Just because we’re celebrating in smaller numbers this year doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate in big, extravagant fashion when it comes to the food we’re serving. Our Berry Trifle with Vanilla Cream is a showstopper, both in its dramatic colorful presentation and its deliciousness. It’s the type of dessert that you can leave out while playing board games next to the fire and there won’t be leftovers. It’s sorta healthy. Sorta.
We first heard of a trifle on an episode of Friends, where Jennifer Aniston’s character Rachel attempted the recipe but accidentally had two pages stuck together in her cookbook and ended up with a fruit, carrot, peas and gravy concoction. That’s not this recipe. This one is pure, beautiful fruit, angel food cake and fresh handmade whipped cream. And everyone, including Rachel, can make it.
First you have to have the right equipment; invest in a trifle dish which you’ll be sure to use for this recipe, as a fruit bowl everyday in your fridge or for display in your China cabinet. You can even use it for chips for your next Super Bowl party. A trifle is special because you can see all the layers; the more colorful the better. At this time of year, we love mango, blackberries and something red like strawberries or raspberries. The latter aren’t really in season but if you buy them from a good grocer, they will still be delicious. Also don’t feel obligated to bake the angel food cake. We rarely do as it’s one of those instances where store bought is delicious and the return of making a homemade angel food cake (unless that’s your thing) doesn’t make that big of a difference.
Serves 8
1 lb Strawberries, whole with tops cut off
2 Mangos finely diced
2 Containers fresh blackberries, whole
2 Containers raspberries
1 pint heavy whipping cream
2 capfuls of Vanilla extract
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 Angel food cake, cut into uniform squares
5 tablespoons of pistachios, crushed for garnish
In a metal bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream for about 5 minutes, until just solidified enough to form dollops when you scoop up with a spoon. Don’t over whip your cream. At about minute 4 add in the vanilla extract and sugar. Set aside until ready to use.
Set up an assembly line of ingredients; first the angel food cake, then the strawberries, next the whipped cream, blackberries, raspberries and last the mango. The key to the Galavante trifle is to individually place each and every ingredient, so that the trifle is the most beautifully presented that it can be. This means starting with a uniform layer of the angel food cake, then spreading a generous layer of whipped cream on top. Next add the strawberries, one by one with the steam size down, followed by another layer of whipped cream. Next add in a layer of angel food cake, whipped cream then blackberries. You want to create diversity in color. After the blackberries, create a layer of whipped cream, cake and raspberries, before ending with whipped cream, cake, whipped cream and mango. On the mango layer, add a circle of blackberries, whipped cream in the middle, then a smaller circle of raspberries in circular center and sprinkle with pistachios to add both an element of color and a delicious accent to the fruit and cake. You can make this up to 4 hours ahead of time. It’s both light, healthy-ish and 100% addictive.
