Here's a crowd-pleaser! This Raspberry Rhubarb Fool is an easy dessert to make for a large group. Not too sweet, but not too tart, it's a glass of ruby-red raspberries and rhubarb layered or folded into whipped cream.
Lightly sweetened clouds of whipped cream, layered with a rustic raspberry-rhubarb compote make this Raspberry Rhubarb Fool a popular dessert. Layer it parfait-style in dessert glasses, or serve it in mini dessert cups for a tasting party.
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❤️Why you'll love this recipe
It's pretty, it's delicious, and it's so easy to make!
Traditionally, a dessert fool used to be made with stewed gooseberries and whipped cream. Nowadays, it is more commonly made with berries. Since my love for rhubarb knows no bounds, I combined stewed rhubarb, also known as rhubarb compote, with raspberries and folded it into whipped cream.
While this dessert recipe originated in England, those red and white layers look Canadian to me. Perfect for a Canada Day party!
And for my American friends, adding a handful of blueberries on top would easily change this into a patriotic dessert to celebrate the Fourth of July.
🛒 Ingredients
You'll find a complete list of ingredients in the recipe card below. Here are a few notes:
- rhubarb: You can use fresh or frozen rhubarb.
- raspberries: You'll combine these with the rhubarb and sweeten the mixture with a little maple syrup.
- heavy cream: You'll whip the cream and add a little Greek yogurt to it to stabilize it.
🔪 How to make this easy Raspberry Rhubarb Fool
- First, make an easy rhubarb compote by combining diced rhubarb, water and maple syrup. Add raspberries and stir until smooth, but leaving a few small chunks of fruit is fine. Let cool. You can make this compote several days in advance and refrigerate it.
- Next, whip the cream with vanilla and powdered sugar to the soft peak stage. Add Greek yogurt and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
- Serve this Raspberry Rhubarb Fool layered parfait-style, or fold the fruit into the whipped cream and watch it transform into swirls of pretty pink and white. Finally, top with a sprig of mint or some crumbled cookie crumbs (use gluten-free ginger snaps) to add a little crunch.
❓Why is this dessert called a fool?
I did a little digging and found this explanation on lovefood.com "So where does this name 'fool' come from? It's actually very simple - that sweet thing you have at the end of a meal is just a small, unimportant, trivial tit-bit, isn't it? So it's called a 'trifle', or a 'fool'"
Whatever the historical explanation, this Raspberry Rhubarb Fool is delicious and it's by no means an "unimportant, trivial tit-bit" to me! It's dessert!
👍🏼Helpful Tips
First, this easy raspberry rhubarb parfait-style dessert combines summer fruit with whipped cream, but not just any whipped cream! I discovered a secret way to keep whipped cream stiff, so it is stabilized in this dessert.
My tip? Add some firm Greek yogurt. That's it. It doesn't change the taste at all.
🔁 Possible Variations
You have choices in how to serve this dessert. You can layer it, parfait-syle, as in the photos above, or you can fold the fruit into the cream, making beautiful pink and white swirls!
Serve as a full-sized dessert in a dessert glass, or as a mini dessert in a tiny glass.
Looking for more ways to enjoy rhubarb? Here are 10 Ways to Use Rhubarb Besides Pie!
🗒 More delicious dessert recipes
📖 Recipe Card
Easy Raspberry Rhubarb Fool
Ingredients
- 2 cups rhubarb, diced
- 3 tablespoon water
- 3 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 cups raspberries
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (firm)
- 2 tablespoon powdered sugar, or powdered monkfruit
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- gluten-free ginger snap or other cookie crumbs for garnish
Instructions
- In a saucepan combine rhubarb, water and maple syrup. Over med-high heat, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer until rhubarb is very tender. Add raspberries and stir until well combined. Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely.
- Using a chilled bowl and beaters, whip cream until soft peaks form. Add yogurt and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Do not overbeat.
- Alternate layers of raspberry-rhubarb compote in dessert glasses and top with an extra dollop of whipped cream. Garnish with fresh mint leaves or with cookie crumbs. Keep chilled until serving time.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated with extra information to make it more helpful.
Dee
We had this for a Christmas dessert without the rhubarb. I layered it in small dessert glasses. It looked so pretty and was perfect after a big dinner. Rave reviews!
Terri @foodmeanderings
This looks the THE PERFECT easy and delicious Canada Day dessert to me! I LUV rhubarb soo much and who doesn't love whipped cream. I was planning on making some more compote and now I know exactly what I'm doing with it!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks so much, Terri! Happy Canada Day!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
Love those luscious layers of whipped cream and compote! This is a perfect recipe for Canada Day!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks, Leanne!
MDIVADOMESTICA
What a great way to end a meal! I don't think dessert is unimportant at all. It's the best part of the whole dining experience - especially for those with a sweet tooth.
Cathy
What a beautiful dessert with so many things going for it! I love that you've used maple syrup and not much sugar. Your tip for whipped cream is something I must try. And I appreciate that it's a perfect recipe for Canada Day and the Fourth of July, as I'll be celebrating both this year.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Cathy! Lucky you! Two celebrations in one week. Have fun!
Yvonne Langen
Desperate to try these. I absolute love raspberries and I love how you've incorporate Greek Yogurt into the recipe to keep things a bit lighter.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Yvonne! You can always sub in more Greek yogurt (and less whipping cream). It's a very versatile dessert and easy to adapt to use different berries or fruits. Thanks for commenting!
Denise from Urb'n'Spice
A great idea for Canada Day and any other day, as well. I love individual desserts like this, Elaine. They are perfect for summer menus using seasonal fruit and I am sure just as versatile using frozen berries in the winter. A great recipe - thanks for sharing! 🙂
Flavour & Savour
Thanks so much, Denise! Yes, this recipe works well with frozen fruit as well.
Charlotte
This is the perfect tasty treat for Canada Day next month! Love it!
Flavour & Savour
That's what I'll be making too! Thanks for stopping by.
Colleen
Thanks for sharing another way for me to use up some rhubarb. This looks so fresh and delicious. I'd be a "fool" not to try it 🙂
Flavour & Savour
Good one, Colleen! Hope you get a chance to try it soon!
Kristen Kaethler
This looks like the perfect recipe to use up some of my rhubarb. Can't wait to try it!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Kristen!
Jackie
Can't wait to try this. Perfect timing, Elaine!! My rating is based on all of the other goodies I have found and made on your blog - it will be delicious.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks so much for your kind words, Jackie! I love using rhubarb in different ways while it's in season. This one was fun to make, and fun to eat!