Love cheesecake, but don't want to go to the effort of making one? I don't blame you! If you've got a hankering for something creamy, dreamy, and perfectly sweet, give my Cream Cheese Fruit Dip a try. Made with 7 ingredients in just 5 minutes, it has all the flavor you crave without an oven or springform pan in sight.
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Why I Love This Lazy Girl's Cheesecake Recipe
To be entirely honest, I've never been much of a cake person. But cheesecake? That's a whole different story. My husband and I love it so much that instead of a traditional tiered wedding cake, my Mom and I busted out 20 homemade cheesecakes instead.
While it was well worth the effort for our special day, cheesecake is a little fussy for regular snacking. Instead of going to all the trouble of baking one from scratch, I re-created a tasty, cheesecake-flavored fruit dip I remember from a kid's birthday party when I was just a wee lass. And friends? It's REAL good.
Aside from being sinfully delicious, this cream cheese fruit dip recipe is:
- Quick & Easy. All you need is one bowl, a hand mixer, and 5 minutes to make this luscious spread.
- Made With Just 7 Ingredients, and chances are you already have most of them on hand.
- Tastes Just Like Cheesecake Filling. Seriously, it's uncanny.
- Super Versatile. Spread it on graham crackers or bagels, dip fruit or pretzels into it, turn it into a raspberry or strawberry cheesecake spread by swirling in jams... The options are nearly endless. Read on below for even more ways to use this tasty cream cheese dip!
Ingredients & Substitutions
As promised, you don't need much to make this cheesecake dip recipe. Here's what to grab:
- Cream Cheese - I'm generally a proponent of full-fat dairy since nonfat versions often have weird additives and stabilizers. Feel free to swap in Neufchatel cheese for a lighter version, or a plant-based alternative to make vegan cheesecake dip.
- Butter - Despite my pastry training, I only keep salted butter on hand because it lasts longer and just tastes better. Feel free to use unsalted, but increase the kosher salt to about ½ teaspoon. You can also use vegan butter if preferred.
- Powdered Sugar - Don't have any on hand? Whip up a batch in your food processor using sugar and cornstarch. Feel free to use a sugar-free alternative to make it keto and/or diabetic-friendly.
- Brown Sugar - Light or dark will both work here. You can also use a sugar-free alternative.
- Vanilla Extract & Almond Extract - I almost always use a 50/50 split of vanilla and almond extract whenever something calls for vanilla. Feel free to use only one or the other, or experiment with different extracts like lemon or maple to get different flavor combos.
- Kosher Salt - I LOVE SALTY SWEETS. Feel free to add only as much as your tastebuds prefer.
How To Make Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
This ridiculously simple apple dip comes together in just 5 minutes. Here's how it's done:
Step 1: Beat together cream cheese and butter. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add brown sugar and mix well.
Step 2: Add in powdered sugar a bit at a time, followed by extracts. Add kosher salt to taste.
Step 3: Enjoy! Eat using whatever vehicle you prefer - a spoon, graham cracker, apple slice, or your fingers. Don’t worry, I won’t judge.
Optional Variations & Serving Suggestions
While I love the potent flavor of this cheesecake fruit dip, there are SO many ways to customize it to your liking. Here are just a few options to consider:
- Strawberry, Raspberry, or [Insert Your Favorite Jam] Cheesecake Dip - Swirling in up to ⅓ cup your favorite jam or jelly will add tons of flavor and a bright pop of color.
- Cherry Cheesecake Dip - Chop ⅓ cup of cherries in syrup (I love Trader Joe's Morello Cherries). Add 3 tablespoons of the syrup to the dip and fold in the cherries.
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip - Add 3 tablespoons of canned pure pumpkin purée and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.
- Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip - Fold in ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips.
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip - Swirl in 3 tablespoons each of apple butter and salted caramel sauce.
- Consider other add-ins like citrus zest, crushed Oreos, peanut butter, toffee bits, toasted nuts, sprinkles, or instant espresso powder. The flavor possibilities are as endless as your imagination!
Did you come up with a brilliant flavor idea for this sweet cream cheese dip? Let me know in the comments below or tag me in your social media posts so I can cheer 👏 you 👏 on! 👏
As far as for what to serve with your delicious dessert dip, consider:
- Spreading it on graham crackers, bagels, or toast. Bonus points if you top your masterpiece with fresh berries.
- Adding it to a sweet breakfast quesadilla with fruit and dessert hummus.
- Dipping pretzels, apple slices, or animal crackers into it.
Storage
This recipe was kept in a clean, airtight container in our fridge for 10 days, and that was with great restraint. I have a feeling it would be fine for up to a month, but I doubt it'll last that long... It's too good!
More Quick & Easy Sweets
- 5 Minute Lemon Blueberry Dessert
- Easy Strawberry Shortcakes With Biscuit Mix
- Cake Mix Hack: Apricot Banana Upside Down Cake
- Coeur à la Crème with Raspberry Amaretto Sauce
If you tried this recipe and loved it, be sure to rate and review it below! For more inexpensive and delicious recipe inspiration, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, & Facebook. You can also get all of my newest content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for my email newsletter!
Cream Cheese Fruit Dip, a.k.a. Lazy Girl's Cheesecake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 block full fat cream cheese softened to room temp
- 1 stick butter, salted softened to room temp
- ¾ C powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1 pinch kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Using a hand or stand mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter. Be sure to scrape down sides of bowl to ensure full incorporation.
- With mixer on low speed, add in powdered sugar a bit at a time, doing your best not to powder your countertops. Add in vanilla and almond extracts. Add kosher salt to taste.
- Eat using whatever vehicle you prefer - spoon, graham cracker, apple slice, pretzel, breakfast quesadilla or your fingers. Don’t worry, I won’t judge.
Notes
- This recipe kept in our fridge for 10 days, and that was with great restraint. I have a feeling it would be fine for up to a month, but I doubt it'll last that long... It's too tasty!
Optional Variations
- Vegan - Swap in your favorite plant-based cream cheese and butter.
- Keto/Diabetic-Friendly - Use sugar-free alternatives like this and this.
- Strawberry, Raspberry, or [Insert Your Favorite Jam] Cheesecake Dip - Swirling in up to ⅓ cup your favorite jam or jelly will add tons of flavor and a bright pop of color.
- Cherry Cheesecake Dip - Chop ⅓ cup of cherries in syrup (I love Trader Joe's Morello Cherries). Add 3 tablespoons of the syrup to the dip and fold in the cherries.
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip - Add 3 tablespoons of canned pure pumpkin purée and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.
- Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip - Fold in ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips.
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip - Swirl in 3 tablespoons each of apple butter and salted caramel sauce.
- Consider other add-ins like citrus zest, crushed Oreos, peanut butter, toffee bits, toasted nuts, sprinkles, or instant espresso powder. The flavor possibilities are as endless as your imagination!
Ashley says
Can you use cottage cheese?
Ash, The Grocery Addict says
Ooooh, that's a good idea! I'd bet it would totally work, but I for sure suggest using your food processor or a heavy-duty blender so it gets nice and creamy. Also, I'd prepare for it to be slightly thinner UNLESS you first blended the cottage cheese into a smooth purée, dumped it into a sieve lined with cheesecloth to strain for like 4-6 hours to remove the extra whey, and then proceed with the recipe. 🤷♀️