5.0 from 390 votes
English Christmas Trifle
Christmas Trifle is a classic English dessert with layers of pound cake, crème anglaise, fresh fruit, and whipped cream. This holiday trifle, adapted from Emeril Lagasse, uses raspberries and poached pears, making it as delicious as it is beautiful.
Prep Time
40 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Servings: 18 servings
Calories: 500 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
British
Ingredients
- 3 cups Creme Anglaise (or prepared Bird's custard)
- 1 prepared pound cake about 12 ounces, crusts trimmed
- 1/3 cup marsala wine or sherry
- 1/3 cup amaretto
- 4 pears poached, and sliced into wedges.
- 4 cups fresh or frozen and thawed raspberries
- 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 cups whipping cream
- fresh raspberries and mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat 2 cups cream with the confectioner's sugar until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl toss the berries with 2 tablespoons Marsala, stirring to bruise the berries slightly.
- To assemble the trifle cut the cake into 1/2-inch thick slices to fit tightly into the bottom of a trifle bowl (or a 1 1/2-quart decorative glass bowl).
- Drizzle or sprinkle the cake layer with Marsala and Amaretto.
- Layer 1/3 of the pears and raspberries over the top of the cake, followed by 1/3 of the creme anglaise or custard.
- Repeat the process, creating a total of three layers with the remaining ingredients.
- Spread whipped cream on top, then pipe rosettes of whipped cream.
- Garnish with raspberries and slivered almonds.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Pears can be poached a day ahead of time.
- Bird's Custard powder can be used instead of homemade custard.
- prepared pound cake can be substituted for homemade.
- Nutritional values are hard to calculate. I've based it on the recipe card's nutritional data base for a purchased pound cake and prepared custard.
- Servings can range from 16 to 24. Nutritional value is based on 18.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
500kcal
(25%)
Carbohydrates
27g
(9%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
Cholesterol
56mg
(19%)
Sodium
122mg
(5%)
Potassium
152mg
(4%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
15g
(30%)
Vitamin A
441IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
9mg
(10%)
Calcium
48mg
(5%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 18servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 500
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 500kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 9% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 56mg | 19% |
| Sodium | 122mg | 5% |
| Potassium | 152mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 15g | 30% |
| Vitamin A | 441IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 48mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.