When it's hot out, cool down with these easy no-cook berry fools that take 10 minutes to make with 5 ingredients. Whipped mascarpone cream + honey-sweetened berries = summer dessert bliss!
When summer brings the heat, these summer berry fools are the answer. I first shared this recipe while testing crisp and cobbler recipes for my cookbook. I had some extra berries, it was too hot to bake, so I whipped up these cool and creamy desserts. Now you can too!
What is a Fool?
Fool is an old-school no-bake dessert that's usually made by folding berry compote into whipped cream. It sounds pretty basic, and yet the way the two come together creates everything I could ever want in a dessert. It's basically instant soft serve ice cream.
With how simple and delicious fools are, they should get more press. Before making these, I could only recall eating two fools in my life: one at Universal Cafe (a favorite San Francisco eatery that has since closed its doors) many years ago, and the other at my friend and yoga teacher Gizella's house.
Gizella not only inspires stretchy hamstrings, open hips, and torturous core work, she also inspires dessert. That evening, after a delicious meal of salmon braised in coconut milk, steamed greens, roasted chicken, and fancy cheese (this woman can cook) she plopped a large glass of blueberry fool in front of me. In spite of my better intentions, I gobbled up the whole thing. The fool consisted simply of blueberries cooked with a bit of sugar, cooled, and folded into whipped cream. I had no regrets. (Well, maybe the drunken headstands I did after consuming said meal weren't such a good idea...)
Regardless, it was then that I became a fool for fool.
Mascarpone Makes Everything Better... Even Fool!
For my version, I like to swap whipped mascarpone for the whipped cream, which brings a cheesecake vibe. I also prefer the pretty look of layering the macerated berries with the mascarpone instead of folding the two together.
Ingredients & Substitution Suggestions
This recipe uses just 5 main ingredients.
- Berries star here. I use a mix of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, but feel free to use a single variety or any others that you like. I wouldn't use blueberries on their own, however, as they don't break down as well when mashed.
- Honey sweetens the berries. I love a dark honey here, such as buckwheat honey, which adds earthy notes, but any type will work. You can use sugar if you prefer, or any other sweetener of choice.
- Mascarpone whipped with heavy cream and a little vanilla makes a floofy addition to support layers of juicy berries. Or if you're craving a lighter dessert, swap the mascarpone for Greek yogurt or skyr for more tangy goodness. Or go with whipped creme fraiche.
- For dairy-free, layer the berries with coconut whipped cream or paleo cream cheese frosting.
- I like to top these with a sprinkle of bee pollen and toasted pistachios for color, plus an extra drizzle of honey, but feel free to skip these toppings or add any that you prefer.
How to Make Berry Fool (and not make a fool of yourself)
These fools take just 10 minutes to make, turning out 4 servings.
Serving Suggestions
These fools pair well with something crunchy on the side. Here are some favorites:
- Homemade gluten-free graham crackers bring a cheesecake vibe
- Gluten-free biscotti are long and crisp enough to dip
- Thin, crisp gluten-free sugar cookies taste like shortbread, only better
- Add some slices of gluten-free sponge cake soaked with liqueur and call it trifle
- Make the fools using Greek yogurt and top them with orange spice granola and you can enjoy them for a fancy breakfast or afternoon snack
Fools for Everyone
If I haven't convinced you to embrace the fool, here's a last pitch: they're the perfect dessert for when it's too hot to turn on the oven, stove, grill, or any other source of heat. If you can muster the energy to stir from the couch and stagger into the kitchen, then you can make a fool. (Just don't make a fool out of yourself.) You can throw them together in a matter of minutes and chill them for several hours until ready to serve.
I will close this post with the dulcet stylings of Ella Fitzgerald, because these foolish things remind me of her and there's no song I'd rather listen to on a sweltering hot day.
Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or Pinterest, purchase my award-winning gluten-free baking cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this berry fool recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet.
10-Minute Summer Berry Fools
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 cups mixed summer berries such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and/or huckleberries (245 g) (strawberries hulled and cut into chunks)
- 2 tablespoons honey, or sugar to taste (30 ml)
- 2 recipes whipped mascarpone*
For topping the fools (optional):
- a few pinches of bee pollen
- a handful chopped toasted pistachios or other nuts
Instructions
- Rinse the berries and drain well. Place in a medium-sized bowl, drizzle with the 2 tablespoons honey, and mash into a chunky sauce. Chill until needed, preferably not more than 10 minutes or so as the honey will continue to draw moisture out of the berries and the mixture will be harder to layer.
- Make the whipped mascarpone and whip to firm peaks so it will be firm enough to support the juicy berries
- Layer the cream and berries into 3-4 small glasses, beginning and ending with the cream. You may have extra cream. The fools can be covered and chilled for up to several hours, or served immediately. To serve, drizzle with honey and top with a big pinch of bee pollen and a dusting of chopped pistachios.
