If you love dessert, but aren’t much of a baker, you would be a fool not to try this one! That is, you would be a fool not to make a fool.
A fool is a traditional British dessert made by folding stewed fruit into a custard base. We might call it pudding with fruit, but of course British folks have a whole other idea of what pudding is, so at risk of finding ourselves in a pickle, we’ll stick to custard.
Over the many, many years of their long history, fools have evolved to something a bit more simple and modern, and can be the term used for any variety of mashed or cooked-down fruit folded or layered with custard, cream, or something similar.
As desserts go, it is as simple as it gets, making it an ideal finish to a summer dinner party, a 10 minute treat after a trip to the farm stand, or just a effortless way to showcase your favorite fruits.
Fools require no recipe, though we will happily share one of ours right here!
To make a fool, first choose your fruit or combination of fruits. For very ripe, in-season ingredients, you may choose to use them fresh, perhaps with just a sprinkle of sugar to help release the juices. Give your fruits a rough chop or press with a fork to help break them into smaller pieces and create a little natural fruit sauce.
Berries are popular, but a fool can be made any season, so you might like yours with pomegranate seeds, finely diced pineapple, or cinnamon-sugared apples.
Next, choose your creamy component. Custard requires a bit more time and effort, but is classic, of course, not to mention decadent and delicious. For the most simple version, lightly sweetened whipped cream is the perfect accompaniment to any fruit. Take it up a notch by folding the whipped cream with honey-sweetened yogurt, tangy sour cream, or mascarpone. For a non-dairy and vegan version, try whipped coconut cream.
Once you have your two elements, you can either fold them together for a traditional fool or layer them in a glass for a modern dessert that looks beautiful on a tray or at your dinner table. You can layer in crunchy elements, if you like, such as shredded coconut or chopped nuts, or flavor your fruit layer with minced herbs or aromatics, like ginger.
Fools can be made ahead, with the caveat that juicy fruit will cause your creamy element to separate slightly. To avoid this, you can prepare both components and store them separately until you’re ready to serve.