Last night, we were getting ready to leave for our weekly Meaty Mondays get-together (a local gathering here of 6-8 families — each family brings meat for the grill and side or dessert to share). We were planning to bring corn on the cob and Jesse was going to roast it in the oven (he makes this delicious recipe that everyone loves!).
Well, he pulled the corn on the cob out and realized that some of it was moldy. Yuck!
So I quickly scanned the fridge looking for a Plan B. I saw we had a package of cream cheese I’d purchased for another recipe a few weeks back that I hadn’t ended up making. And I saw we had peanut butter and two bags of apples that we’d just bought at the store this week.
That’s when I remembered this yummy Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Apple Dip that I used to make way back when. For a few years, it was one of our go-to recipes when we hosted guests or needed to bring a side dish somewhere.
I’m not sure when the recipe sort of fell by the wayside at our house, but I figured it was high time I resurrected it. Especially since I needed a side dish in a jiffy last night and wasn’t coming up with a lot of other quick and easy options.
It ended up being the hit recipe last night… and I decided I’ll likely be making it a lot more often. I love that it’s fairly inexpensive (all the ingredients can be purchased at ALDI — which is always a plus!), serves a crowd, and always gets rave reviews.
Plus, the recipe is very forgiving. Last night, I didn’t measure at all. I just dumped some ingredients in a bowl, stirred, taste-tested, and added a few more ingredients until it was “just right”.
Here’s the basic recipe I work from:
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Apple Dip
- 1 8 oz. package cream cheese
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup powered sugar (you can also use brown sugar)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1-3 Tablespoons milk (adjust this depending upon how thick or creamy you’d like the dip to be)
Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl with beaters until smooth. Add more milk or sugar, if needed.
Serve with sliced apples… or just eat it plain. 😉
Oh and I just have to share this picture from last night. My friend, Tam, was getting her food while I was getting mine. And then she looked at our plates and just started laughing. Yup… we might just have a teeny bit of different tastes in food. 😉
I also do an apple dip with peanut butter that is very simple, forgiving, and last minute.
Equal parts peanut butter, honey, and mayonnaise. I can make a large bowl for a gathering or simply mix together a spoonful of each for my afternoon apple snack. Tastes remarkable similar to caramel. No one guesses it contains mayonnaise. I may have to try cream cheese next time.
Thanks for sharing that tip! -Jordan, MSM Team
How far in advance can I make this??
I’d say you could probably make it at least a day in advance.
How far in advance can i make this? Thanks!
I just made this so yummy. I didn’t (and rarely do) have the sugar but I found that if you use skippy’s honey peanut butter and vanilla flavored coconut milk you really don’t need the sugar!
Would you be willing to share more info about Meaty Mondays? I think that is an awesome idea for summer get-togethers that would help build relationships in my church family and neighborhood. My main question is the “how-to” of bringing meat. Does a family bring meat for their own family or say a pound of something to share? I’m just trying to think how to prevent hurt feelings. Say if a family that brings steak each week vs the family that continually brings el-cheapo hotdogs (just over selfish reasons, not because that’s what they can afford right now). Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
We all bring and grill meat for our own families — so you can bring hot dogs or steak or anything in between. And then we share the sides/desserts.
I hope that helps!
Thank you!! I’m looking forward to starting a “meaty-Monday” group this fall. 🙂
I LOVE it! You’ll have to let me know how it goes!
Thought I would share! I made this a vegan way and it was awesome! I used tofuttie cream cheese and vanilla soy milk and it was awesome;) thanks for the recipe!
Oh yum! Thanks so much for sharing!
How do you prepare your apples so they don’t turn brown? I usually dip them in pineapple juice, but I was curious if you knew of another way to keep them from turning. Thanks for the recipe!
You can just bring them washed and sliced them up when you get to a get-together — or right before serving to guests. We also sometimes use lemon juice. Pineapple juice is a great idea, too!
What kind(s) of apples do you like to use with this dip?
We especially love Gala apples… but I often just buy whatever is on sale. 🙂
Cool. Thanks! 🙂
Thanks for jogging my memory! One of our favorite desserts (not as healthy as yours) was to bake one big peanut butter cookie on a pizza stone, put the cream cheese/peanut butter spread on the cookie and then top with apple slices and carmel drized over the top. I think that will b e used, and posted, this fall. Have a great day!
Gina
Oh, that sounds yummy!!
Can’t wait to make this today for my grandbabies. They love to snack on apples and love peanut butter so this should be a big hit!
You can also add peanut butter or PB2 to vanilla Greek yogurt
Thanks for this suggestion!
Just wanted to say you look so happy and relaxed and I am thrilled for you and your family enjoying your new community! Happy summer!
Aw, thank you so much! We are so very blessed to be here!
Could we please have Jesse’s recipe for roasted corn? 🙂
I love this recipe! I am inspired by your weekly get-togethers. I’m going to try to start a weekly tradition too!
We have LOVED being apart of Meaty Mondays. It’s such a fun, laid-back, encouraging, and looked-forward-to part of our week!
The dip looks very good. Just in time for a party I have on Thursday. I was looking for something to bring. Thanks for sharing.
Yay! I hope you all enjoy it!
Love this recipe, we eat it at parties all the time.
Would love to have Jesse’s roasted corn recipe!
I’m hosting a game night this weekend, and this is going on the menu. Thanks! 🙂
Yay! I hope you all enjoy it!
I’m more interested in the roasted corn on the cob that Jesse makes in the oven. Recipe?
Me too.
Let me see if I can get him to make it soon so I can do a post with pictures and the recipe! He’s been having so much fun experimenting in the kitchen since we moved and he doesn’t have such a jam-packed schedule.
Me three.
The best recipes are the ones you can make “by the seat of your pants.”
And such a cute photo of you two, “ebony and ivory…”
I’m all about cooking “by the seat of my pants” — best kind of cooking there is, in my opinion! 🙂
Looks delicious! Wish my baby wasn’t allergic to peanuts & dairy!
Bummer… allergies can be hard to deal with. 🙁
Have you seen the blog, Chocolated Covered Katie? She has lots of great dairy-free recipe ideas for yummy desserts!
Yes, I like that blog! Thank you!
There’s a really yummy one with pumpkin and cream cheese by Kraft. We have nut allergies too. I love PB, so I’d be making this dip if I could!
Ok, I’m so goofy! Dairy too.
Fun post! This makes me want to host some dinner get-togethers! And I have the same shirt you’re wearing, only mine is bright pink. Loving these personal posts!
Too fun that you have the same shirt! I got mine from Like Twice and LOVE it!
You are both so cute!
🙂 So blessed to know Tam… and wish I could share her with you all, too. Because she’s so fun, but also such an amazing friend!
Did you know that dip can also be made into a no-bake peanut butter cheesecake? I just made it recently and it’s awesome!
http://thejewishlady.com/bake-peanut-butter-caramel-cheesecake/
Oh, thanks so much for this great tip!
Thank you, Crystal, for blessing me every single day with your blog and everything its taught me!
Aw, you’re so sweet!