The 100-Year-Old Strawberry Dessert I Can't Stop Making

You just need four ingredients to make strawberry marlow, a 100-year-old dessert recipe that's incredibly easy to make. It's similar to gelato but you don't need an ice cream maker.

Jun 28, 2024 - 14:00
182145
The 100-Year-Old Strawberry Dessert I Can't Stop Making
strawberry marlow in two bowls next to table napkins and spoons
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

Marlow has a fascinating history—one steeped in Hollywood glamour. The dish, an easy-to-make and slower-melting version of ice cream, became popular after factory-made marshmallows hit the market in the early 20th century. One of the earliest recipes available is by Clara Bow, a famous actress and “it girl” of Hollywood.

But you don’t have to be a Hollywood starlet or even old-fashioned to be a fan of marlow. With just four ingredients (plus salt), it’s incredibly easy to make and has a creamy, rich texture. It also melts slower than ice cream thanks to the marshmallows, making it ideal for summer gatherings.

Fresh strawberries give this marlow recipe an almost strawberry cheesecake-like flavor. Top with more fresh strawberries and you have the perfect summer dessert.

A Note on Marshmallows

While many old-school recipes call for store-bought marshmallows, I found that the finished dish had a gritty texture, likely thanks to the cornstarch on the outside of the marshmallows. Marshmallow Fluff worked much better, yielding a creamy texture.

You’ll likely notice a couple of options when visiting the supermarket. If at all possible, use Marshmallow Fluff (a name brand), not marshmallow creme, which is available in Jet-Puffed brand as well as store brands. Fluff has a better texture for this recipe and isn’t as sweet. Marshmallow creme makes marlow too sweet for my taste.

ice cream scoop in a countainer of strawberry marlow
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

Easy Marlow Variations

You can swap the strawberries in this recipe for other berries like blueberries or blackberries. For a sweeter but quicker marlow, swap the berries for strawberry jam and skip the cooking step.

Add some pizzazz by tossing in some crushed cookies, a little melted chocolate, or dark or white chocolate chips.

Frozen Treats

Cook the strawberries:

Add the strawberries to a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until broken down and the liquid has released and started to thicken, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large heatproof bowl. Let cool for 10 minutes.

cooked strawberries in a pot for strawberry marlow recipe
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

Prepare the pan:

Meanwhile, line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap overhanging all sides by about 2 inches; set aside.

loaf pan wrapped in plastic for strawberry marlow recipe
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

Add the Fluff, condensed milk, and salt:

Add Marshmallow Fluff and whisk until combined. Whisk in sweetened condensed milk and salt until combined; set aside.

marshmallow fluff, condensed milk, and salt whisked into the cooked strawberries in the pot for strawberry marlow recipe
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

Whip the cream and fold in:

Whisk heavy cream in a large bowl until medium-stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, beat with a hand or stand mixer on medium-high speed.

Add 1/2 cup of the whipped cream to the strawberry mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until combined. Add the remaining whipped cream and gently fold in until light and fluffy and no white clumps or streaks from the cream remain.

whipped cream in a mixer bowl next to a whisk attachment with more whipped cream for strawberry marlow recipe
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser
whipped cream folded into strawberry fluff mix in a bowl for strawberry marlow recipe
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

Freeze:

Pour into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Wrap the overhanging plastic wrap over the mixture and freeze until set, at least 8 hours or up to 2 weeks.

Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

strawberry marlow added to plastic covered loaf pan
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser
strawberry marlow in two bowls next to table napkins and spoons
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

This article has been sourced from various publicly available news platforms around the world. All intellectual property rights remain with the original publishers and authors. Unshared News does not claim ownership of the content and provides it solely for informational and educational purposes voluntarily. If you are the rightful owner and believe this content has been used improperly, please contact us for prompt removal or correction.