Traditional English Trifle Recipes

Steps:

• Slice the cake into slices measuring about 3 x 2 x 1/2 inches, or whatever is convenient, and spread each slice with a little strawberry jam.
• Layer in a glass dish, leaving no significant gaps.
• Pour sherry over to soak sponge.
• Spread frozen raspberries over sponge, followed by sliced peaches.
• Make up custard, cool slightly and pour over all.
• Allow to cool in fridge.
• When set, whip cream and layer on top of custard.
• Chill for at least half an hour.
• Toast the almonds and scatter over.
• That's it, you're done, serve and enjoy!

Steps:

• In a large bowl toss together the cake scraps, simple syrup, and liquor to moisten the cake.
• In a trifle bowl or individual glass stemware, layer the ingredients in the following order: cake, Vanilla Pastry Cream, Brown Sugar Whipped Cream, nuts and strawberries, repeating until the container is full, ending with whipped cream as the top layer. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. (Can be made a day in advance up to this point and is actually better if allowed to sit over night.) Decorate with more fruit and finely chopped nuts, or rosettes of whipped cream and strawberries.
• Bring the milk and vanilla bean to a boil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat and set aside to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. Whisk the egg yolks and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the cornstarch and whisk vigorously until no lumps remain. Whisk 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture into the yolks until incorporated. Whisk in the remaining hot milk mixture. Pour the mixture through a strainer back into the saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and slowly boiling. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter. Let cool slightly. Cover with plastic wrap, lightly pressing the plastic against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Chill at least two hours. (The pastry cream can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Refrigerate until 1 hour before using.)
• Whip the cream and brown sugar until stiff.

Steps:

• Split the sponges in half then spread each half thinly with raspberry jam.
• Sandwich each half back together and cut into quarters.
• Place in the base of three and a half pint (2 litre) glass trifle bowl.
• Sprinkle the sherry over the sponges and spoon over the partially thawed raspberries and their juice.
• Roughly crush the ratafia biscuits and sprinkle over the raspberries.
• Chill for 3-4 hours.
• Place the milk and vanilla pod in a small pan and slowly bring to just below boiling point.
• Transfer to a heatproof jug and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
• Remove the vanilla pod from the milk.
• Place the egg yolks, cornflour and sugar in a bowl and whisk together.
• Whisk in the milk, then strain the liquid back into the rinsed pan through a fine sieve.
• Cook over a gentle heat , stirring constantly until the custard starts to thicken, being careful not to allow to boil.
• Cook gently for two minutes unit the custard is a thick pouring consistency.
• Quickly pour the custard into a cold bowl to prevent further cooking.
• Sprinkle the surface with a thin coating of caster sugar to prevent a skin forming.
• Set aside and leave to cool.
• Spoon the cold custard onto the raspberries in the trifle bowl, spreading to the edges with a palette knife.
• Gently whip the cream until it nearly holds its shape, then spoon three quarters of it on top of the custard and carefully spread to the sides of the bowl.
• Whip the remaining cream until it holds it shape.
• Pipe swirls of cream around the top of the bowl and decorate with flaked almonds and cherries, silver dragees or raspberries.

Steps:

• Put 750g frozen summer fruit in a pan with 200g caster sugar and 1 litre water and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Cook for 2 mins, then scoop out 6 tbsp fruit and 150ml juice. Now carry on cooking the fruit in the pan for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, soak 9 sheets leaf gelatine in cold water to soften it. If you have a hand blender, blitz the cooked fruit or mash with a potato masher, then strain through a sieve into a large bowl and push through the pulp so just the skins and seeds are left.
• Squeeze excess water from the gelatine, add to the hot fruit syrup and stir to dissolve. Cool, then chill until on the point of almost setting.
• Make the custard according to pack instructions with 75g custard powder, 1.2l milk and 50g caster sugar to create a really thick custard. Cover the surface with baking paper while it cools a little.
• Pile 1½ - 2 cubed madeira cakes into a trifle bowl, spoon over the reserved juice and berries, then 4 tbsp sherry or cassis.
• Pour over a thick layer of custard, pushing it against the side of the dish to seal in the cake below. Leave to cool and set with a skin - this makes a barrier for the jelly.
• When the custard is cold and set, and the jelly is on the point of setting, spoon the jelly over the custard and chill until ready to complete.
• Whip 300 - 450ml double cream with 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tbsp icing sugar until just holding its shape, then spoon round the bowl over the set jelly. Scatter with 2 crushed amaretti biscuits and chill until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Slice strawberries and sprinkle them with sugar. Cut the bananas into slices and toss with orange juice. Combine pudding mix with milk and mix until smooth. Cut the cake into 1 inch cubes.
• Use half of the cake cubes to line the bottom of a large glass bowl. Layer half of the strawberries followed by half of the blueberries, and then half of the bananas. Spread half of the pudding over the fruit. Repeat layers in the same order.
• In a medium bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks and spread over top of trifle. Garnish with maraschino cherries and slivered almonds.

