Low-Sugar Strawberry Cream Cheese Fool

By ltrodrigu

Fool is a classic English dessert that pairs stewed fruit with custard. This Americanized version is kind of like a cheesecake filling studded with strawberries. Reduced apple-juice concentrate substitutes for white sugar.

Ingredients

• 1 (12-ounce) can frozen apple juice concentrate
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup crème fraîche
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 cups strawberries, hulled and quartered (or halved if berries are small)

Details

Servings 8
Adapted from wsj.com

Preparation

Step 1

Make Apple Syrup:
Bring apple juice concentrate to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Decrease heat to medium-low and simmer until juice reduces to ¾ cup, 15-20 minutes. Keep an eye on pan to make sure juice doesn’t burn. (You may need to decrease heat as syrup reduces and thickens.) Remove from heat and refrigerate until cool to the touch.

Use an electric mixer with whisk attachment on medium speed to whip together cream cheese and ½ cup cooled apple syrup. (Reserve remaining syrup for another use.) Mix until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.

Add crème fraîche to cream cheese mixture and whip until combined. Slowly drizzle in heavy cream and beat on medium speed until thickened, 1-2 minutes more. Whisk in vanilla and salt.

Fold in strawberries, reserving a few spoonfuls for garnish. Portion into bowls or glasses and top with berries. Serve immediately or cover with plastic and refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving.