Marshmallow dip is a sweet, dessert-like mixture that can be made from various types of marshmallow combined with other ingredients to make a treat used as a dip for fruits, crackers or cakes. The marshmallows can be combined with melted chocolate, chocolate syrup, vanilla, jams or preserves, pieces of diced fruit or even crushed graham crackers. The thick texture of the marshmallows can be cut with ingredients such as cream cheese, mascarpone cheese or whipped cream to make the dip easier to pick up. Marshmallow dip usually is not cooked and can be served at room temperature or chilled, although one type of dip uses a slow cooker to keep the marshmallows melted and in a gooey state.
The type of marshmallows used in a marshmallow dip will affect the final texture and, sometimes, the taste. Many dip recipes use premade marshmallow cream or whipped marshmallow spread, both of which are naturally in a fluffy, creamy state when at room temperature. Formed marshmallows can be used but need to be heated and eaten before cooling completely back into a solid state. It is possible to use homemade marshmallows in a marshmallow dip, because they essentially are made of just gelatin and corn syrup, although the resulting marshmallow mix will solidify after several hours and should not be allowed to set for too longer before being served.
Other than just serving plain marshmallow cream, one of the more popular combinations for a marshmallow dip is marshmallow cream and cream cheese. These ingredients are simply mixed together, chilled and served. Another recipe mixes the marshmallow cream with yogurt and mashed bananas to make a dip that has some sweetness and a tangy, fruity character.
For a more classic dessert-like marshmallow dip, marshmallow cream can be combined with chocolate pudding, either in layers or in a swirl throughout the dip. Melted chocolate, chocolate syrup, butterscotch or fruit jam can all be incorporated into marshmallow dip in the same way. The dip also can have solid ingredients such as sweet candies, crushed graham crackers, crushed cookies, or dried fruits and nuts mixed in.
One unique way to serve marshmallow dip is to prepare it in a slow cooker or fondue pot. This recipe uses sweetened condensed milk as a base along with chocolate chips that are melted in a slow cooker along with marshmallows or marshmallow cream. The dip, which will be warm and very creamy, can be served much like fondue, with cubes of cake and slices of fruit.