Steps:

• Spread a little jam on each piece of cake and place in the bottom of a large glass bowl. Sprinkle raspberries over cake.
• Heat 10 fl. oz. cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat. While the cream is heating, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until pale yellow and smooth. Strain yolk mixture into a clean bowl. Pour hot cream into egg yolks and stir vigorously. Return mixture to pan over low heat and cook, stirring, until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• While custard is cooling, whip 10 fl oz. cream until soft peaks form. Place almonds on a baking sheet and toast, in a 300 degree oven or toaster oven, stirring frequently, until golden, 2 to 10 minutes.
• Spread cooled custard over cake in bowl. Top with whipped cream and toasted almonds. Chill 2 hours before serving.

Steps:

• Bring the milk and 10fl oz of the cream to the boil in a non-stick pan.
• Beat the egg yolks, cornflour and sugar together in a bowl, then gradually whisk in the hot milk and cream.
• Return the mixture to the pan and cook over a low heat, stirring constantly, for about ten minutes, until the mixture has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Take care not to let it boil as it will curdle.
• Transfer the custard to a bowl and leave to cool.
• Arrange a single layer of the cake slices over the base of the bowl.
• Spread the layer with 2 tbsp of raspberry jam and lay another layer of cake on top (you might not need to use all the cake).
• Spread the second layer with another 2 tbsp of raspberry jam and sprinkle over the sherry.
• Pour the custard over the cake, cover with clingfilm and chill for at least three hours.
• Whip the remaining cream into soft peaks.
• Uncover the trifle, spoon over the cream and return it to the fridge until you are ready to serve.
• Decorate however you wish, hundreds and thousands and halved glace cherries are traditional.

Steps:

• In batter bowl, combine sugar and cornstarch, then whisk in the eggs and milk.
• Microwave on 2 minutes, then whisk well.
• Microwave another 3-5 minutes, or until thickened.
• Stir in the vanilla.
• Lay plastic wrap directly over the pudding (this keeps a "skin" from forming on the top) then set aside to stand 5-10 minutes.
• In the meantime, slice the cake into 1/2x1x3-inch "fingers" and make little jam sandwiches with the slices.
• Arrange the slices in a single layer in the bottom and sides of trifle dish or other deep bowl.
• Drizzle with half of the sherry (or orange juice), and the raspberry syrup, if using.
• Layer with half of the pudding, sliced fruit, and whipped cream.
• Add another layer of the remaining jam fingers on top of the pudding and fruit, drizzle with remaining sherry, then remaining pudding and fruit, ending with the remaining whipped cream, then top with the almonds.
• Cover with plastic wrap and allow to stand in refrigerator several hours, or overnight.

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, whisk egg yolks and sugar until blended. Stir in 1-3/4 cups cream. Cook over low heat about x-x minutes or until mixture is just thick enough to coat a metal spoon and a thermometer reads at least 160°, stirring constantly but gently, about 10 minutes. Do not allow to boil. Immediately transfer to a bowl. Place bowl in an ice-water bath for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla. Press plastic wrap onto surface of custard. Refrigerate until cold., Place cake cubes and crumbled cookies in a 3-qt. glass bowl. Drizzle with sherry and brandy. Layer the raspberries, strawberries and peaches over crumbled cookies; spoon custard over fruit. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour., In a large bowl, beat remaining 1-1/4 cups cream until stiff peaks form. Pipe or spoon over custard; sprinkle with almonds.

Steps:

• Brush flat sides of macaroons with liqueur and arrange flat sides against the glass around the sides of a 12 cup glass bowl or trifle bowl, then line bottom with flat side up.
• Spread generously with raspberry jam, being careful not to crush macaroons.
• For custard:.
• Whisk yolks in medium saucepan.
• Gradually add sugar, whisking until mixture is thick and lemon colored, about 2 minutes.
• Blend in milk, whipping cream, and cornstarch mixture.
• Place over medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens, about 3 to 5 minutes. DO NOT boil or mixture will separate.
• Remove from heat and stir until slightly cooled.
• Blend in vanilla and nutmeg.
• Transfer to bowl and repeat twice, for a total of about 3 3/4 cups custard.
• Spoon 1 1/4 cups custard over raspberry jam layer.
• Cover with a single layer of pound cake slices.
• Using a pastry brush,soak cake generously with 1/4 to 1/3 cup sherry.
• Spread thin layer of raspberry jam over cake.
• Top with half of drained raspberries.
• Carefully spoon another 1 1/4 cups custard over berries.
• Repeat layering with remaining pound cake slices, sherry, and jam.
• Cover with remaining berries and carefully spread remaining custard over top.
• Brush 8 or 9 macaroons with liqueur and arrange over custard, flat side down.
• Place plastic wrap directly on surface of trifle and refrigerate overnight.
• About 3 to 4 hours before serving, whip cream in medium bowl until foamy.
• Add sugar and vanilla and continue beating until stiff but not dry.
• Spoon over macaroons, swirling top.
• Crush 10 to 12 macaroons and sprinkle a 1 inch border around outer edge of whipped cream.
• Refrigerate until serving time.

Steps:

• Slice pound cake in half horizontally. Spread with jam and replace top of cake. Slice cake into 9 pieces. Line the sides and fill the center of a 2-qt. glass serving bowl with cake pieces. Prepare pudding with milk. Pour over cake. Chill. Beat cream and sugar until soft peaks form; spread over cake and pudding. Chill at least 4 hours. Garnish with almonds and cherries.