Basic Trifle Recipes

Steps:

• Prepare pudding or custard according to directions and let cool.
• Mix the fruit with the sherry.
• Cut the cake into 1" chunks and place 1/2 of the chunks in the bottom of a trifle bowl.
• Layer 1/2 of the fruit on top of the cake layer and top with 1/2 the pudding.
• Repeat layering.
• Top with whipped cream and garnish with fresh fruit.
• Chill well before serving.
• Variations.
• To make a low fat trifle, use angel food cake, fat-free pudding and low fat whipped cream.
• Strawberry Shortcake Trifle- Yellow or Angel food cake, custard and strawberries.
• Black Forest Trifle- Chocolate cake, raspberries and custard.
• Tropical Trifle- Angel food cake, mixed pineapple, mangoes, papayas, vanilla or lemon pudding. Sprinkle with shredded coconut.
• Apples and cream Trifle- Spice Cake, Apple pie filling and custard.
• Banana Creme Trifle- White or chocolate cake, Sliced Bananas, Custard.

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.