If you love the classic strawberries and cream combination then you'll love this Strawberry Fool recipe. This easy strawberry recipe is typically made with sweetened whipped cream and fresh strawberries, but I've added a twist by making it with roasted strawberries. Roasted strawberries add a deep caramelized flavor to the fool. The final dessert is light, creamy, and perfect for hot summer days.
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About This Strawberry Fool Recipe
This recipe is simple, and elegant, and showcases the natural sweetness and delicious flavor of in-seaon strawberries, which I can't get enough of.
I've always loved the combination of strawberries and cream, hence my love for Strawberry Shortcake. Whenever I make strawberry shortcake, I always have at least one bowl of just strawberries and whipped cream mixed together. Little did I know that these two ingredients together create a whole new dessert called a fool.
For this recipe, I put my spin on it by making it with strawberries roasted with vanilla bean. I also add pistachios for crunch and color. The roasted strawberries add a lot of flavor and color to this classic dessert. You'll love this dessert. And if you're making it for friends and family you'll get plenty of oohs and aahs when they try it.
What is a Strawberry Fool
I'm always looking for new ways to use strawberries and when I came across this fool recipe I had to make it. But fool is such a strange name for a dessert, so of course I had to look it up. The name "fool" likely comes from the French word "fouler," meaning "to crush" or "to press." This refers to the simple method of making this dessert, which involves crushing (pureeing) the fruit and folding fruit into sweetened cream. And there you have it - an easy dessert perfect for any time.
Strawberry Fool Ingredients
- Roasted Strawberries: Use this recipe for roasted strawberries. It can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the refrigerator. These roasted strawberries are made with sugar and vanilla beans and contain a ton of flavor.
- Heavy Cream: For the best results use heavy whipping cream that is at least 36% fat. Don't use light cream or whipping cream that comes in a canister.
- Powdered Sugar: I prefer powdered sugar when making whipped cream, because it dissolves so easily, but if you don't have powdered sugar you can use granulated sugar instead.
- Pistachios: The pistachios add a nice flavor and beautiful color, but if you're allergic to nuts you can leave them off.
Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Strawberry Fool
This is a simple dessert to make. The most important things to remember are not to overwhip the whipped cream and to have fun making it.
Step 1: Make the roasted strawberries the day before. Let them cool and then store them in the refrigerator to chill.
Step 2: Puree the strawberries just until they are chunky.
Step 2: Whip the cream on medium speed until soft peaks form.
Step 3: Add the puree and gently fold the puree into whipped cream.
Step 4: Place a generous tablespoon of the roasted strawberry puree in the bottom of the glass or dessert container.
Step 5: Add a portion of the strawberry fool to the glass on top of the puree.
Step 6: Top the strawberry fool with more strawberry puree. Chill the fool in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving
Step 7: Top the fool whipped cream, fresh strawberries, pistachios right before serving.
How to Store Strawberry Fool
For the best results store the assembled strawberry fool in the refrigerator 1-2 hours before serving.
Leftover strawberry fool can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days. You can use the leftovers as a topping for pancakes, waffles, or ice cream.
Helpful Tips for Making Strawberry Fool
Here are some things I have learned along the way to ensure you get the best results and have a great-tasting and beautiful dessert.
- Choose ripe, flavorful strawberries: Look for berries that are bright red, plump, sweet, and fragrant.
- Taste before using: The sweetness of your strawberries will vary, so taste them before adding sugar. Adjust the amount of sugar in the recipe accordingly.
- Whip cream to soft peaks: Overwhipped cream will become grainy. Stop when you see soft peaks that gently droop at the tips.
- Fold gently: Overmixing will deflate the whipped cream, resulting in a denser fool.
- Chill before serving: Chilling enhances the flavors and firms up the dessert slightly.
If you make this refreshing strawberry fool please leave a rating and a comment below.
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If You Like This Recipe, Try These Recipes
Creamy Strawberry Fool with Roasted Strawberries
Equipment
- Medium-sized mixing bowl
- 4 6 ounce ramekins or dessert glasses
Ingredients
- 1-3/4 cups roasted strawberries chilled, divided
- 1-1/2 cups (360 ml) heavy cream cold, divided
- 3 tablespoons (23 grams) powdered sugar divided
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup pistachios toasted and chopped
- 1 cup (125 grams) fresh strawberries sliced into rounds or quartered
Instructions
- Roasted Strawberries: Use this recipe to make the roasted strawberries. This recipe makes about 2 cups. Make the recipe the day before making the strawberry fool, so it has time to cool and chill.
- Place a medium size mixing bowl and the whisk attachment in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- Puree the roasted strawberries in a mini-food processor or place them in a bowl and mash them with a fork or potato masher. The strawberries should be a little chunky.
- Remove the mixing bowl from the refrigerator. Pour 1 cup of heavy cream into the bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and the vanilla extract. With the hand held mixer, mix the cream on low speed for about 1 minute, then increase the speed to medium and mix until soft peaks form. Soft peaks are when you lift the beaters out of the cream, a peak forms, then folds over. If the peak stays straight up you have stiff peaks.
- Add 1 cup of the pureed strawberries to the whipped cream. Gently fold the berries into the cream. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl as you fold the berries in. The berries should be streaked through the cream.
Assemble the Strawberry Fools
- Spoon a generous tablespoon of strawberry puree into the bottom of your dessert cup or glass. Gently spoon about 1/4 of the strawberry fool on top of the puree. Next add another tablespoon of puree on top of the strawberry fool filling.
- Store the strawberry fool in the refrigerator for one (1) hour before serving. When ready to serve the dessert combine the remaining 1/2 cup of heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar in a small bowl. With a handheld mixer, mix on low speed then medium speed until soft peaks form. Add a dollop of whipped cream to the top of each dessert, then top with some fresh strawberries. Sprinkle the chopped pistachios over the top of the dessert.
Storing Leftovers
- Leftover strawberry fool can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Use the leftovers as a topping for pancakes, waffles, or ice cream.
Amanda Rosen says
Really not a fan.
It took ages to roast the strawberries, and the end result dessert was rather lack lustre. Have definitely made better desserts. My bookclub gets to eat these fools tonight. Hope they enjoy!
Cheryl Norris says
Hi Amanda
I'm sorry you didn't like this dessert, but I hope your book club likes it. Out of curiosity how long did you roast the strawberries for?