A couple weeks ago I stopped by my parent’s house and found my Mom sitting at the kitchen table flipping through an old binder of the quick and easy recipes she made when my brothers and I were real little, back in the early 80s.
We giggled over hand written recipes and newspaper clippings for simple, but seriously outdated, dishes like Creamy Pimento Spread (just, why?), Bachelor Company Casserole (throw everything + anything + rice into a casserole dish, then bake), and Ham Loaf (whose cloyingly sweet taste is still etched into my brain).
As we turned the pages, reminiscing about the Quiche Lorraine, Corn Flake Chicken, and Fancy Mousse of yesteryear, I gasped – Fruit Dip!
I remember devouring the thick, fluffy, luscious fruit dip my Mom would occasionally surprise my brothers and me with as a special after-school snack like it was yesterday!
Sweet, whippy, and impossibly creamy, this fruit dip is unlike anything – EVER – and I was positively chomping at the bit to taste it again after 15+ years.
The best part? The recipe only contains three ingredients. (The 80s knew what was up!)
That’d be a 7oz tub of marshmallow creme.
8oz 1/3 less fat (or whipped) cream cheese softened to room temperature (very important!)
And 2 Tablespoons frozen –> thawed orange juice concentrate.
Simply spoon the marshmallow creme into a large, microwave safe bowl, then microwave for 20 seconds so it’s smooth and not so sticky. Add in the cream cheese, then drizzle in the orange juice concentrate.
Whisk until the mixture is super smooth. That’s it!
At this point, hover over the bowl and shovel spoonfuls of the sweet stuff into your mouth, stick the dip in the fridge and get some fresh fruit dippers ready. 
You could totally prepare a plain ol’ bowl or tray of fruit to pair with the dip or, do what I did, and make super-cute fruit kabobs for dunking.
Any fruit combo under the sun would work, but I anchored my kabobs with a red grape, followed by a strawberry.
A pineapple chunk canned in 100% juice was next (no way was I paying what the grocery store was asking for a fresh one!), followed by another red grape to anchor the other end.
Dip, dip, dip!!!
The Best Fruit Dip EVER
Makes about 2 cups
Ingredients:
7oz Marshmallow Creme
8oz low-fat or whipped cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 Tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
Fruit dippers: strawberries, grapes, pineapple, apples, berries, cantaloupe
Directions:
Spoon marshmallow creme into a large, microwave safe bowl, and microwave for 20 seconds. Whisk in softened cream cheese and orange juice concentrate until very smooth. Chill, then serve with fruit.
No joke – Top 5 favorite recipes of all time. I can’t even begin to describe how utterly delicious this dip is!
The texture is velvety smooth, and super thick. It alllmost tastes like cheesecake (but not totally, as I don’t love cheesecake) which makes it crazy good on strawberries.
Let’s be real though, this fruit dip would make shoe leather taste good! 
Fruit dip is awesome as a snack, like we used to have, or for any party or get together. I’m thinking it would even be delicious on a fruit pizza!
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What crazy dishes do you remember eating from your childhood?
I made a fruit dip last night, and used strawberry Greek yogurt to flavor it, very yummy, and could eat it by the spoonful!
I was just about to say, that my favorite recipe uses lemon flavored whipped yogurt, with lemon zest. The whipped yogurt adds such a smooth texture. So, so good!
This looks so yummy! I plan to make it for my kids soon for an after school snack.
Speaking of crazy 80′s food, I remember eating Rice With Raisins every Saturday night after bath time. It was just what it sounds like – a big pot of rice, cooked with raisins, and then my mom sprinkled in some cinnamon (and probably sugar, or what kid on the planet would eat that?). I think we poured in a little milk, too, and that was our dinner. Wow, that sounds bad, but I remember liking it. I don’t think I could get my kids to touch it with a ten foot pole! My parents must have been on a serious budget…
My mom made the same thing!! Except I always remember her using the left over rice from our Chinese food the night before. LOL She called it “rice pudding”. I grew up thinking that was what rice pudding was. haha I think we were on a budget too!
I thought we were the only family that did that! Ours was a Friday night treat, and that’s when we were allowed to eat in the living room, in front of the TV.
Haha!! My mom made that too. I just had some leftover rice the other day and made it for my kids….they loved it and ask for it all the time now.
Yep, this shizz is the bomb. This dip, along with a dip of equal parts salsa & cream cheese, are my go-to dips when we suddenly have company coming over and I’ve no time to prepare. Simple and delish = win-win!
