Chocolate Chip Cheese Dip

8 oz (225 gram) cream cheese (in Israel, use 5% soft cheese)

3–4 Tbsp butter, softened

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar or to taste

1–2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 package vanilla sugar

1/4 tsp instant coffee, optional

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese and butter with a spoon, until light and fluffy. (This can be done in a mixer.) Add the sugars, vanilla, and coffee (if desired); mix until well incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips. Serve in a small bowl with crackers and/or cookies. Mini chocolate chip cookies are terrific with this. It beats dunking them in milk — hands down! Keep refrigerated until serving.

Low-fat version: Substitute low-fat cream cheese such as 3% soft cheese. Use just 1 Tbsp butter and melt it first. Use just 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 cup mini chips. Serve with apple wedges.

This recipe originally appeared in Mishpacha Magazine.