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Easy Steps To Make A Beautiful Trifle For Dessert

If you are looking for an elegant yet easy dessert, you might consider making a trifle. This dish originated in England, in a simpler form than now, in the late 16th century. There are many variations of it today, including versions by other countries such as France and Italy. Trifle is typically presented in a large clear glass bowl to show off the several layers of which it is composed.

If you have a knife block set, you probably already have one of the utensils you will need, which is a sharp bread knife. Other types of knives may be used also, as long as they are suitable for slicing soft cake into pieces. Of course, you will also need a large cutting board on which to do the slicing.

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.

The next step is to sprinkle the pieces of cake with a liquid of your choice, which can be a liqueur, sherry or port wine, liquor or fruit juice if you prefer a non-alcoholic trifle. On top of the cake layer make a layer of custard or pudding, either vanilla or another flavor, such as chocolate, mocha, peanut butter or anything you like. The variations depend only on your preference and what goes along with the other ingredients you have chosen to use.

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 uppermost layer of a trifle is usually composed of whipped cream. Start with the cream in a well chilled bowl to ensure easy whipping. It should be beaten at high speed until it becomes thick and holds its shape. The ideal appliance for this is a lightweight yet powerful one, such as a Kitchen Aid hand mixer. You may sweeten and flavor the cream during the whipping process. Be sure not to beat the cream too long, as it may turn into butter if you do.

Spread the whipped cream on top of the trifle layers, covering them completely to the edge of the bowl. Garnishes may be used on top of the whipped cream layer, such as coconut, sliced fruit, chopped nuts, shavings of chocolate, or whatever you prefer. The trifle should then be refrigerated several hours, or overnight, to blend the flavors and textures. The final step is to serve the trifle, and enjoy your beautiful but easy dessert.

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