Overly indulgent dessert is an American thing. All over the world, you’ll find luscious and indulgent rich desserts (just head to any bakery in Paris or Florence) but it’s not filled with the amount of sugary sweetness the American varieties are.
Perhaps since childhood, you’ve taught yourself to crave—need, even—desserts dripping with chocolate, caramel or even sugary laced coffee beverages, after dinner. Luckily, there’s another way to get your sugar fix in—and that’s with fruit! Here’s what you need to know about Earth’s natural dessert, and how to do it up right.
Go Big With Berries
There’s nothing as satisfying as digging into a luscious bowl of red, blue and burgundy’s. Did you know that fruit contains fiber to fill you up? In addition, studies have shown that fruits are good for your arteries, can contribute to lowering your risk for heart disease, and can promote heart health!
While camping out, add some raspberries in between layers of s’mores goodness. Toss them in your favorite baking dish. Blend a generous handful of frozen mango or papaya to your morning green smoothie. Or, put together a quick ‘raspberry fool’ – just mash up fresh berries, cream, and sugar for a satisfying sweet tooth relief.
But sometimes, the best way to have your fruit is to eat it plain and simple. Pick your favorite fruit (switch it out by picking the best of the season) and swap it for a piece of chocolate cake. In no time at all, you’ll have trained your body to crave a natural sugar, instead of an artificial one.
A Recipe To Try: Coconut Cream and Berries
If you’ve ever made your own homemade whipped cream, then you already know: there’s nothing quite like it. It’s light, and creamy, and it’s the perfect way to dress up a bowl of berries. Here’s an easy and simple recipe that will allow you to swap out the chocolate for berry beautifulness:
· You’ll need two lbs. of your favorite kind of berries (blackberries, raspberries and blueberries are a great start!), 2 Tbsp. of fresh lime juice, 2 Tbsp. of table sugar, ½ cup cream of coconut and one cup of heavy cream.
· In a medium sized bowl, toss in the lime juice and fresh berries.
· Whip up the cream of coconut and heavy cream. If you want a workout (and feel bad to the bone), whip by hand.
· Top the berries with a generous handful of homemade whipped cream!
Go big with berries. It will allow you to preserve that shrinking waistline you’ve worked so hard for since New Year’s, and reduce your sugar intake. If you’re hosting a party or having the neighbor over, it’s the perfect way to impress—without any prep or clean up.
