Photo: Leigh Loftus
The best things about the summer are simple. Sunshine, fresh produce from the farmers’ markets, relaxation. There’s no reason why your dessert needs to be complicated. Plus, there’s that whole, “wearing a bathing suit in public places” thing to think about.
It’s easy to indulge in the winter when almost all manners of bodily imperfections can be hidden under baggy sweaters and thick winter coats. Things get complicated though when it’s the middle of July, you’re at a backyard cookout and all of a sudden there’s a dessert table staring you in the face.
One of the easiest ways to keep yourself from indulging in a party (and I know a thing or two about indulging at par ties) is to bring a dish that you know fits into your healthy lifestyle plan and decide ahead of time to make a good choice.
Photo: Leigh Loftus
Fresh fruit is always a surefire pick in the summer, especially classics like strawberries and blueberries. Even if you’d rather eat chocolate, there’s nothing not to like about fresh, in-season berries, especially when you top them with a delicious, homemade whipped cream that is almost as easy to make as your morning coffee.
Photo: Leigh Loftus
It might sound like taking cream and cream and adding it to fruit would counteract any attempts made to achieve a healthy dessert, but this isn’t whipped cream from a can that leaves you wanting more. This whipped cream is made in your kitchen using only three ingredients: heavy whipping cream, flavored creamer for coffee and vanilla extract. You’ll only need a little to feel satisfied…but if you want to lick the bowl clean, that’s your own prerogative.
I used International Delight French Vanilla Creamer, but if you’re looking keep things a little lighter, you can pick up a sugar-free or fat-free version of the flavor. There are a few other flavors of International Delight flavored creamers that I would have loved to use if they’d been available at my local grocery store, like White Chocolate Macadamia or Cold Stone Creamery Sweet Cream.
Photo: Leigh Loftus
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup International Delight French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Assorted fresh berries
- Place the whipping cream in a mixing bowl (or in the bowl of your stand mixer). Whisk for about 8 minutes or until the cream reaches stiff peaks, which means that if you scooped some up with a spoon and then held the spoon vertically, it would not drip from the spoon like a liquid.
- Arrange assorted berries in bowls. We suggest strawberries or blueberries but any combination of your favorite fresh fruit will work. Serve one cup of berries ¼ cup of fresh whipped cream (about two to three heaping tablespoons).
- Store any unused portion in an airtight container for up to 10 hours. When ready to use, rewhisk for 10 to 15 seconds.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
