I am sure that for those of us with kids, getting more fruits and veggies into them is a priority in the kitchen. I’ll admit that when I have a yummy dip to dunk my apples in, it makes them much more smooth going down. Here are three delicious options for you. One is full fat and over the top indulgent, another is a healthy alternative. The third is a dip that contains only nature’s candy – dates, and a hint of cinnamon, and it’s oh so good. They are all simply made and all three are home runs at our house.

Terri’s whipped cream fruit dip

My good friend Terri’s parents run a beautiful bed and breakfast in upstate NY. When we had the pleasure of staying there, they served us a remarkably delicious breakfast, and one of my favorite things was this fruit dip. Thank you, Terri for sharing it with me!

Equal parts:

1/2 C Whipped cream (use the real stuff!)

1/2 C Sour cream

1/2 C Confectioners sugar

Cacao Yogurt dip

This dip is a result of some experimenting with healthier ingredients, but a yummy taste. This is still a treat for us to eat with our fruit, but has only a small portion of the fat of the first dip. Often, I’ll put these ingredients in a bowl, mix in some berries, cashews or almonds, chia seeds, cacao nibs, or whatever I can find in my pantry for a healthy, but sweet lunch.

Ingredients:

1 C plain greek yogurt

1 Tbsp cacao

2 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup

Date Honey

My sister in law introduced this recipe to me when they were doing the “Daniel Fast”. There are many recipes in my regular repertoire that are from the Daniel Fast, and this is absolutely my fav! Using just fresh dates and a bit of cinnamon and water, this dip is not only sweet and yummy, but it’s extremely economical. My favorite fruit to eat with this dip are nice crisp cold apples!

Ingredients:

1 C pitted fresh medjool dates

1 C water

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Pour pitted dates into a small sauce pan. Fill pan with the water and make sure all dates are submerged. Bring water to a boil over high heat then reduce to low, simmering 15-30 min, or until the dates are very soft and broken down. Remove pan from heat and cool slightly. Pour dates and water into a food processor or blender, add cinnamon and blend until smooth. Store in a sealed container in the fridge.

Food Photography by: Rebecca O’Hara