Rhubarb and Orange Fool is a sweet creamy dessert made with roasted rhubarb, whipped cream with a hint of orange zest. It’s a super easy recipe and the perfect make-ahead dessert for summer entertaining.
Rhubarb and orange is a really nice combination of flavours. They are both fresh sharp flavours which pair well with the rich creamy sweetness of the Rhubarb and Orange Fool.
What is rhubarb?
Rhubarb is a hardy perennial plant and technically a vegetable. It has pink, red or pale green stems that are most often used in desserts like crumbles and pies.
Raw rhubarb has a tart flavour like a lemon. It is really too acidic to eat raw, however, combine rhubarb with sugar and it has a delicious tangy taste.
How do I grow rhubarb?
Rhubarb is grown from a crown. This is a thick rhizome which is planted just below the surface of the soil.
Rhubarb plants like lots of moisture and you need to mulch the plant to keep it from getting too dry.
When can I pick rhubarb?
The best rhubarb is available in Spring. The earliest rhubarb you can buy is forced, this means it has been grown in the dark Forced rhubarb has pale pink stems and is tender and sweet.
You can pick rhubarb all through the summer although the stems do become thicker and tougher as the summer goes on. Stop picking rhubarb in July and let the plant rest before it becomes dormant for the winter.
My garden rhubarb
I have several well-established crowns of rhubarb in my garden. I am lucky to well-established rhubarb crowns that have been growing in the garden for at least 50 years. And I’m always delighted when they pop up every year and provide me with lots of delicious rhubarb stalks.
I recently planted a new crown of rhubarb called Brandy Carr Scarlet which I’ll be able to sample this year.
What kind of oranges should I use?
Use any oranges that you have. I would recommend you use organic oranges because the recipe includes the peel and organic oranges have no pesticides on their skins.
However, if you don’t have organic oranges, wash the oranges well to remove any wax and possible residue of chemicals.
Why is this dessert called a Fool?
The term ‘fool’ is first recorded in the book The Compleat Cook published in 1658 where there is a recipe for Gooseberry Fool.
The most likely derivation of the name is from the French word ‘fouler’ which means to mash or to press. The fruit for a fool is pureed and this would originally have been achieved with a sieve.
Rhubarb Fool is one of the most popular cold desserts using rhubarb. Rhubarb and Orange Fool adds the extra zing of fresh orange and orange zest to this creamy dessert recipe.
Can I make the fool ahead of time?
Yes, put the fool into the serving dishes and refrigerate. You can keep it in the fridge for around 24 hours.
Bring the fool out of the fridge for an hour before serving to bring it back to room temperature and decorate with the orange zest before serving.
Can I freeze Rhubarb and Orange Fool?
Yes, you can. Place in the fridge for 2-3 hours to fully set, then freeze in a lidded container for up to 3 months. Defrost the fool in the fridge for 6 hours or overnight.
How to make Rhubarb and Orange Fool
Roast the Rhubarb
- Cut the rhubarb into even-sized pieces and place in an ovenproof dish.
- Add the orange juice and half the zest.
- Roast the rhubarb for about 10 minutes until tender then leave to cool.
Make the Orange Zest garnish
- Place the remaining strands of orange zest into a pan and cover with water.
- Simmer the orange zest and water for about 5 minutes.
- Add the sugar.
- Simmer the orange and sugar gently until the liquid becomes syrupy.
- Remove the orange zest and place on baking parchment to dry.
Whip the Cream
Whip the cream until it holds soft peaks. You can whip the cream by hand with a whisk or use an electric mixer.
Make the Rhubarb Puree
Use a jug blender or a stick blender to blend the rhubarb pieces with some of the orange juice liquid in the roasting dish.
If you don’t have a blender you can push the softened rhubarb through a non-metallic sieve and then add a little of the orange liquid to the puree.
Combine the rhubarb and cream
Gently fold the roasted rhubarb into the whipped cream with a whisk or metal spoon. Be gentle because otherwise the you will lose the air you have whipped into the cream.
Top Tip
If your fool is lacking a pink colour add a drop of red food colouring or half a teaspoon of beetroot powder. I use beetroot powder because not only does it provide natural colouring but also has no taste of beetroot!
