English Trifle with Angel Food Cake

Rating: 4.33 stars
9 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 4
  • 4 star values: 4
  • 3 star values: 1
  • 2 star values: 0
  • 1 star values: 0

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!

By Marc Boyer

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Recipe Summary

prep:
30 mins
cook:
10 mins
additional:
12 hrs
total:
12 hrs 40 mins
Servings:
10
Yield:
10 to 12 servings
Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

10
Original recipe yields 10 servings
The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

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.

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  • 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.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
762 calories; protein 14.2g; carbohydrates 101.2g; fat 33.5g; cholesterol 284mg; sodium 601.7mg. Full Nutrition
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Reviews (9)

Read More Reviews

Most helpful positive review

DKGASMAN
Rating: 4 stars
01/02/2006
Delicious and beautiful; 2 packages of vanilla pudding made to directions can be substituted. My double boiler is too small so I had to make it in 2 batches. Served it New Years Eve to 16 people; had several requests for the recipe. Read More
Helpful
(25)

Most helpful critical review

rosiecrochet43
Rating: 3 stars
12/03/2011
This recipe does sound delicious but ti is not a true English sherry trifle speaking as a true English person a sherry trifle from back home is sponge fingers soaked in sherry with tinned mixed fruit drained and then a raspberry jelly (jello) poured over the top and set then a layer of thick proper custard followed on top of that a thick layer of dream topping and sprinkles!... that is a true common English Trifle!! Read More
Helpful
(25)
9 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 4
  • 4 star values: 4
  • 3 star values: 1
  • 2 star values: 0
  • 1 star values: 0
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
rosiecrochet43
Rating: 3 stars
12/03/2011
This recipe does sound delicious but ti is not a true English sherry trifle speaking as a true English person a sherry trifle from back home is sponge fingers soaked in sherry with tinned mixed fruit drained and then a raspberry jelly (jello) poured over the top and set then a layer of thick proper custard followed on top of that a thick layer of dream topping and sprinkles!... that is a true common English Trifle!! Read More
Helpful
(25)
DKGASMAN
Rating: 4 stars
01/02/2006
Delicious and beautiful; 2 packages of vanilla pudding made to directions can be substituted. My double boiler is too small so I had to make it in 2 batches. Served it New Years Eve to 16 people; had several requests for the recipe. Read More
Helpful
(25)
Constance
Rating: 4 stars
01/29/2009
I just love this recipe! Now with that being said this last time I made trifle I did make quite a few changes. Instead of using cream sherry I used Chambord liquer. I used a pre-made frozen pound cake that I cut into squares when thawed. Next I had custard powder in the house from a different recipe so I made that instead of the pastry cream that this recipe calls for. I know lots of changes but the 4 stars I give this recipe is what I rate it when I make it according to the original directions. The changes I made this last time are just optional suggestions to save time and change it up! Read More
Helpful
(19)
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Ruth Tannahill
Rating: 4 stars
05/10/2010
If this recipe had used homemade sponge cake or even packaged ladyfingers it would have gotten 5 stars. Unlike every other English trifle recipe here it uses real pastry cream instead of a mix and does not substitute whipped topping for real whipped cream. A real trifle to me is sponge cake custard jam sherry and whipped cream. It is not a collection of processed foods. You can really taste the difference especially with the taste of the custard. Read More
Helpful
(15)
Windjamersc
Rating: 5 stars
11/23/2010
I made this recipe last Fall and everyone loved it. I substituted the pastry cream with instant vanilla pudding. Read More
Helpful
(7)
Desiree D
Rating: 4 stars
11/29/2010
I too always make traditional English trifle which I layer with sponge cake brandy red jello fruit blamonge custard and whipped cream but I do the easy way for potlucks at work using vanilla pudding and cool whip Blamonge here in the US is just a instant cornstarch pudding which you can find in the Mexican food isle at most grocery stores. Any variation you do is a sure hit. Read More
Helpful
(6)
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Dish_diva
Rating: 5 stars
05/16/2012
I made this two nights ago it was great!! I fashioned a double boiler out of a metal mixing bowl an had a blast!! Read More
Helpful
(1)
Robert O'Connor
Rating: 5 stars
12/29/2016
Turned out fabulous.. I used raspberry jello and fresh raspberries as well as a fruit cocktail with the sponge in the jello with birds custard. Went down well for Christmas dessert! Read More
Jeannie
Rating: 5 stars
07/24/2018
I love trifle's so anytime I find a new one I just have to try it out. This one was a huge hit with the family. It was very easy to make (my 11 year old actually did most of it) and the directions are superb even for a new cook like my daughter. Give this an all around thumbs up. Wil be trying more of these very soon. It is summer after all. Read More
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