A simple spring & summer dessert when berries are in peak season! Made with vegan coconut cream.
Our 4th of July ended up being a quiet day, just the two of us. Jack grilled up some stuffed mushrooms & poblanos and then whipped together this juicy little dessert.
We have a new annual tradition – which is not the 4th of July – but rather the annual “Jack cooks because Jeanine’s hand is all busted up from trying to break up yet another dog fight.” Yes, this has happened before, and no, I’ll never learn. Everyone’s fine, by the way, but lets just say our little Annie is looking much more disheveled than this guy.
But back to the dessert… who doesn’t love berries on the 4th of July? To make this simple dessert exciting, we added fresh vanilla bean paste, toasted pecans and a dusting of cinnamon. The coconut cream is super simple to make, the hardest part is remembering to put your can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight. (I’ve gotten into the habit of just always keeping one in there).
Now if I could just get into the habit of keeping my hands out of the dogs teeth…
Expert dog-breaking-up tips are totally welcome, btw.
berries & coconut cream
- 1 can of full fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
- ¼ cup powdered sugar (or sweetener of your choice)
- pinch of salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon lemon oil (optional, but delicious)
- a few cups of mixed fresh berries
- a few teaspoons granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla bean paste (scraped from 1 pod), optional*
- pinch of salt
- chopped & toasted pecans, or this no-bake crumble
- cinnamon, for dusting
- Refrigerate your can of coconut cream overnight (or longer).
- For the berries: slice and place them in a bowl with some sugar, the vanilla bean paste, and a tiny pinch of salt. Let them sit for 20 minutes or longer at room temp. The juices will extract and the berries will sweeten and soften.
- Open your chilled can of coconut milk and scoop only the solid part off the top, be very careful not to mix it with the watery part underneath. Save the watery liquid for another use and place the solid part into your mixing bowl. Using a stand or a hand mixer, mix it until it's whipped. It should take less than a minute. Sift your powdered sugar to remove any lumps and mix it into your cream along with a pinch of salt, vanilla, and lemon oil.
- Scoop berries into bowls, top with toasted pecans, a dollop of cream, and a dusting of cinnamon.
store any leftover cream in the fridge, it'll stay good for at least one more day.
what a simple recipe.This looks so yummy! Can’t wait to try it!
This looks so refreshing and delicious. Love the idea of a coconut cream too! Nice recipe.
What an easy and simple summer dessert/snack. My 4th involved a dog fight too. It was scary and my brother got bit in the process. I don’t know if there was a good way to break up the fight. We all tried to stay calm but the two dogs wouldn’t let up. Luckily one was on a leash so we pulled her away. I feel you, good luck with the doggies.
oh, so sorry to hear that, I hope he’s ok…
oh that sounds dreadful. i’m glad everyone is basically ok except for your hand of course. in terms of breaking up dog fights – if you can grab the offending dog by the hind limbs down by his ankles and hoist him up like a wheelbarrow it causes the dog to let go and become a bit “unbalanced”. then there can be some “space” imposed btwn the two dogs. thanks goodness I remembered that when a pit bull latched on to one of my dogs years ago and would not let go.
the berries look great by the way.
thanks :). I’ve read that, about the hind legs. I’m going to try that next time (although hopefully there’s not a next time).
I got into this terrible habit a few weeks ago where I would make coconut cream for no real reason, and then end up dumping in a whole pint of raspberries and eating it for dinner.
It was wonderful while it lasted.
ha! sounds like a nice dinner 🙂
Perfect july 4th snack! I’m always the one in charge of desserts for our 4th picnics, I’ll have to remember these for next year~
Yikes! Breaking up a dog fight is pretty intense… good thing you have such a perfect summer dessert to make it all better.
ha, yep, extra big bowl of dessert that night 🙂
That’s what I want to eat right now. I never thought of using the coconut milk solids like this!
it’s life changing!
Some of my faves in one amazing dish!!! Delicious I’m sure!!!
Simple perfection.
Sounds like a perfect 4th and an even better dessert. I love coconut cream!
This looks divine!
I love anything with berries and anything with coconut, therefore this is the perfect combo.
Sorry to hear about your hand. Hope you are feeling better now.
xo Quinn
Quinn Cooper Style
thanks, it’s much better 🙂
Love that coconut cream! This looks like the perfect summer sweet treat 🙂
Coconut whipped cream is heaven isn’t it, and I can’t wait for summer to roll around here, for the berries!
Your tour look so wonderful. All those berries; I would of have gone/eaten my self into a berry coma! I am glad you had a great 4th. I love coconut cream, I sometimes brulee the top with coconut sugar when I serve it with fruit. I provide a bit of crunch against all the creaminess.
ooh, yum, I love that idea.