How to Make an English Trifle

How many different ways are there to make an English Trifle?

Probably about as many ways as there are people willing to give it a try.

The ingredients for a trifle can vary widely. Perhaps the only essential ingredients are sponge cake and fruit.

There is a classic dessert called the Sherry Trifle. Most English cooks make a trifle in this classic way. Here is how I make it:

Ingredients

• 1 pack Greens Plain Sponge Cake mix
• 1 pack Hartleys Strawberry Jelly
• 1 can Ambrosia Devon Custard
• Fresh strawberries, chopped
• Whipping Cream

Preparation

• Bake the sponge according to the instructions on the pack (alright, if you are short on time buy a pack of small sponge flan bases at a grocery store)
• Place a thick wedge of sponge cake at the bottom of a single serving glass dessert bowl
• Pour in one ounce of cream sherry and allow the sponge to soak it up
• Add chopped fresh strawberries
• Make up some Hartley's Strawberry Jelly according to the instructions on the pack and slowly pour over the sponge and fruit until the jelly just covers the sponge and fruit (optional, the jelly is not an essential component of the trifle)
• Cover with cling film and allow to set overnight in the refrigerator
• When the jelly has set add a layer of Ambrosia Devon Custard
• Top with a layer of whipped cream and decorate with sprinkles or crushed Cadbury Flake

John's Notes
I actually made three variations of trifle this week and I don't think I have even scratched the surface of all the possibilities. I described my basic sherry trifle above. I also made a second trifle with gelatine, light cream, fruit and sponge. It was quite different, but still quite delicious.

Gelatine (e.g. Hartley's Strawberry Jelly) is an optional ingredient in trifles so I missed it out in my third trifle variety. I simply mixed sponge cake, strawberries and Ambrosia Devon Custard to make a very tasty simple trifle much like the ones sold at my local supermarket.

I believe the essential design specification for an English Trifle is "layers" and lots of them. We'll come back to trifles again in the future after I have perfected the recipe for my own multi-layer rich and creamy trifle.

I hope you weren't planning to go on a diet.