Cherry season is just beginning and there are lots of dessert possibilities, among them my favorite summer pie (Cherry Berry Peach Pie), a Provençal Clafouti aux Cerises, and the Italian Liquore di Ciliegie (Cherry Liqueur), to name a few.

A couple of weeks ago, we continued our now-monthly dinners on Zoom with Becky and David, Mark’s sister-in-law and brother. As with so many Zoom things, we started this during the pandemic, and have enjoyed it so much that we all asked ourselves, “Why stop?”

We take turns choosing the menu, which always has its challenges; we need to be able to complete the whole menu during an hour of cooking together online, before moving our respective cameras to our respective tables and dining “together” two-thousand miles apart.

Long-simmering and slow-roasting are not practical. And many desserts take even more time. This kind of challenge is fun for the four of us, and we have enjoyed pulling together each month’s menu. For our May dinner, I created this dessert which combines two of my favorite flavors — cherry and almond.

~ David

41 Comments

  1. Suzo

    June 11, 2022 at 6:49 am

    THAT.SOUNDS.DELICIOUS.

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 11, 2022 at 7:57 am

      It is really good and so easy! Hope all is good with you and Brian!

      Reply
  2. John / Kitchen Riffs

    June 11, 2022 at 7:39 am

    Cherries and almonds are such a gorgeous combo, flavorwise. And cherries always look gorgeous. So I guess I’m saying this is one gorgeous dish. 🙂 Really, really nice — thanks.

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 11, 2022 at 7:57 am

      Thanks, John — they are an amazing combination and this dessert really shows off their flavors!

      Reply
  3. Jeff the Chef

    June 11, 2022 at 8:46 am

    I spend the summers in a cherry growing region, and I think I’ve had cherry everything, from cherry barbecue sauce to cherry peanut butter. How is it that I’ve not had a cherry fool? So, I know what my new summer project is going to be…

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 11, 2022 at 10:02 am

      You hadn’t made this because neither of us had created it yet! It’s a really nice dessert, especially after something heavy!

      Reply
  4. Jill Becker

    June 11, 2022 at 9:15 am

    Oh my such a lovely dessert. Can’t wait to try this.

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 11, 2022 at 10:03 am

      I can assure you that it’s one you will make again and again, Jill.

      Reply
  5. Chef Mimi

    June 11, 2022 at 10:09 am

    What a lovely dessert. I love cherries so much. And I love this zoom business! So nice to know people strange enough to do this with you!!!!

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 11, 2022 at 10:28 am

      Me, too, Mimi — such a wonderful and versatile fruit! For people we can’t see in person, zoom has been wonderful… and continues to be so!

      Reply
  6. Marcelle

    June 11, 2022 at 11:07 am

    David, I remember you telling me how much you both enjoyed your Zoom dinner parties, I’m so glad you are continuing with them! Some good things did come from that crazy time!! 😊 This Cherry-Almond Fool is definitely my kind of dessert, it’s now a must try for me this summer! Gorgeous, bright pictures in the post, I love it!! 😍🍒

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 11, 2022 at 11:18 am

      It really is a lot of fun, especially since we doing it now because we want to (as opposed to being shut in). I think you, Evan, and the kids will love this dessert!

      Reply
  7. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats

    June 11, 2022 at 11:55 am

    I often pair cherries with almonds, as they pair so well together, so love the idea of this take on Fool (Brits have such quirky names for dishes!).

    This reminds me of another quick fruity British dessert – Eton Mess – which I make often in the summer. I posted my version last summer. Maybe it’ll fit with your zoom menus. 🙂

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 12, 2022 at 10:12 am

      I love a good Eaton Mess, though have never blogged it. It’s a great way to enjoy summer’s bounty, Ronit! Hope you try the fool!

      Reply
      • Ronit

        June 19, 2022 at 10:18 am

        I didn’t find any decent fresh cherries this week, not sure why. I’m debating if frozen cherries would work the same.
        However, I still was in the mood for fool, so used cooked rhubarb instead of cherries. 🙂

        Reply
        • Cocoa & Lavender

          June 19, 2022 at 11:23 am

          The very first fool I ever had was rhubarb – just love it!

          Reply
  8. Eha

    June 11, 2022 at 4:07 pm

    The Antarctic cold is so bad here at the moment that your gorgeously photographed bowl of cherries seems to belong to another world ! Cannot wait ! Glad to see you are keeping the Zoom-fun going . . . and shall keep your recipe on file for both cherries and friends to arrive . . . best . . .

