A fool for Father’s Day: No-cook summer dessert easy enough for kids

A “fool” is one of the first desserts I learned to make, taught to me by my grandmother. It didn’t involve turning on the stove, so it was a good introduction. (And I got to use the mixer!) Plus I loved the name.

Fruit fools are sort of foody puns; the idea is to create something that looked “special enough for company,” but that could be put together quickly with ingredients on hand.

What better dessert for Father’s Day than a foody pun that kids can make?

I still use my grandmother’s parfait glasses, but this layered dessert works in mason jars or juice glasses, too – anything see-through so the colorful layers can be appreciated.

Rose syrup adds a subtle, fragrant note and its light pink color complements the raspberries. Grenadine and simple syrup work just as well as do fruit-flavored syrups.

Remember to gently fold the fruit into the whipped cream to maintain the stripes of pink, red and white.

Fresh raspberry fool

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh raspberries

3 tablespoons rose syrup (see note)

1 cup heavy whipping cream

¼ cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 sugar cookie or similar, crumbled

Instructions:

Rinse berries; save out a few berries for garnish. In a bowl or large measuring cup, combine berries with rose syrup. (See note.) Set aside.

In a mixing bowl (with a hand mixer on medium speed) or a food processor, combine whipping cream, sugar and vanilla; whip until soft peaks form (only 1 or 2 minutes).

Transfer whipped cream to a medium bowl.

With a fork, mash the raspberries. Gently fold half of the raspberry mixture into the whipped cream. Only stir once or twice.

In a parfait glass or similar, scoop 1 tablespoon of the fruit puree. Top with 2 tablespoons of the whipped cream mixture. Then, top with another tablespoon of fruit puree and 2 more tablespoons of the whipped cream mixture.

Top with cookie crumbs and raspberry garnish. Serve cold.

(Dessert may be assembled in advance and refrigerated.)

Note: Grenadine, other fruit syrup or simple syrup may be substituted for rose syrup.