strawberry fool

Recipe by
Fran Miller
Parkersburg, WV

If you need a quick dessert that looks impressive, look no farther. Strawberry fool to the rescue! In about an hour or so, you’ll have diced strawberries and set them to macerate with sugar, whipped homemade whipped cream, combined the two parts in gentle swirls, scooped it into a pretty dish or parfait glasses, and allowed it to set up to meld the flavors. The funny name may come from the French “fouler,” meaning to crush, like the strawberries. Some disagree since early fools didn’t contain fruit. But this is a true British dessert, foolish or not. =^..^=

yield 8 serving(s)
prep time 15 Min
method Refrigerate/Freeze

Ingredients For strawberry fool

  • 3 c
    strawberries, hulled and diced
  • 1/4 c
    white sugar
  • 2 Tbsp
    chambord (raspberry liqueur), optional
  • 2 c
    heavy whipping cream
  • 1/3 c
    confectioners sugar
  • OPTIONS
  • whole strawberries, for garnish
  • some
    madelines or shortbread cookies
  • raspberries, blackberries, or mixed berries

How To Make strawberry fool

  • Strawberries and sugar
    1
    Place the diced* strawberries** into a medium bowl and stir in the white sugar. Add liqueur, if desired. Set aside for 30-60 minutes. *Note: The photo shows SLICED strawberries, but I edited the text to read DICED strawberries because it is easier to dice them at this step than after they macerate in sugar. You’re welcome! =^..^= ** If you’re going to make parfaits, set aside 1/2 cup of diced strawberries before adding the sugar. Put another larger empty bowl in the freezer to chill for 30 minutes.
  • 2
    Remove the chilled bowl from the freezer and add the heavy whipping cream. Using a hand mixer, beat the cream and confectioners sugar until soft peaks form. Transfer the whipped cream to a pretty serving dish, if desired, or save a little plain whipped cream for topping, if you’re making the fool in parfait glasses.
  • Drained Strawberries
    3
    Drain and save the excess “juice” from the strawberries and lightly swirl the strawberries into the whipped cream. It looks pretty if you end up with pink and white swirls, but make yourself happy. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dessert to set in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or so OR divide the dessert into parfait glasses before chilling. (See Step #4.)
  • Blending the whipped cream & fruit
    4
    Serve with cookies and a ramekin of strawberry juice for dipping the cookies in, then dipping into the dessert. OR… spoon the dessert into parfait glasses layered with diced strawberries, strawberry juice, cookie crumbles, plain whipped cream, and a little strawberry fan on top. Chill until dessert time. Serve cookies on the side.
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