Those fruit sticks look delicious! I find the easier the recipe for some reason the tastier! Crazy foods from the 80′s needs it’s own blog. I can’t imagine the “popular” foods I ate then. And not even just food remember clear Pepsi? Gross!
I remember cornflake chicken! We never had this fruit dip, though. Sounds yum!
Man that looks delicious!! I think I’ve had something like this before, but I should probably try juuuust to make sure
I remember eating some weird stuff, but I loved them at the time: scrambled eggs with chopped hot dogs (actually pretty good). But the worst of all was peanut butter and BUTTER sandwiches. Just thinking about that one makes my thighs shake.
Ha–I thought peanut butter & butter sandwiches were just something my family came up with! I couldn’t stomach one now to save my life, but they were awesome when I was a kid. I am so making this fruit dip this weekend. I think my son would love it, and even if he doesn’t, I do!
I used to be forced to eat Pb & butter sandwiches by my babysitter! They were GROSS!!! I wouldnt eat Pb again because I thought thats the way everyone made pb sandwiches.
I did love eggs and hotdogs tho!
Ahhh – Ben used to eat Peanut Butter & Butter sandwiches too! Said he loved ‘em!
LOL @ the “Makes your thighs shake”
I, too, ate pb+butter in my elementary days.
My mom used to make us fruit dip for after school too! Except I think she used apricot jam instead of the orange juice.
I may have to make some of this fruit dip for my son just for old times sake.
This fruit dip doubles as the best spread for fruit pizza ever!
We used to eat this fruit dip too! How had I possibly forgotten about it? My mom didn’t put the orange concentrate in, but for some unknown reason, she always used food coloring and colored it pink!
my work friend used to make this and she used the juice from maraschino cherries and her’s was pink!
Isn’t it funny how we connect memories with food and vice versa? My mom use to make us these triple layer jello cups and the thought of them just takes me back to being a kid.
Haha, I totally just blogged about Jell-O 1-2-3 the other day!
My Mom made those too!! SUCH a classic!
I definitely think IGE should make Jello 1-2-3 this summer! http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/jell-o-1-2-3-dessert-91448.aspx
80s Fruit Dip! Love it! My mother had her own version, too (I have a feeling that every mom did) – just marshmallow creme and strawberry cream cheese.
My mom just emailed me this morning that she used to make this exact same dip using strawberry cream cheese and marshmallow fluff!
That’s how my mom makes fruit dip too, except she doesn’t ands the orange juice…I bet that adds a little bit of goodness. I’ll have to try it next time!
And you’re right, it’s soooooo goooood!
Oh my gracious! That looks totally yum-yum!
HA! I would totally eat it right out of the bowl too. I know when I make buttercream frosting, I’m always “tasting” it to make sure it’s just right…uh huh…I’ve made it at least 1000 times, so you’d think I’d know how to do it by now and not need to continue to “taste” it. HA!
It sounds delicious.
omg. i’m totally going to make this! i love fruit dips!
Oh boy, is there anything better than dipping juicy sweet fruit into a bowl of marshmallow cream…I think not!
I’d recommend whole pineapple from Hy-Vee, it’s usually only $4 or less, and you get so much more. The precut fresh stuff is always way overpriced, but it’s super easy to chop up a whole one on your own, and nothing beats fresh vs. canned!
My favorite fruit dip takes whipped cream and a single serve flavored yogurt (greek or regular, I recommend AE), you just blend the entire tub of whipped cream and the yogurt cup and dip!
YUMMMM. Seriously you had me at marshmallow fluff and fruit. Really I think I could just do that, forget about the other stuff. I tend to not think of fruit first when I think of dessert, but with this…I totally would!
My family used to make this all the time but without the OJ, I will definitely be making this version at the next family gathering! It actually is the best thing ever!
I have made this for years too…it is soo good!! Sometimes I use honey instead of orange juice….good that way too.
Thanks for sharing!!!
I LOVE this dip. We used to make it at Girl Scout Camp in the early ’90′s. When I read the post title, I was thinking…”Oh she’s got nothing on the dip that we used to make at Girl Scout Camp…” But to my surprise you knew all about this secret stuff! Ha.
My sister-in-law made this recently, and I started serving it at all our brunch parties…everyone loves it!
Love your fruit skewers, they’re so colorful and fun!
