Spring into action with these little sponges. (Tesco Trifle Sponges)

Member Name: jo@145

Product:	Tesco Trifle Sponges
Date:	21/02/09 (238 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Makes perfect trifle quickly

Disadvantages: High in carbohydrates

Trifle according to Wikipedia is a dessert made from thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, fruit juice or jelly and topped with cream. Once a popular treat at teatime on a Sunday, it is still a favourite at Christmas time but not often served the rest of the year. I decided that I would make one this weekend to use up the trifle sponges.

At one time I would use some left over Victoria sponge to make a trifle, but as I don't bake as much I have to buy trifle sponges and Tesco have a box of really lovely sponges for only 54p so worth buying for making a trifle.

*What is the packaging like?*

A very colourful cardboard box, with photos of individual trifles showing the layers of sponge and raspberry in red jelly, a lovely deep custard layer and topped with whipped cream and decorated with fruit and something crispy. Inside the box are two cellophane packages containing 4 rectangular sponges.

*What is a trifle sponge?

I always thought they were hard dry sponges, but Tesco trifle sponges are lovely and moist, with a sugary topping and taste quite nice on their own! They are dense sponge which soaks up liquid and expands, making a lovely fruity sponge base.

*Good or bad food?*

Each trifle sponge has 70kcals, there is 1.7grams of protein, 14.1 grams of carbohydrate and only 0.8grams of fat, and a trace of salt. They contain milk, gluten and egg so people with allergies must be aware of this.

*How do you use them?*

To make a trifle I break them up in the bottom of a glass dish and sprinkle a little sherry on top, if preferred you can use orange juice or another alcohol. Drain a tin of fruit and add or use fresh raspberries, if you are going to use jelly don't use fresh pineapple as it stops the jelly from setting! You can add jelly and leave to set at this stage or add enough fruit juice to moisten the sponge, but not syrup off fruit. When set pour custard over and leave to set, when cold top with whipped cream and decorate with chocolate shavings or raspberries and almond slivers.

I have used them in Tiramisu when I've run out of sponge fingers and they work just as well dipped in the coffee and brandy mixture. Another way is to break them up and add to a greased ramekin, with some cherries and sultanas and fill up with egg custard, bake in a tray of hot water at Reg 4 for about 30 minutes until set. This is called Cabinet pudding and if served cold it becomes Diplomat pudding! Rather like a posh Bread and butter pudding.
There are two recipes on the box too, one for making Trifle and one for Gooseberry layer.

*Do they keep?*

Oh No! I should have checked the side of the box, mine were best before the end of January, 3 weeks out of date! They still felt lovely and moist, smelled and tasted fine too, I wouldn't recommend using them out of date, but they seemed perfectly usable. I bought these before Christmas, but would recommend you to check how long they last as using 8 trifle sponges in one go makes a very big trifle so you want to store the remainder for another time. Once open they should be stored in an airtight container.

*Where were they made?*

They were produced in the Netherlands for Tesco. I wonder why they weren't made in Britain!

*Verdict?*

An excellent little sponge cake to use for trifles or other desserts, tastes good and good value for money at less than 7p a sponge.

Summary: Triflr sponges