This 3-Ingredient Cream Cheese Dip Is Completely Customizable

A dip's inherent beauty lies in its ability to be exactly what you need in the moment. The party calls for a conversational catalyst, and there it is, perched atop of a snack platter. Come midnight, when hunger strikes unexpectedly, it's the one thing that fills your belly. Any time you want to finish those dull veggies still sitting in the fridge, it's a good dip that will make them interesting. In any case, you'll want a dip that's capable of adapting to your simplest and wildest whimsies, something like Tasting Table's creamy pecan cheesecake fruit dip.

The base are just three basic ingredients: Cream cheese, marshmallow puff, and vanilla yogurt, thoroughly mixed until smooth and clump-free. Its swirls upon swirls of creamy richness, decadently wrapped around anything you dip into it. The flavors are no less delightful, with the cream cheese and yogurt setting a tangy tone, offset by the marshmallow's airy sweetness. Another ingredient that recipe developer Jennine Rye also mixed in with the base is caramel sauce, and need we say more? In combination with the tangy cream cheese, its salty-sweet tone perfectly encapsulates the essence of a cheesecake. 

Once you finish it up with chopped pecans and another tablespoon of caramel sauce, the dip is good to go. It's marvelous as a kid-friendly, healthy dessert, especially if you've got colorful fruits on the side. However, cookies, crackers, and biscuits are just as effective for an easy crowd-pleaser.

While a cheesecake dip might already sound quite tempting, it's not the only route you can take. There are simple modifications to make, such as adding whipped cream to the mix to get an even thicker and fluffier texture. And then, other than plain and Greek, there are different types of yogurt, like the fruit-flavored varieties. The same goes for cream cheese, which comes in every shade of sweet and sour imaginable, so pick out your favorite and see how it goes.

The real fun begins when you get to the toppings. Graham crackers are a great contender, should you want to further elevate the cheesecake element, and maybe add chocolate syrup to branch into s'mores territory. Holiday appetizers, however, call for fruit jam and fresh herbs. Think fig and rosemary, cranberry and thyme, or persimmon and basil. Brighten it up with citrus juice, and your feast is off to a moreish start. It would also be remiss not to mention chocolate, because who doesn't want to turn instant hot chocolate mix into a creamy dessert dip? Cocoa mix whisked straight into the base with whipped cream over top will end the meal on the most exciting note.

Last but not least: the dipping food. Apples, berries, kiwi, grapes, and pears are some common suggestions, but honestly, any seasonal harvest will do. For snacking, it's the best way to enjoy all the marshmallows, chocolate chips, Oreos, and sandwich cookies that have been sitting your pantry. Just go for sweet treats and the dip is a guaranteed success.