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Simple Recipes / Molly Adams
As a modern mom, I can’t help but feel a little envious of parents who raised their kids in the ’80s and ’90s. Sure, they didn’t have iPads for long car rides, but they also didn’t have a newsfeed filled with parenting advice, packed-lunch critiques, and over-the-top birthday parties that made them question every parenting decision they’d made.
Imagine a time (1990 to be exact) when parents were free to let their kids bring Fluffernutter sandwiches to school without raising an eyebrow. What a great time!
I’m from New England, home of Marshmallow Fluff, which was a staple in my household. Looking back, this is kind of shocking because I grew up in a “stuff” household. We had plenty, but my mom wasn’t one to keep the pantry stocked with loads of “junk” snacks, so a container full of almost pure sugar was a bit foreign to her.
I’m not here to wonder how many grams of sugar were in my preschool lunch, just to be thankful that this delicious treat was a big part of my childhood and that I learned early on that life is about enjoying these treats in moderation. In addition to the classic peanut butter and Fluff sandwich, I enjoyed Fluff on top of my hot cocoa on snowy days and in s’mores in the summer.
Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t know it was a key ingredient in one of my favorite special occasion dishes my mom makes: fruit dip.
Why I love this two-ingredient fruit dip
Lately, I’ve been craving my mom’s fruit dip. You know how some food memories are so strong that you can taste them? I picked up some strawberries at the market and fondly recalled the tart, sweet, cheesecake-like party staple.
I had never heard of her recipe before so I decided to text her to find out more, and was totally shocked when she replied that the recipe simply calls for equal parts Fluff and cream cheese – what could be more ’80s than that?!
For 2024, we decided to give it a slight makeover with a little less fluff for a less overall sweet taste, but don’t worry, it’s still nostalgic and delicious – serve it at a party and watch it disappear.
Simple Recipes / Molly Adams
How to make my mom’s fruit dip
To make about 1 1/2 cups of dip, enough to serve a large crowd of 10-12 people, you will need the following ingredients:
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8 ounces cream cheese
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1 cup (3 ounces) Fluffy Marshmallow Cream
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Assorted fresh fruits
Optional upgrades:
Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Serve chilled. Alternatively, you can blend using a hand mixer. Serve chilled with plenty of fresh fruit for dipping.
Be yourself
For a modern twist, try substituting 4 ounces of cream cheese for cottage cheese, which adds protein to the dip and cuts down significantly on the fat, leaving behind a sweet, creamy, tangy, nostalgic flavor. The cottage cheese version will be a bit runny when mixed, but will set up nicely in the refrigerator; ideally, chill for at least an hour before serving.
If you’re craving a little more chocolate, omit the orange juice and orange zest and add a tablespoon of cocoa powder instead.
Read the original article on Simply Recipes.
