English Trifle

Although this recipe uses a bit of sherry, the alcohol evaporates overnight. You may simply eliminate it if you don’t care for alcohol. Two boxes of custard mix or vanilla pudding mix can be substituted for the pastry cream. However, using the pastry cream makes the dessert quite rich!

Original recipe makes 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package angel food cake mix, prepared in a loaf pan
1/2 cup cream sherry
1 (10 ounce) jar raspberry jam
1 1/3 cups white sugar
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups milk
10 egg yolks, beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups sliced almonds
12 maraschino cherries

PREP

30 mins
COOK

10 mins
READY IN

12 hrs 40 mins

Directions

The night before, slice the cake into 1/2 inch slices and sprinkle with sherry. Cover lightly so it won’t get stale. Let sit overnight to allow alcohol to evaporate.
To make the pastry cream: Mix sugar, flour and salt together in the top of double boiler. Slowly add milk to form a smooth mixture. Cook over low-medium heat stirring constantly until the mixture begins to thicken. Slowly pour 1/2 the hot milk mixture into a bowl of the beaten egg yolks, stirring constantly. Then pour all the mixture back into the double boiler and sir until thick. Add butter and vanilla. Chill.
The next day, spread raspberry jam on top of sherried cake layers (or ladyfingers). Layer the bottom of a bowl with 1/3 the cake and pour 1/3 of the pastry cream over the top. Sprinkle with nuts. Layer cake, cream and nuts until all of the ingredients have been used. Top the uppermost layer with whipped cream and garnish with maraschino cherries and slivered almonds. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours before serving.