Fruit Dips

By Jesse Jayne Rutherford with input from Lucy Rutherford

Entertaining isn’t always an evening event. These fruit dips are perfect centerpieces to a morning brunch, holiday breakfast, or early family gathering.

SOUR CREAM FRUIT DIP

Ingredients:

• One 16-ounce tub sour cream (you can use light sour cream, if you like)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Fruit for dipping: use a variety of the best-looking fruits you can find that are in-season locally, or that are available for purchase where you live.
• The following fruits are usually available to all, and go well with this dip:
• Granny Smith and red delicious apples
• Bananas
• Red grapes
• Strawberries

Directions:

1. Combine all dip ingredients and mix well.
2. Slice fruits as usual for presentation.
3. Arrange sliced fruit around the dip on a tray and serve while still cool.
4. You may wish to sprinkle the fruit with fresh lemon juice to prevent it from turning brown if you expect it to sit a while.

Yield: 16 ounces

MASCARPONE CHEESE FRUIT DIP

Ingredients:

• One 8-ounce tub sour cream
• 1 tablespoon honey or real maple syrup
• Seeds scraped from one vanilla bean
• Fruit for dipping: use a variety of the best-looking fruits you can find that are in-season locally, or that are available for purchase where you live.
• The following fruits are usually available to all, and go well with this dip:
• Granny Smith and red delicious apples
• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Strawberries 

Directions:

1. Combine all dip ingredients and mix well.
2. Slice fruits as usual for presentation.
3. Arrange sliced fruit around the dip on a tray and serve while still cool.
4. You may wish to sprinkle the fruit with fresh lemon juice to prevent it from turning brown if you expect it to sit a while.
5. You can also drizzle the fruit with the honey or maple syrup.

Yield: 8 ounces (You may wish to double this recipe.)

Photo courtesy of startcooking.com