Strawberry Whipped Cream, almost a Fool

Print Print | Print Email this to a friend | July 23, 2008
Filed Under basic, dessert, recipe

strawberry coulis

These strawberries were so gorgeous that I just had to have them. They were the inspiration for a Summer Torte I made for my stepmother’s birthday, that recipe to come soon. First I made a Strawberry Fool of sorts, but unlike a traditional fool I used pectin to stabilize it. I needed the whipped cream to hold up when used as the layers of the cake, but I didn’t want to use gelatin. I’ve been playing with pectin ever since my brother and his girlfriend became vegans. Plus, it is just fun to play with new ingredients in ways I hadn’t before.

The pectin helps to stabilize the whipped cream just a bit, but still has the light smooth texture of cream.

Stabilized Strawberry Whipped Cream:

3 cups sliced fresh strawberries (2 cups puree)

1/4 cup sugar or to taste (this may depend on how sweet the berries are)

1 packet certo liquid pectin

1 pint heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Strawberry Whipped Cream

Puree the strawberries in a blender or food processor. I pureed it until very smooth, but didn’t strain it. I wanted to keep the entire fruit. If you want yours to be perfectly smooth then strain it through a fine meshed sieve.

strawberry coulis

In a sauce pan bring the puree to a rapid boil for about 1-2 minutes.

strawberry coulis

Turn the heat off and add the certo to the puree.

strawberry coulis

Pour into a dish and allow to cool, place in the refrigerator once it is warm to the touch, but not hot. Keep refrigerated until completely cold and slightly set up. Unlike the fruit pâtes this will still be soft, not set hard.

Once the puree is cool and thick you can whip the heavy cream until it is stiff glossy peaks. Carefully fold the strawberry puree into the cream, trying not to work it too much. I love it in layers with fresh strawberries for an easy dessert or as the filling for a summer torte.

Strawberry Whipped Cream

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Comments

16 Responses to “Strawberry Whipped Cream, almost a Fool”

07/23/08 8:27 pm	Katharine said... would this work with other fruit, peaches or rasberries?
07/23/08 8:54 pm	zoe said... Hi Katherine, Yes, peaches would be wonderful! Raspberries too. Just about any berry, stone fruit, mangos, pineapples and on and on. Have fun and if you are just wanting to do it in the glass and not use it in the cake, you can leave out the pectin. Enjoy! Zoë
07/23/08 9:50 pm	Sara said... That looks gorgeous! I’m not too familiar with pectin though. What exactly is it and where do you find it? Is there any good substitute if I can’t find it?
07/23/08 9:58 pm	zoe said... Hi Sara, It is sold in most grocery stores in the section that sells gelatin and/or canning goods. The brand I used was Certo. It is naturally derived from fruits and other plants. It is used in place of gelatin which is derived from animals and therefore people following a vegan diet avoid using it. I’ll have to figure out how much gelatin you would use to replace the pectin? Thanks! Zoë
07/23/08 9:59 pm	zoe said... Sara, One more thing, if you are just using it as I did in a glass then you don’t really need the stabilizer. I wanted it to hold up to my cake layers, but if you are just piping it into a glass it doesn’t really need it! Zoë
07/24/08 7:01 am	Jeanine said... This looks like a perfect summertime dessert! Wonderful job!
07/24/08 8:11 am	leslie said... Looks beautiful, refreshing and Delish!
07/24/08 1:43 pm	nada said... such a beautfiful photograph!
07/24/08 2:55 pm	Madeline said... This is gorgeous! What a pretty and light dessert.
07/24/08 8:13 pm	Y said... Oh those strawberries! Love that first photo
07/24/08 9:13 pm	zoe said... Hey thanks everyone! Y, those strawberries are even tastier than they are photogenic! Zoë
07/25/08 4:35 am	Aran said... That first photo of the strawberries is sooo beautiful! Love it!
07/25/08 11:20 am	zoe said... Hi Aran, Thank you so much, it is a wonderful compliment from someone so utterly talented with sugar and a camera as yourself! Zoë
07/26/08 6:53 am	Linda said... Oh my, this looks delicious! So saving this so I can try it later
07/26/08 10:34 am	Lori said... I love your site, your photographs, your recipes, and your general sensibility! This post has been killing me since Wednesday – I’m making it today. FINALLY. Thanks for the luscious temptation.
07/26/08 5:54 pm	zoe said... Hi Lori, Thank you so much for the kind words. I surely hope it satisfies the cravings! Enjoy, Zoë