Amber Harding says
This is pure awesomeness! Happy to know that recipe!
valentina says
Do you really have problems with gluten-free flours making crumbles?
Btw I didd't know you have that "poop" problem in San Francisco, that's crazy!
Btw 2, these fools are incredibly wonderful!
Alanna @ One Tough Cookie says
These look heavenly! Love the gorgeous colours in the swirl (and also that grey surface they're shot on! is that new?). If you want a hand testing the crumbles, just give me a shout!
Sherrie says
Alanna these are so beautiful. I am loving the last bits of summer goodness, and berries. These are perfect to swallow all of that up! xx
cynthia says
These are SO, so unbelievably dreamy. That whipped cloud of vanilla, cream and skyr is heaven! I've been meaning to try Siggi's for so very long -- these fools look like the perfect way to do it. Also, a super super belated and HUGE CONGRATS on your BOOK!!!!! I'm so over-the-moon excited for it and for you! I can only imagine how full of beauty and poignancy it's going to be, just like this gorgeous space. So many yays! (And eep, fingers crossed SF cools down soon!)
Erika Kampen says
These look so incredibly delicious! I love that you topped them with pistachios. They have such a great flavor! Keep up your amazing work! :)
Heather (Delicious Not Gorgeous) says
love the colors on these! even though it's super hot around here, the berries still seem to be slowly going out of season (noo!), making this all the more desirable.
Eileen says
It has not been fun at all down in the south bay! This deliciously cool and creamy fool is definitely a great way to combat it (along with hiding inside for days on end and running all the fans at 7 am, that is). :)
Bella B says
This looks so fresh and healthy!
xoxoBella | http://xoxobella.com
Sydney | Modern Granola says
This is the most beautiful thing I've laid eyes on in some time. I bet it tastes as gorgeous as it looks! I've never heard of or eaten a fool before, but I'm so excited to try!
xx Sydney
Haley Martin says
I love how the most delicious foods are always so simple. This looks fantastic!
Dena Testa Bray says
So lovely. The photos are absolutely fabulous. And I agree with Haley: The most delicious foods are simple. Thank you so much.
Megan | the bay leaf kitchen says
The SF heat has been killing me these last few days too! I'm semi-new to the SF summer life, but boy, do I feel unprepared for the heat! So used to wearing sweaters around in the mornings and evenings, but now all I can do is wear dresses and skirts 24/7. These look amazingly refreshing, and I love your description of how the simple ingredients like fresh berries and buckwheat honey, really come through in this dessert. I'll have to make this soon. Thanks!
Angela Field says
I do love a fool and it's such a classic Nigel Slater type recipe - he does love to be quintessentially British. If you like his stuff, you might like Mark Hix as well, he has a great book called British Food - I've made a lot of great stuff from it.
These look lovely and they're the perfect dinner party dessert, a lovely change from Eton Mess. I shall definitely be trying these. Thanks for sharing.
Alanna says
Eton Mess is next on my list, and I'll check out Mark Hix. Thanks for the tip!
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
Oh my...these are so beautiful. The colors scream summer, something I'm not quite ready to let go of. I cannot WAIT to see what kind of delicious crumbles the book has in store for us!!
Bianka says
I'm always down for berries, but either way this looks delicious and I'd love to make it
Cindy says
These are so gorgeous and fools are so easy yet impressive! I have only used buckwheat honey with chocolate (in brownies!) and that was years ago. I need to revisit.
Allie says
Having never been to SF, it sounds like the best place on earth, also with a few small perplexing problems (and I'm always so scared of "the big" earthquake)! Regardless, I absolutely can't wait to visit. And this yogurt dessert looks so good - thick yogurt mixed with heavy cream sounds heavenly. Gonna bookmark to make soon!
Gaby Dalkin says
Ok, these are ideal for the hot days I'm having too!! Call me a fool for fools!
June Burns says
What a gorgeous summer dessert that looks like! Love the vanilla bean yogurt, so pretty with the little flecks of vanilla caviar in there :)
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet says
These berry yogurts are so beautiful! Thanks for the balsamic vinegar tip. :) Pinning!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
This looks amazing! What a great idea!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Those layers are perfection, such gorgeousness!
Trish says
What a quick and delightful dessert! I put it together after lunch today using raspberries and crumbled a few gf graham crackers on top. It’s so nice to have an option that doesn’t heat up the kitchen. Nice work again, Alanna!
Alanna Taylor-Tobin says
Aw thanks for trying the recipe and for the sweet note, Trish! So glad you liked them. It's hard to wrong with any berries right now, and raspberries might be my favorite!