Serving Suggestion
Serve the Rhubarb and Orange fool in individual glass bowls or glasses Decorate the tops of the desserts with the sugared strips of orange zest.
More Rhubarb Recipes
More Rhubarb Recipes
- Warming Rhubarb Pudding from Fab Food 4 All
- Celebratory Champagne Syllabub with Orange Rhubarb Compote from Tin & Thyme
- Roasted Rhubarb Ice Cream from Curly’s Cooking
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Rhubarb and Orange Fool
Ingredients
- 450 grams (3½ cups) rhubarb
- 1 (1) orange zest and juice
- 100 grams (3½½ oz) caster sugar
- 300 millilitres (1⅓ cups) double cream
- 1 (1) drop of red food colouring paste optional
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 160C
- Wash the rhubarb and cut into even sized pieces and place in a single layer in a non metal ovenproof dish, add the orange juice and half the zest..
- Roast the rhubarb in the oven for about 10 minutes, until a knife slips easily into a piece of rhubarb, but before the rhubarb starts to disintegrate. Leave to cool.
- Place the remaining strands of orange zest in a small pan and just cover with water. Simmer for about 5 minutes, then add a tbsp of sugar and continue to simmer until the liquid becomes syrupy. Remove the sugared orange zest and place on baking parchment to dry.
- Whip the cream until it holds soft peaks.
- Once cold, you can either blend the rhubarb and juice until smooth or push through a non-metallic sieve.
- Fold the rhubarb mixture into the cream, cutting through gently with a metal spoon, add the colouring if using*.
- Serve chilled in individual glass bowls decorated with the sugared strips of zest.
Emma @ Supper in the suburbs says
I’ve had gooseberry fool before but never rhubarb fool! Great idea 🙂 it looks delicious!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Emma, it’s much the same process and gooseberries, like rhubarb, are acidic so work really well with the cream.
Jemma Andrew-Adiamah says
Rhubarb and orange work so well together. I can’t believe how simple this fool is to make too, lovely!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Jemma, yes really simple to make.
Penelope says
I love rhubarb, but oddly tend to just stew it and eat it like that. I’d not thought of making a fool with it, and generally love fool recipes. Right, I’m off to have a go with the batch my Mother-in-Law gave me at the weekend.
Janice Pattie says
As we grow it in the garden, I am always looking for different ways to eat rhubarb, Penelope. Enjoy!
Stuart says
I love a fool! This rhubarb infused one sounds very tasty indeed X
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Stuart, creamy summer fools are soooo good ☺️
Heidi Roberts says
This looks lovely and summery – Our rhubarb was really fragrant this year!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Heidi, yes it has been a good year for rhubarb.
Nayna Kanabar says
I have never combined these two ingredients but looks like they work well together.
Janice Pattie says
They definitely do Nayna, thanks
Choclette says
I’ve been admiring the wonderful colour of your rhubarb fool and now I know the secret. The sludgy colour rhubarb can go is not the most appealing. Your recipe sounds delicious, although it’s so cold here at the moment, I’m rather fancying rhubarb crumble 😉
Janice Pattie says
ha ha, yes I cheated with the colour. As you say sludgy green is not the most appealing, it didn’t take much gel colour to make it pink. Generally I don’t like to colour my recipes but in this case it was definitely worth it, we do eat with our eyes! Freezing here today too.
Choclette says
Rhubarb and cream sounds absolutely delightful. I noticed yesterday our rhubarb was just starting to show, so I’m getting excited we might actually be able to harvest some this year. It’s been a few years now since we had our own.
Janice Pattie says
Our rhubarb is also just starting to show, it soon comes up once the temperature starts to rise and it does like to be well watered which hasn’t been a problem this year!
Karen says
Can this be easily adapted to a healthier option by maybe half cream half yoghurt?
Janice Pattie says
Hi Karen, Yes you certainly can make it healthier by mixing the cream with yogurt. I would recommend thick Greek yogurt for the best results. I have made it with no cream and just yogurt, the only thing I would say about that is the flavour is different and it’s best to serve it straight away as it may split if left. Janice
Sam says
Roughly how much water are you adding to the orange zest? A cup? 1/2 cup? A tablespoon?
Janice Pattie says
You only need enough water to cover the orange zest, so approximately 3 tbsp should be enough.