Strawberry Trifle

A delicious strawberry trifle recipe with layers of creamy custard, jelly, Madeira cake, whipped cream, fresh berries and grated chocolate.

5 from 10 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Australian recipe, Christmas

Prep Time: 30

Chilling Time: 12

Total Time: 12 30

Servings: serves

Calories: 448kcal

Author: Lucy Mathieson

Cost: $20

Equipment

Beaters, stand-mixer or Thermomix

Ingredients

4 X 85 g packets strawberry jelly crystals like Aeroplane brand
625 ml (2 ½ cups) boiling water
400 ml cold water
450 g Madeira cake or vanilla cake, sponge cake or sponge jam roll
80 ml Cointreau or fruit juice , see notes
250 g strawberries fresh
900 g double thick vanilla custard like Pauls brand, see notes
600 ml thickened cream
45 g caster sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
fresh berries your choice of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and cherries, to decorate
50 g chocolate grated, to decorate

Instructions

In a large bowl, add the strawberry jelly crystals and boiling water. Stir until the crystals have dissolved. Add the cold water and mix through.
Chill the jelly in the fridge for 1 hour (or until just slightly thickened, but not set).
Meanwhile, place the Madeira cake onto a chopping board and cut into cubes (approximately 3cm).
Place the cubes of cake into the base of a 3.5 litre trifle dish or a large serving bowl.
Drizzle the liquid (Cointreau or fruit juice) over the top of the cake.
Gently spoon half of the jelly over the top.
Cut the strawberries in half and place along the outside edge of the trifle bowl (with the cut-side facing outwards).
Spoon the custard over the top of the jelly (note: the custard may not cover the entire strawberries).
Spoon over the remaining jelly.
Chill in the fridge overnight.
Use hand-held beaters or a stand-mixer to whip the cream, vanilla and sugar on medium speed until soft peaks form.
Note: if using a Thermomix, insert the Butterfly attachment and mix on Speed 3 until soft peaks form.
Decorate the trifle with all of your favourite in-season berries.
Grate the chocolate over the top of the whipped cream and berries using a grater or zester, and serve.

Notes

RECIPE NOTES & TIPS

Ingredients Info:

Madeira cake - you can use any plain sweet (unfrosted) cake in trifle. I recommend using either Madeira cake, sponge cake, jam sponge roll or vanilla cake.
Cointreau (or fruit juice) - drizzling liquid over the cake helps to soften and flavour it. If you're preparing an adults-only dessert then use Cointreau. However, if like me, you're catering for both adults and children, simply substitute the Cointreau for a fruit juice (like cranberry, orange or apple juice).
Fresh strawberries - summer is the perfect time to make this strawberry trifle! Fresh strawberries are absolutely bursting with flavour and make this trifle recipe extra sweet and flavoursome.
Strawberry Jelly Crystals - I use packets of strawberry Aeroplane jelly for this recipe. You could substitute with a different flavour of jelly if you prefer.
Custard - I recommend using Pauls brand Double Thick Vanilla Custard as it has an amazing flavour and the perfect thickness for trifle. If using a different brand, ensure that it is extra thick. Alternatively you can make your own homemade custard using this recipe and cooking for a few extra minutes until very thick.
Whipped Cream - I like to make my own whipped cream using thickened or whipping cream, caster sugar and vanilla extract. Alternatively, you could use a can of store-bought whipped cream.
Fresh Berries - tis' the season for delicious berries bursting with flavour! Use whatever berries you like to decorate your strawberry trifle - I like to use a mix of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cherries.
Grated chocolate - nothing completes a trifle like a good sprinkling of grated chocolate over the top! Either milk or dark chocolate work beautifully in this recipe.

More Recipe Tips:

Chilling time - For the best results, trifle should be chilled overnight to allow the layers to set, the cake to soften and the flavours to develop. Definitely DO NOT skip the chilling time!

Kid-friendly trifle - trifle is an all-time favourite dessert with kids - thanks to the delicious layers of jelly, custard, cream and cake! Just ensure you substitute the Cointreau with fruit juice to make it suitable for children.

Storing - store any leftover trifle in the fridge and consume within 2 days.

Freezing - this recipe is not suitable for freezing.

Nutrition