Kevin's Vanilla Dream Whipped Cream over Fresh Berries

"Is there a beam of light shining from the heavens onto my face right now?" Kevin the Bacon asked exactly that after tasting this one — real Madagascar vanilla bean, thick amber grade B maple syrup, and a whisper of almond extract, whipped light and airy over a mix of fresh berries.

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Ingredients

• •1 ¼ cup heavy cream
• •2 Madagascar vanilla beans, split
• •3 tbsp powdered sugar (10X)
• •2 tbsp pure grade B maple syrup
• •½ tsp almond extract (about one cap full)
• •½ cup blueberries
• •½ cup raspberries
• •½ cup blackberries
• •1 cup strawberries, quartered

Steps

1. Split the vanilla beans: Split the vanilla beans down the middle to reveal the seeds inside.
2. Scrape the seeds: Run your thumb down the pods to strip out all of the seeds from both beans.
3. Combine in the food processor: Add the powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds to the food processor, then add the maple syrup — it has to be pure grade B, thick and amber — and the almond extract, along with the heavy cream.
4. Whip until light and airy: Blitz in the food processor, keep whipping until it's light, airy, and holds like whipped cream.
5. Prep the berries: Rinse the berries well and cut the strawberries into quarters.
6. Assemble: Toss the berries together in a bowl any way you like — mix and match. Top with a generous dollop (or two, or three) of the vanilla dream whipped cream.
7. Serve: Serve right away and enjoy.