Easy Vanilla Caramel Fruit Dip

      Sooo, if you thought that my last recipe was ridiculously simple, you may as well not read any further. However, if you like no-brainer recipes that surprise you by how delicious they are for their lack of complex ingredients or directions, please continue!

    This recipe was born of a left-over part of a block of cream cheese and one of my most favorite things ever: Kraft's Jet-Puffed Caramel and Vanilla Mallow Bites (This is not a sponsored post, by the way, I truly just love them!). So, just so you know *exactly* what you are looking for, I have a really bad ingredient photo:

Aren't they pretty? To make this dip all you need is:

-4 oz. (1/2 a block) of cream cheese
-12 Caramel & Vanilla Mallow Bites

To serve:
-fruit of your choice: apples, bananas, strawberries, this would also be good with graham crackers!Or on brownies, or ice cream... ;)

     Cut your block of cream cheese into 4-6 rough chunks into a large microwave safe dish. Add about 6 of the marshmallows. Heat on high in the microwave for 1 minute. When you pull it out, you will see why I recommended a large dish.

See how puffy the marshmallows get? Give it a good stir and add the rest of the marshmallows. Depending on how melted your cream cheese is at this point, microwave in 30 second increments until you can mix it all together fairly well. There may be a few little bits of cream cheese, but it will still be delicious, it doesn't need to be heated to death! Serve warm, if you like, or at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftovers. Serves 4-6.

     And in less than 5 minutes you have a creamy, tasty dip for your fruit! My kids absolutely adore this, but don't think it is just for them. The marshmallows have such a great flavor, it is really amazing how it makes it seem like there are lots of different ingredients! That can be your little secret, but it is one I am happy to share with you.

     I actually think you could use any flavor of marshmallow you like (regular ones would be a teeny bit sweet and bland for my tastes) I think it would be really fun with the chocolate swirled ones, or the strawberry ones. There are even ice cream flavored ones... so many choices! However, I love the caramel vanilla ones so much, I don't know if I would be willing to try anything else...

Linked up at:
"Create It Thursday" at Lamberts Lately
"Fabulously Frugal Thursday" at A Life in Balance