I remember having beef birds, which was some kind of beef pounded thin, rolled around a stuffing mixture, and held together with toothpicks. We also had olive casserole regularly — noodles with ground beef, green olive slices, and I’m guessing cream of mushroom soup. (I grew up in Iowa, too, by the way!)
I have been looking for a recipe for beef birds that my mother used to fix for us also. It tasted so good having that stuffing flavored with the round steak that had been tenderized with the meat cleaver.
We totally grew up on this, but without the orange juice. I still make it in the summer especially. I may have to add the orange this time.
Yum! I’m going to visit my family soon and this is something I can whip up when I am there (I can remember 3 ingredients, right?) and surprise them with a delicious treat. Thanks so much.
I’ve made this dip for years, but instead of orange juice I use a table spoon of good vanilla. It does need to “marry” in the fridge for a while before it is best.
Yum! Where are your kabob sticks from? I like that there are two flat ends, good for kids!
They are actually cake-pop sticks from Bed, Bath & Beyond! I think you can get them at any craft store too…
oh goodness gracious! This sounds awesome! I have been looking for a fruit dip for my sons birthday party! I can’t wait to test this one out!
P.s. This might seem silly, (bc Im sure it gets devoured ebfore you get the chance to find out), but I was wondering if you knew how long it lasts in the fridge for? Thankss!
Probably 5-6 days!
I love fruit dips but never have them. Your pictures are seriously amazing! You’re getting SO good at photography!
Aw, thanks Kelli!
This recipe looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it.
As for childhood…my mom wasn’t adventurous. I try to be, though, while I was raising my five children. My kids liked hot dogs wrapped all the way up in canned biscuit dough instead of buns!
Yes I love that… I add some cheddar cheese too, yum!
This dip sounds great. Might make it this weekend for brunch!
This sounds spectacular! And on another note…I’m from Minnesota and we still have Ham Loaf for every family get together. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter…you name it! Thank you for the recipe
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I am an early 80′s child and we definitely knew good food and simple ingredients. This looks great
Why oh why do I look at your scrumptious recipes at night when I’m supposed to be winding down for the next work day??? This looks heavenly and I am definitely going to put this on the top of the recipe box! Thanks
This looks so wonderfully yummy
I cannot wait to try this, the ingredients says it all–Thanks
Of course it’s going to be the best fruit dip ever, especially if marshmallow creme is involved! You should totally sell these babies and put Edible Arrangements out of business
Pass me the spoon! Oops. I mean the fruit, the fruit!
Is fruit required with this dip because I think I am going to go for a swim in it.
Um, what’s so outdated about pimento spread/cheese? Obv you don’t know anything about the Masters.
I remember having something very similar to this as a kid, too. Only ours was always pink?? I’m not sure how that happened, but yummy! I love these kind of easy recipes from childhood
Looks amazing! I bet this would be great to bring to brunches and baby showers. Or just gobble up at home where no one can see me lick the bowl. Either way!
Yum!!!! I love fruit dip, but never had it with orange juice! I loved my Mom’s TexMex! It makes me think of my childhood! And my dad making breakfast!
When I was growing up my dad would make Porcupine Meatballs. I loved them and still make them today because they are super simple and so good. http://iamahoneybee.com/2009/09/25/porcupine-meatballs/
Awww – those are so cute! I love that your Dad made them too.
my dad always did a lot of cooking when I grew up. when I went to college he wrote out a bunch of family recipes for me, like my grandmother’s gravy (red sauce), and has come up to boston to hang out and make dinner together.
Love your blog!!
My mom also made it with strawberry cream cheese and marshmallow fluff. I’ve made it for work parties, and I always bring home an empty bowl. Delish!
I love your fruit kabobs! I bet they taste so good in that dip.
This dip was a staple at graduations and baby showers in the 80′s! I still make it. Weird 80′s food was my son watching the Mr. Rogers show and them eating a banana with a cheese slice wrapped around it. It got him to eat and he loved it, I never tried it, too weird! He still eats it today I hear from his girl friend and he turned 31 yesterday!
Would just like to say a big THANK YOU for putting your descriptions of photos BEFORE the photo! It’s a small touch that makes me happy.
you read my mind! I’m making mini fruit kabobs/edible bouquet for my daughter’s PreK birthday treats!
I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of fruit dips. However, I can still see this being a huge hit at my neighborhood’s 4th of July Party. There are always a bunch of kids who would just love this!
I love taking flavored cream cheese & marshmallow fluff and mixing them for fruit dip. I’ve also seen a chocolate one using Greek yogurt! YUM!