Ingredients
Scale
Gathering the right ingredients is like setting the stage for a festive play. Here’s what you’ll need to create these delightful layers:
- 1 pound cake or sponge cake, cubed
- 2 cups mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
- 1 cup sherry or fruit juice (for a non-alcoholic version)
- 2 cups custard (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup whipped cream
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (almonds or hazelnuts work well)
- 2 tablespoons shaved chocolate or chocolate curls
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can swap the berries for seasonal fruits or add a touch of spice with cinnamon or nutmeg to the custard. The key is to make it your own, just like my mum taught me.
Instructions
Creating these trifles is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. Here’s how to bring them to life:
- Begin by preparing your cake. If using a store-bought cake, cut it into small cubes.
- Layer a few cake cubes at the bottom of each glass or trifle dish. Drizzle with sherry or fruit juice to moisten the cake.
- Add a layer of mixed berries over the cake, spreading evenly.
- Spoon a generous layer of custard over the berries, smoothing it out with the back of a spoon.
- Repeat the layers – cake, sherry or juice, berries, and custard – until the glasses are nearly full.
- Top each trifle with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Finish with a sprinkle of chopped nuts and a few shavings of chocolate for that festive touch.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving to let the flavors meld beautifully.
Remember that patience is a virtue, especially here. Letting the trifles rest allows each layer to soak up the flavors, much like the quiet Sundays of my childhood when our kitchen would slowly fill with the aroma of a simmering stew.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
