Brown Sugar Fruit Dip

We needed a quick fun snack for some unexpected company coming over. I needed to please both kids and their parents, so I looked around my kitchen and saw, cream cheese, fruit and pretzels - so I went with it.
My 5 year old daughter helped with this one.

We have a ritual any time we use vanilla.
We reverently open the bottle....I inhale deeply with my eyes closed and just let everything in the world but the glorious scent of the vanilla go away - I exhale a very satisfying aaaaahhhhhhhh! I pass the bottle to my daughter and she does exactly the same.

It's moments like those I know my kids will have forever burned in their memories and one I hope they will treasure :)

Vanilla is absolutely one of my very favorite things and I think my kids won't have a choice in the matter but to one day say the same lol!

Hope you enjoy this oh so tasty dip!!

Brown Sugar Fruit Dip for a Crowd

2 8oz packages of cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar (or more to taste)
2 1/2 TBS vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix the softened cream cheese in your mixer for about 2 minutes on medium speed, you what to really whip it up. Add in the brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon and continue mixing until fully incorporated.

Place in a crock or two small souffle dishes and serve.

Serve with apple slices, strawberries, grapes and pretzels. The salt and the sweet go so good together!!

Optional: top with some additional brown sugar, OR for some crunch make up a bit of toffee and crumble - place half in a middle layer and the rest on top...YUM!

Kids you need a Cooking Buddy for this part:
To make toffee melt 1 stick of butter and 1/2 cup white sugar in a saucepan, add in a dash or two of salt - keep stirring until it comes to a full boil, keep it going a few minutes more (about 280 if you have a candy thermometer), stir vigorously.
Pour onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet or cake pan. Cool in the fridge, peel the paper off break apart and sprinkle (and nibble) and sprinkle some more!

Happy Cooking!