Spiked Berries and Cream

Did your grandma ever make those weird “rum ball” cookies on holidays? You know the ones that you accidentally bite into as a small child and then spit out in disgust when they taste like alcohol? You might actually like them as an adult, but skip ’em and make this spiked “berries and cream” dessert instead. It’s all healthy, fresh ingredients like strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and fresh mint—and then it just happens to include a slight, happy surprise (rum!) for your taste buds.

Ingredients

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons agave
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup sliced strawberries
1/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup blackberries
1/4 cup raspberries
2 cups low fat ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons dark rum
8 mint leaves

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix together the vinegar, agave, and vanilla.
2. Rinse berries, place in bowl, pour vinegar mixture over them and let the fruit macerate for 15 minutes.
3. In small bowl, mix the ricotta and rum.
4. Divide the berries into 4 ramekins, top evenly with ricotta. Garnish with mint leaves.

WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE It’s a fun, colorful way to serve dessert at a party, with healthy, whole food ingredients and just a dash of rum to kick things up a notch.