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 12, 2022 at 10:13 am

      Yes, I thought of you when I posted but, as I said in IG, the months will pass quickly.

      Reply
  9. Sherry M

    June 11, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    this sounds so delicious david. i love cherries! gotta wait till november though as the season is so short!

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 12, 2022 at 10:14 am

      November is just a slippery skip in the wood away. Heat wave here now… We all have our meteorological heavens and hells, don’t we. Sherry?

      Reply
  10. Sippitysup

    June 12, 2022 at 8:04 am

    Ah cherries. This post scratched an itch I didn’t even know was there. I’m on a Greek island and have had no stone fruits (a staple in my LA life) for a couple of months. This is also the one of first blog I’ve visited in the same amount of time. I wonder if that means I’ve begun to miss my regular life. GREG

    Reply

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 12, 2022 at 10:16 am

      I’m honored, Greg. I never thought about the lack of stone fruits in Greece — specifically on Sifnos. Your regular life will welcome you back with open arms.

      Reply
  11. Gerlinde de Broekert

    June 12, 2022 at 9:04 am

    I saw cherries today here in Copenhagen. My favorite are sour cherries but they are almost impossible to get in SantaCruz. Your dessert looks very good band easy to make.

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 12, 2022 at 10:17 am

      I love the tart cherries, too, Gerlinde — and I bet they would be wonderful in this!

      Reply
  12. Carolyne

    June 12, 2022 at 1:17 pm

    Another brilliant dessert that sounds so easy to make!

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 16, 2022 at 7:41 am

      Thanks, Carolyne. It is really easy and is very nice (and pretty) for serving guests!

      Reply
  13. Ron

    June 13, 2022 at 5:23 am

    As always David, a masterpiece. We are just now seeing Spanish cherries in our markets as our local (across the street in a neighbor’s yard) cherries still have a few weeks to ripen. Now, those lovely Spanish cherries would work fine, but I’m saving this fool for use with those tree-ripened cherries across the street. Unless the birds get them first.

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 16, 2022 at 7:42 am

      Thanks so much Ron – you are so kind. I would definitely wait for the neighbor’s cherries, and considering the shooing of the birds part of your exercise regime.

      Reply
  14. Raymund

    June 16, 2022 at 2:35 am

    Such a nice dessert! Now I am craving for cherries

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 16, 2022 at 7:43 am

      Thanks, Raymund. I bet you could make an incredible ube version!

      Reply
  15. Valentina

    June 16, 2022 at 11:57 am

    I LOVE cherry season! This is on my summer dessert list. 🙂 ~Valentina

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 19, 2022 at 11:22 am

      It is such a nice summer dessert — so little fuss and such great payback!

      Reply
  16. Ben | Havocinthekitchen

    June 17, 2022 at 11:53 am

    Oh cherries! The season has started in our area, but somehow they’re still ridiculously overpriced (And as a cheap and patient guy, I can wait a bit longer D) But I’m a huge fan of easy desserts that basically require only mixing or layering things, so this is right up my alley. Great flavours here!

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 19, 2022 at 11:23 am

      It will be worth waiting for, Ben! Cherries are the bomb!

      Reply
  17. 2pots2cook

    June 23, 2022 at 3:32 am

    The ingredients are so inviting; creamy Mascarpone, cherries, vanilla, amaretti and no bake! Perfect to enjoy tasty dessert after light dinner!

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      June 23, 2022 at 9:06 am

      Yes, the no cooking aspect of this in the hot weather is really appealing! Glad you like the recipe, Davorka.

      Reply
  18. Spiced Rhubarb Fool – Tasty Eats

    June 26, 2022 at 9:01 am

    […] cherry-almond version, from “Cocoa and Lavender” blog, can be found HERE, along with many other tasty […]

    Reply
  19. John

    July 3, 2022 at 2:49 am

    The combination of cherries, decadent cream and aromatic almond sure gets my attention. In fact, anything with cherries does!

    Reply
  20. Christina Conte

    July 20, 2022 at 6:12 pm

    Looks so lovely! I’m sure it was all polished off in no time! 🙂

    Reply
    • Cocoa & Lavender

      July 23, 2022 at 7:57 am

      Knowing what is in it, I was surprised at how light it felt — and, yes, it disappeared very quickly!

      Reply

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