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The Christmas showstopper: A recipe for tasty topsy-turvy tipsy trifles

These Trewithen Dairy trifles are a real showstopper, with the jelly upside down on top of the custard.

By LLM Reporters   |  
trifles
Image Credit: Kate Whitaker

These Trewithen Dairy trifles are a real showstopper, with the jelly upside down on top of the custard, and they are quick and simple to make. Use pears poached in Amaretto if you want a more decadent dessert or even shop bought pears in Calvados.  

You can use canned or home-made custard, if making your own custard, make sure it’s thick enough to set, so it can withstand the weight of the jelly on top. Use any fruit you like for the jelly and filling, strawberries, mango, blackberries – just ensure you have 300ml of fruit puree to two leaves of gelatin for the jelly. 

For an alcohol-free version, substitute the Amaretto with pear syrup from the can.

Makes 6

Ingredients

For the jelly 

350g frozen raspberries 
4 tbsp caster sugar 
2 leaves gelatin

For the trifles 

24 Amaretti biscuits 
6 tbsp Amaretto
6 canned pear halves, in syrup, drained
36 raspberries
400g can custard 
200g Trewithen Dairy Clotted Cream 

Image credit: Kate Whitaker

Method

1. For the jelly, soak the gelatine leaves in a small bowl of cold water for five minutes until soft.

2. Place the frozen raspberries in a pan with the sugar and cook over a medium heat until defrosted. Bring to the boil stirring, then remove from the heat. 

3.  Tip the raspberries into the bowl of a food processor or blender and blitz to a puree, then pass through a sieve to remove the seeds, into a heatproof jug.  Squeeze any excess liquid out of the gelatin leaves then add to the raspberry puree and stir until dissolved. Leave to cool until just beginning to set but still pourable.  

4. For the trifles, crush three Amaretti biscuits into the base of six wine or water glasses. Pour one tbsp Amaretto into each glass. 

5. Roughly chop the drained pears and divide them evenly between the six glasses. Add six raspberries to each glass and using a teaspoon or clean fingers, push the fruit to the sides of the glass so you can see it once you add the custard. Sprinkle one crushed Amaretti biscuit into each glass.

6. Spoon the custard evenly between the six glasses, then once the jelly has cooled and is beginning to thicken, pour it over the custard and place the glasses in the fridge.  

7. Chill for at least one hour or assemble up to eight hours ahead and chill until ready to serve. 

8. To serve, spoon a large dollop of clotted cream over the set jelly.