Next time you put together a fruit tray, add some other treats as well. For example, put out graham crackers, pretzels, and sturdy cookies like shortbread or gingersnaps.

Can you make fruit dip in advance?

Yes, you can make fruit dip in advance. As a matter of fact, we highly recommend that you make this cream cheese fruit dip in advance because it needs time to chill in the fridge. 

You can make the dip the day before and then store it in the fridge in an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can you freeze fruit dip?

We don’t recommend freezing this fruit dip. Freezing dairy that has been mixed with other ingredients doesn’t present the best results when thawed. 

What to dip in fruit dip

There is so much that you can eat with fruit dip. We are a big fan of berries, grapes, and bananas. I don’t tend to eat moist fruits such as pineapple with fruit dip. Dipping a wet fruit like that will make the dip watery. This is purely a personal preference and plenty of other people do serve pineapple or melon with fruit dip. That choice is purely yours to make. Check out our list of ways to eat fruit dip below. 

• Fresh strawberries. (We like to cut the green tips off so that people can easily eat the entire strawberry. However, leaving the green stem on does allow a bit of a handle, so to speak.)
• Banana chunks
• Blueberries (When serving small berries such as blueberries it is helpful to provide cocktail toothpicks.)
• Red grapes
• Raspberries
• Nilla wafers
• Graham crackers
• Marshmallows
• Apple slices
• Peach slices
• Pear slices

How to soften cream cheese

You will want to soften your cream cheese for this creamy fruit dip and the best way to do that is to set it out on the counter for an hour prior to using it. You can also soften the cream cheese in the microwave but you must be very careful not to melt the cream cheese if you use this method. If you have a newer microwave it may have a soften function on it. 

If you don’t have that function then just remove the cream cheese from the package. Place it on a plate and microwave it in 15-second increments. 

Ingredients in fruit dip

Cream cheese—I use full-fat cream cheese. You can test out the recipe with low-fat cream cheese to see how it works for you. In my experience, full-fat cream cheese blends better with the sugar.

Powdered sugar – We have tried out various sweeteners but plain ol’ powdered sugar provides the best results. For me, it is about the texture and the flavor of this ingredient.

Whipped cream – There is a bit of flexibility with this ingredient. I am a fan of making whipped cream at home. It is easy to make and cheaper. However, if you don’t want to go to this much trouble that is completely understandable. In this case, buy some whipped cream from the freezer section such as CoolWhip. That will work perfectly fine in this recipe.

Vanilla extract – This is a subtle but important ingredient in this easy fruit dip recipe.

If you are looking for another way to use up some of your fruit, check out our creamy fruit salad recipe.

Recipe variation ideas

Marshmallow fluff – You could substitute the powdered sugar with marshmallow fluff. It will be fluffy.

Almond extract – Substitute almond extract for vanilla extract.

Orange juice – Add a dash of orange juice for a splash of sweet citrus flavor.

Lime juice – Add a dash of lime juice and you will get a nice tart flavor.

How to make cream cheese fruit dip

This summarizes how to make the fruit dip recipe with a few extra tips. You can get the full recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

Step 1: The first thing that you need to do is soften your cream cheese. Above I provided a few tips on how to easily soften your cream cheese.

Step 2: Gather your other ingredients and tools. It makes life so easier if you have everything ready to go before you start prepping the homemade fruit dip.

• Powdered sugar
• Whipped cream
• Vanilla extract
• Large mixing bowl
• Spatula
• Hand mixer (This is our new one)

Step 3: Add the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar to the mixing bowl. It is crucial that the cream cheese is soft. If it isn’t softened it will ball up instead of being creamy. Use your hand mixer and mix until it is fully incorporated and creamy.

Step 4: Add in the vanilla extract and whipped cream. Mix thoroughly with your spatula or the lowest setting on your hand mixer.

Step 5: Scrape the fruit dip into a container with a lid. This is the perfect use of these silicone spatulas. If I try and scrape the bowl with a spoon, I have such trouble getting all of the fruit dip out of the bowl.

Step 6: Chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour. I like to make this dip the day before and allow it a full 24 hours in the fridge. I prefer to store this simple fruit dip in a glass container. Glass seems to keep it a bit colder for me.

Step 7: Remove the fruit dip from the fridge and give it a good stir with your spatula. I like to do this to fluff it up a bit.

Step 8: Serve cold!