The first day of April is the perfect time to highlight a fruit fool. This English dessert originating in the 1500s has changed a bit over the ensuing centuries. The earliest versions of fruit fools combined puréed stewed fruit (classically gooseberries) with sweet custard. Stewed fruit was used due to the mistaken belief that fresh fruit was unhealthy to eat. Fortunately, we have learned much about food and health in the last half millennia. Current iterations of this dessert combine fresh fruit and whipped cream, making for a light and delicious treat.
The fool I am making today uses sweet cherries. The whipped cream is balanced with sour cream, resulting in a slightly tangy flavor profile. Amaretti cookies contribute the wonderful flavor of almonds along with some crunch to the finished product. This April Fool’s Day is sweet and delicious and prank free!
Cherry Amaretti Fool
Cherry Amaretti Fool (adapted from tasteofhome.com) Total Time Required 2-1/2 hours, Prep Time: 30 minutes. Chill time: 2 hours, Makes: 6 – 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
- 1/3 cup cold water
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen sweet cherries, pitted and halved, divided
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 ounces coarsely crushed (1 cup) amaretti cookies,
- whipped cream, fresh mint leaves, sweet cherries, crushed amaretti cookies for garnish
Directions:
In a small saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water. Let it stand for 1 minute, then heat and stir over low heat until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Soften the gelatin.
Place the sour cream, sugar, lemon juice, extracts, 1 cup of halved cherries, and the gelatin mixture in a food processor. Cover and process until the cherries are pureed. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
Process the sour cream, sugar, lemon juice, extracts, cherries, and the gelatin mixture until the cherries are pureed.
In a small bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form.
Whip the cream.
Gently fold the whipped cream into the cherry mixture.
Add the whipped cream to the cherry mixture.
Chop 1 cup of cherries. Fold the crushed cookies and chopped cherries into the fool mixture.
Fold the crushed amaretti and cherries into the fool.
Divide the mixture among 6 – 8 dessert glasses. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Divide the fools into serving glasses and refrigerate.
Serve the fools with whipped cream, fresh mint leaves, the remaining sweet cherries, and additional crushed amaretti cookies for garnish, if desired.
So full of cherry and almond flavors!
Dessert is preferrable to pranks any day! ~Linda
Cherry Amaretti Fool (adapted from tasteofhome.com) Total Time Required 2-1/2 hours, Prep Time: 30 minutes. Chill time: 2 hours, Makes: 6 – 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
- 1/3 cup cold water
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 ounces fresh or frozen sweet cherries, pitted and halved, divided
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 ounces coarsely crushed (1 cup) amaretti cookies,
- whipped cream, fresh mint leaves, sweet cherries, crushed amaretti cookies for garnish
Directions:
In a small saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water. Let it stand for 1 minute, then heat and stir over low heat until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Place the sour cream, sugar, lemon juice, extracts, 1 cup of halved cherries, and the gelatin mixture in a food processor. Cover and process until the cherries are pureed. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
In a small bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cherry mixture. Chop 1 cup of cherries. Fold the crushed cookies and chopped cherries into the fool mixture. Divide the mixture among 6 – 8 dessert glasses. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Serve the fools with whipped cream, fresh mint leaves, the remaining sweet cherries, and additional crushed amaretti cookies for garnish, if desired.