10 steps to trifle heaven (Desserts)

Member Name: apuskiduski

Product:	Desserts
Date:	12/03/09 (148 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fairly cheap to make, a winner at parties, prepare in advance, looks good and tastes divine

Disadvantages: It's gone before you can blink

Here's my favourite dessert of all time. It's a winner in summer with fresh raspberries, but it also goes down a treat at my New Year's Eve Party when I use the frozen variety.

You can make it well in advance of your gathering so you're not going to be in a flap when your guests arrive. The effect of the layering cannot be underestimated, as you think you've hit the last of the fruit and sponge, but it's an illusion, giving you a satisfying extra towards the end! If it's on show in a glass dish the layers also look too good to spoon into - maybe it'll leave more for you!

===Gather together===

175g/6oz of trifle sponges cut into 2.5cm/1" cubes, or better still use a cheap, basic sponge cake or swiss roll.
40ml/2fl oz orange juice
115g/4oz of raspberry jam
275g/10oz rasperries
450ml/15fl oz custard
300ml/10fl oz whipped cream - you can add sugar to taste if you're desperate, but I find the dessert is sweet enough
Toasted sliced almonds to decorate

I usually double these quantities for two bowls.

===How to make a taste of heaven===

1. Take the cubed trifle sponges/cake and arrange them evenly to cover the base of a large trifle dish/glass bowl

2. Sprinkle with half the orange juice

3. Spoon on half the jam and try to spread it carefully without tearing the sponge too much - a bit of a faff I know, but worth it

4.Put a few raspberries to one side to decorate the trifle then layer half of what's left onto the sponge layer

5.Pour on half the custard - either home made or if you can't handle that use some out of a tin - use a Delia cheat, why not!

6. Cover all the fruit and the cake layer

7. Repeat the layers - a bit like making a lasagne

8. Cover and chill for 2 hours

9. Just before you're ready to serve, spoon the whipping cream (sweetened or not) evenly over the top

10. To decorate, arrange the saved raspberries and almond flakes to make the whole thing look so tempting you'll barely get a look in at a party, so make sure you get your bowlful first!


Occasionally I cook with sherry, and some of it goes in the trifle! Either way it's delish and everyone asks for the recipe. It's simple to make and makes you look like a domestic genius. Trifle with as many people as you can, that's what I say!

Summary: A trifle for all seasons.