Make the most of summer berries with this luscious no-bake dessert!
You know those days in summer where everything is just about perfect? It’s sunny but not too hot, there’s a gentle breeze, and you get to enjoy it however you want: whether it’s lounging on the front porch, catching some rays at the beach or pool, or even just having a window open and soaking up the fresh air while you are busy around the house. On those kinds of days, you want to soak up all things summer but not necessarily spend all of your time in the kitchen. So here is the perfect summer recipe.
First, the berries. In most parts of the States, summertime is berry season. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries are especially good and plentiful in the summer. If you can get fresh berries from a garden or farmstand, go for it, but even supermarket berries should be really tasty in the warmer months. While there are a lot of baking options like pies, crisps, and cakes that pair well with fresh, ripe berries, those all use the oven. Berries and cream, on the other hand, is a no-bake, fast, and easy recipe that you will not only love to eat, but also to make because it’s so simple.
Berries and cream is a quick treat that lets the pure, sun-kissed flavor of the fresh berries shine through. The cream comes together quickly and provides the perfect foil for the berries: where the fresh berries are bright and tart, the cream is sweet and mellow. It’s a winning combo!
To Macerate Or Not To Macerate?
Many times, when making desserts featuring berries, you macerate (pronounced “mas-uh-reyt”) them first. To macerate berries (especially strawberries) means to sprinkle the clean, sliced berries with sugar and let them sit at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes. The sugar dissolves and the berries’ juices flow, making for a lightly syrupy, sweetened bowl of berries. You can certainly do this with the berries when making berries and cream, but it’s an added step. I find that the sweetness of the cream makes for a nice balance; however, if your berries aren’t naturally as sweet as you’d like them to be, it might be a worthwhile step.
FAQs & Tips
How Do I Store Leftovers?
If you have leftovers, store the berries and cream in separate, airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days. Freezing is not recommended.
Can I Prep This Ahead?
If you want to make berries and cream ahead of time, the best way to do this is to make the cream 24 to 48 hours ahead and store it in the fridge. Give it a little stir when ready to serve. The berries really taste best if freshly washed/prepared, so that portion of this dish is not really a make-ahead one.
Chill The Beater And Bowl
In step 3, when you are whipping the sweetened cream, start with not only a chilled bowl but also a chilled beater. Simply placing both the beater and bowl into the freezer or fridge about 30 minutes ahead of time makes for an easier process. Keeping everything that touches the cream cold will help it set up into peaks better.
Can I Make This Vegan?
Certainly. One simple swap makes this dessert totally plant-based. Just substitute a non-dairy heavy whipping cream (Silk brand is one that is available nationally) for the 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream. Berries and cream can be a lovely vegan dessert!
Serving Suggestions
Since this is such a simple dessert, you can have fun with the presentation. You can go for the classic, as pictured here, with a shallow bowl of cream topped artfully with the fresh berries. Or, you can mix things up and put the berries on the bottom of the bowl and top with a dollop (or more) of the cream. Finally, you can make parfaits: starting with the berries, layer the two elements in glass parfait dishes or tall glasses. Finish with the berries and sprinkle with a little powdered sugar on top.
You can also serve berries and cream alongside baked goods. For instance, they go beautifully with a slice of rich Pound Cake or easy-breezy Vanilla Sheet Cake. You can also top cupcakes with them. Berries and cream make for a nice addition to your brunch table as well; top a Puffed Pancake with them or serve alongside Baked Oatmeal for a decadent topping.
Berries and Cream
Ingredients
- 3 cups mixed fresh berries strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar plus more to taste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Gently rinse the berries under cool water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- In a large chilled bowl, mix together the heavy whipping cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Beat the cream with an electric mixer or whisk until soft peaks appear. Adjust sweetness by adding more sugar if desired.
- Divide the berries evenly among four serving dishes. Top each with a generous spoonful of whipped cream.
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