I made Strawberries Zabaglione with Coconut Sugar and Cream last spring for mine and my husbands 16th anniversary (you can see the full special dinner here). A few readers were curious to know what it was and how to make it so I thought with Christmas approaching it would be the perfect time to share this delectable adult dessert!
What is Zabaglione?
Zabaglione is an Italian dessert (kinda like a custard only different) with a history of being served primarily at Christmastime. I cannot remember if I first learned of it while watching Everyday Italian with Giada DeLaurentis, or if it was a Good Eats episode with Alton Brown (the two best cooking shows EVER IMO). Anyways, the legend that came with it was super fun-especially if you like red wine, which I happen to.
Apparently when this recipe was first born, an Italian chef was making something else and he went to grab a bottle of vanilla. As he was pouring it in the mix with his eggs and sugar he realized it was not vanilla, but rather it was red wine! And the end result was outstanding! Of course Wikipedia had a different rendition completely of the history of this luxurious dessert. According to Wiki the leader of an Italian army and his men were foraging for food and all they could come up with was white wine, eggs, herbs and honey, and hence this recipe was created.
The latter story is probably more accurate since it is on Wiki and all!
This is probably one of my very favorite desserts. I love putting it in tiramisu, or enjoying it with a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream! It is lovely served as an evening snack after dinner, but it’s even better served at breakfast in my opinion!
As mentioned I can’t remember if I learned of zabaglione first from Everyday Italian or Good Eats but I know it was on both shows (this was around 20 years ago). Giada’s version can be found HERE and has chocolate melted with heavy cream. It’s totally worth making, BTW. Alton Brown’s is also worth making and can be found HERE.
Although I absolutely love both their recipes, I have problems with cane sugar. If I eat fruit and cane sugar together I end up with kind of a super mild allergic reaction that lasts for days. So the cane sugar is one thing I change. Also I’m not crazy about chocolate (I know, what kind of woman am I, right!?). Anyways this recipe is slightly better with some chocolate, however sometimes I have trouble melting chocolate. I get sidetracked since I do have 6 kids to distract me causing the whole chocolate melting thing to get away from me. So I like to use cocoa powder instead.
I’ve also added vanilla to the whipping cream because, well, hello!
One of the last changes is the wine. You are supposed to use Marsala. Honestly it’s wonderful with Marsala, but I always just use whatever I happen to have open at the time. Usually that is Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and very rarely Merlot. I think zabaglione is lovely with any one of the three!
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that since I used coconut sugar and less sweetener, it’s not too sweet. It might sound funny but I’m not crazy about desserts that are overly sweet, I personally prefer my sweets to be more “rich” than sweet!
I recommend using farm fresh eggs. They are generally more nutritious and they taste better.
TIP; since this has red wine you’ll want to make something else for the kiddo’s. I recommend something that resembles the zabaglione (like pudding) and making extra whipped cream and strawberries so they can have something that looks similar or else they’ll be bugging you for a bite the whole time you are eating this, lol!
Strawberries Zabaglione with Coconut Sugar and Cream
Notes
You can substitute the strawberries with any berry. Vanilla bean paste can be subbed with vanilla extract-but if you really want it to be special get a vanilla bean and scrape the paste out for this recipe!
Ingredients
- 6 farm fresh egg yolks
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar (you could use honey)
- 1/2 cup dry red wine (I like Malbec or Cabernet but you are supposed to use marsala)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 cup cocoa powder (optional)
- 2 cups strawberries (sliced)
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar or honey for the whipping cream
Instructions
- If you are using coconut sugar and cocoa powder you will want to heat it on low with the wine to dissolve the sugar and let it cool to lukewarm.
- While the wine and sugar are cooling, begin separating the egg yolks from the whites.
- Start boiling some water in a double broiler.
- Place the yolks in a heavy double boiler bowl and place them over the double boiler to heat on low to medium heat while whisking the entire time. This is the important part. As you whisk, break to clean the sides of the bowl so as to keep the beaten yolks from cooking to the sides of the bowl.
- Once the egg whites begin to froth add the wine, sugar and pinch of salt.
- Continue heating and whisking until the temperature reaches between 145 to 150 for food safety.
- Once it is frothy and has reached 145-150 degrees remove from the heat, cover and let cool.
- Meanwhile beat the whipping cream with an electric mixer, adding the sugar in small increments until it is all mixed in. Add the vanilla. Don’t over whip the cream or you’ll get butter!
- Once the zabaglione is cooled layer it in serving dishes (I like wine glasses) with the whipped cream and berries. Serve immediately or chill for an hour or two first.
If you enjoyed Strawberries Zabaglione with Coconut Sugar and Cream be sure to check out my other recipes HERE.
This looks delicious. I want to try.
This looks pretty simple and amazing. I can’t wait to try it.
I am not a cook, but I love to bake! I’ll definitely try this!
This looks yummy! I will have to give this a try!
Oh my goodness, these look stunning 🤩! I bet these are delicious.
Zabaglione looks very simple but interesting. Thank you for Sharing the post.
What a beautiful dessert! I like that it’s not too heavy of a sweet. Those glasses are so pretty too!
This sounds so yummy! I bet my kids would love an appropriate version of this!