Should you find yourself in need of a recipe for dessert that is easy and yet elegant, a trifle may be the perfect solution. Originally from England, though in a simpler rendition, the dish dates from the late sixteenth century. There are numerous versions of it today, from many countries including Italy and France. A trifle is usually presented in a clear glass bowl to display the lovely layers it is made of.
One of the utensils you will need to have is a sharp bread knife, which may well be included in your knife block set if you have one. You may use another type of knife, as long as it is able to slice neatly through soft cake. You will also need a large cutting board to work on while making the trifle.
The ingredients in trifle are variable, and so are their proportions. There is a large amount of latitude in exactly what can be used, and how much of each ingredient. You will need to have some type of cake, or ladyfingers, and the cake may be pound, sponge, muffins, cupcakes, and so on. Cut the cake into cubes of about 2 inches, or else slice it thinly. Spread the pieces of cake with whatever jam you like, and layer them into the bottom of your trifle bowl or dish.
Next you will be sprinkling the layer of cake pieces with a liquid, which can be sherry, port wine, liqueur, whiskey or fruit juice, as you prefer. The second layer to be put into the bowl is custard or pudding. Vanilla flavored custard is often used, but there are many other flavors that can be used, such as mocha, peanut butter, or chocolate. Depending on your preference and the other ingredients, you may use whatever you like.
The layers of cake and custard should be repeated. You may also wish to include layers of sliced fruit in between the cake and custard, and a good paring knife will be handy for the fruit preparation. A Wusthof knife set or similar quality brand generally will include at least one paring knife which will be perfect for the job.
The top layer of a trifle is generally whipped cream. To whip cream properly, start with well chilled heavy cream in a chilled bowl, and beat at high speed until it is thickened and holds its shape. A powerful but lightweight Kitchen Aid hand mixer is ideal for this job. Beat the cream, sweetening it with sugar to taste and other flavoring such as vanilla if you like. Avoid too much beating as it may separate or turn into butter if beaten too hard.
Use the whipped cream to top the cake and custard layers, spreading it all over and sealing the edges to the bowl. You may garnish the whipped cream if you like, with sliced fruit, nuts, chocolate shavings, coconut, or whatever other topping you prefer. Trifles are usually best after being refrigerated for several hours or overnight, giving the flavors and textures a chance to blend together. The only other thing you need to do is to serve, and enjoy.
