You'll only need 4 ingredients and 5 minutes to make this fruit dip made with mascarpone cheese. Mascarpone is used instead of cream cheese and the dip is flavored with real maple syrup to achieve the perfect level of sweetness. Pair with fresh fruit for a delicious snack, appetizer or dessert!
Most of us are familiar with fruit dip that is made with cream cheese as a base along with other additions like marshmallow cream, pudding or whipping topping. I love those dips as much as anyone else, but they can be SO sweet.
What I love about this dip is that it has the perfect amount of sweetness to go along with the natural sweetness of ripened fruit. I think this dip gives the flavor of the fruit more of a chance to shine while also being addictively delicious on it's own. Using mascarpone has become my favorite way to make fruit dip as I just love the richness it gives the dip!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This dip comes together in 5 minutes or less and is a great make-ahead recipe.
- Only 4 real ingredients are needed to make this homemade dip and the flavor is out-of-this-world!
- Pairs with a variety of fruit depending on what's in season and creates a beautiful display for your next get-together!
Ingredient Notes
- Mascarpone cheese - Very similar to cream cheese, mascarpone is a soft Italian cheese made of cream and citric acid. The result is a rich, buttery cheese with a high milk fat content and less moisture. The flavor of mascarpone is mild and slightly sweet. It lends itself well to both sweet and savory recipes. Most commonly used in tiramisu.
- Heavy cream -Provides richness and helps the dip whip up nice and fluffy.
- Maple syrup - The REAL stuff! The flavor gives the dip the perfect amount of sweetness. Real maple syrups can differ in flavors so this can be fun to play around with. We are lucky enough to get some local syrup from a friend every year and it is so good!
- Vanilla extract - Vanilla is one of those flavors that just adds some extra oomph (technical term) to a sweet dish. It plays nicely into the maple flavor as well as the creaminess of the dip.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This recipe is SO easy to make. Here's how to put it together:
Step 1: Place mascarpone in a mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat until light and fluffy. This shouldn't take too long, about a minute. Be careful not to overbeat as the mascarpone could separate.
The mascarpone will whip up best if it's at room temperature. Take the cheese out of the fridge at least 30 minutes up to an hour before starting.
Step 2: Add heavy cream, maple syrup and vanilla. Beat until well combined.
That's it! Serve right away or keep in an airtight container in the fridge.
Serving Tips
Use this dip as you would any fruit dip by serving it with a variety of fresh fruit and berries. This can vary depending on what's in season, but some of my favorites include:
- Grapes - Red or green
- Berries - Strawberries, blueberries & raspberries
- Pineapple
- Melons - Watermelon, cantaloupe & muskmelon
- Apple slices
- Mandarin orange segments
Or try it with some non-fruit dippers like:
- Graham crackers
- Vanilla wafers
- Pretzels
This dip can also be used as a spread on toast or as a topping for pancakes. It's very reminiscent in taste and texture of a cheesecake topping. Drool!
Storage Tips
At room temperature, the fruit dip can be kept out for a maximum of 2 hours. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, you can store the dip for 5 days.
FAQ
Mascarpone is sold in tubs and has become more of a staple in grocery stores. If your grocery store has a specialty cheese area near the deli, it's likely found there. If you can't find it there, I'd check by the cream cheeses.
Overall, the two cheeses are fairly similar can be used interchangeably with some minor texture and flavor variations. Cream cheese has a lower fat content, and therefore is less rich than mascarpone. The flavor of cream cheese is brighter and tangier. That being said, they can be used as substitutes for each other in most applications.
While you can freeze mascarpone cheese, the texture will be negatively impacted when thawed. It's likely thawed cheese will have a grainy, separated texture. Using previously frozen mascarpone is best used in baked or cooked recipes where the texture isn't as noticeable.
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Mascarpone Cheese Fruit Dip
Ingredients
- 8 oz. mascarpone cheese
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup real maple syrup
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place mascarpone in a mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat until light and fluffy, about a minute8 oz. mascarpone cheese
- Add heavy cream, maple syrup and vanilla. Beat until well combined.¼ cup heavy cream, ¼ cup real maple syrup, ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- Serve right away or store in the refigerator.
Ashley says
The texture is so smooth and creamy. The perfect amount of sweetness and so easy to make!