Meyer Lemon Mascarpone Fruit Dip

Meyer Lemon Mascarpone Fruit Dip! If you're looking for something sweet and simple to serve at any gathering -- from brunches to baby showers -- this creamy fruit dip is just the thing!  Mascarpone cheese adds richness and tang while Meyer Lemon zest and juice make it a fragrant addition to any fruit platter. 

Do what I say, not what I do: When you need to bring a dish to a potluck or party, stick to the tried and true. It is not the time to experiment with new recipes or fancy additions to old reliable ones.

I tell you this from experience. {More than I care to admit.} The most recent reminder of this helpful tip came just a few weeks ago when I decided to make a last-minute dessert to bring to our friends' going away party. I had already had a busy morning and it was almost time to leave for the party, so I should have heeded my husband's advice when he piped up from the living room with a pearl of wisdom: "Just make Rice Krispie Treats. Everyone loves them and they're easy."

But guys... I write a FOOD BLOG. People know what I am capable of making because they've seen the images I've shared in living color. Many times when I'm introduced to friends of friends, I'm labeled as "The one who makes all the food." How, in good conscience, could I show up to a party with a tray of Rice Krispie Treats???

You can probably guess by the way this post started that my attempt at making something easy but more complicated than Rice Krispie Treats did not turn out as I had hoped. Something went awry with {what I thought was} a simple recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars and resulted in a pan of hot cookie dough that would not bake through. It was in the oven for, like 45 minutes, and no matter how many more minutes I added to the timer {or how many expletives I shouted at it}, the darn thing would not bake past the "mush" stage.

In the end, I decided to bring it anyway because 1. I didn't want to show up empty handed and 2. I figured after a few drinks there would be at least a few people who'd be down to eat cookie dough. {Aren't there always?} So I surrendered to my baking fail and got dressed and ready to go.

I wish I could say that it all worked out in the end, but the story gets even better. When we arrived at the party, we discovered that the pan never actually made it into the car with us and was left on a table in our entryway. Sigh.

After all the times these types of things have happened to me, I'm tempted to write a cookbook called "Last Minute Party Recipes You Can't Mess Up." I smell a best seller, don't you?

But since I don't have an abundance of time to write a whole book at the moment, I'm just sharing one truly easy recipe that you can rely on: Meyer Lemon Mascarpone Fruit Dip. If you can toss a few ingredients in a mixing bowl, you can make this. It's slightly sweet with a tartness that comes from fresh Meyer lemon {both juice and zest} and creamy mascarpone cheese. Serve it with ripe berries, sliced apples and even graham crackers -- all made/grown by someone else so you don't have to take the blame if they aren't any good.

You might as well test it out now so you're not met with any "surprises" the next time you have to whip it up in a pinch. If all else fails... just make Rice Krispie Treats. 😉

Meyer Lemon Mascarpone Fruit Dip

The Kitchen Prep

Meyer Lemon Mascarpone Fruit Dip! If you’re looking for something sweet and simple to serve at any gathering — from brunches to baby showers — this creamy fruit dip is just the thing!  Mascarpone cheese adds richness and tang while Meyer Lemon zest and juice make it a fragrant addition to any fruit platter. 

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Prep Time 25 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Appetizer, Sauce

Cuisine American

Servings 1 cup

Ingredients

  

• ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
• {8 oz.} block cream cheese
• ¼ cup mascarpone cheese
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 Meyer lemon
• 2-2 ½ tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice

For Serving

• Assorted fruits for dipping

Instructions

 

• Pour heavy cream into the bowl of a stand mixer {or into a large bowl if using a hand mixer} beat until whipped and the peaks hold their shape. Scoop into a small bowl and set aside.
• In the same bowl {no need to clean!} add cream cheese and mascarpone cheese. Mix until combined and smooth.
• Add powdered sugar and, starting on low, mix until completely incorporated and smooth. Add vanilla extract and Meyer lemon zest and juice. Beat until fully incorporated.
• Scoop whipped cream into the bowl with the cream cheese mixture and carefully fold it in by hand until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
• Spoon the mixture into a serving dish and refrigerate for an hour or so to let the flavors marry. Before serving, remove from refrigerator and let it sit for 15-20 minutes so it softens a bit. Serve with fresh fruit or graham crackers for dipping.