Recipe For English Trifle With Ladyfingers

If I had to choose one dessert as the most nostalgic for me, that would be a traditional English Trifle. I love the flavor combinations!

If I had to choose one dessert as the most nostalgic for me, that would be this family recipe for English Trifle. Every holiday we would travel to my aunt’s house for a huge feast and a dazzling dessert table covered with homemade chocolate cake, lemon and mincemeat tarts, usually a pie of some sort, and of course, English Trifle. A trifle is a layered dessert that contains custard, sherry-soaked cake, fruit, jam and whipped cream.

I have quite a few trifle recipes on this blog, but this English trifle recipe is one that my family has always loved. Recipes can vary from family to family, but the basic elements remain the same. A sponge cake soaked in spirits layered together with custard, whipped cream, and fruit. I believe one of my aunts used to add banana slices to hers as well!

Boozy Christmas Trifle

I was actually born in England but came to the states when I was just 2 years old. So growing up I was surrounded by words like “blimey” and “rubbish” and other such British terms. This photo was taken shortly after we arrived in the states back in 1969. Two of the children in the photo above were our new friends, the girl in the pink coat and the boy with the red hat.

The one-pan dessert is ideal for all occasions including potlucks, holidays, barbecues and birthdays. Several of these desserts do not require baking making them perfect for summer. See ALL my cookbooks here !

I am in the white coat, my older brother is next to me in the brown coat, and my beautiful mom, God rest her soul, is holding my little brother Michael. I have a few other old family photos in this dedication post I wrote for my mom here: Classic Yellow Cake: Dedicated to the Memory of My Mother

Traditional English Trifle Recipe (sherry Trifle)

Over the years, trifles [in America] have been adapted to fit into a family’s tastes. Some use pudding, some don’t include sherry or Madeira wine, but instead non-alcoholic juices, and some even use chocolate and other ingredients.

Another reason that the trifle has been adapted is simply out of necessity. English custard can be purchased in a box (Called Bird’s Custard Powder

) in the same fashion as American pudding. But it can be difficult to find in many American grocery stores, so people have switched to using what is readily available to them.

Super Easy Australian Trifle With Custard

Funny thing is, the English didn’t “invent” the trifle, the Scottish did. The Scots have recipes that date back to the late 1500’s! Of course hundreds of years ago, Scotland and England united to become the United Kingdom, so calling the trifle “English” is fair. ;-)

I’m actually half Scottish (my dad was born in the Shetland Isles of Scotland) and half English (mom was born in England, I in Leicester). I still have family in the UK, some in Cornwall, more in Droitwich Spa and others in Canterbury just to name a few!

In our English trifle. However, it’s hard to find where I live, so I went ahead and made the custard from scratch. I really do love pudding, but for this dessert, I insist on using custard. There’s something about the beautiful aroma of custard that reminds me of the house we lived in before coming to America. I savor it.

Rachel's English Trifle Recipe From Friends (vegan)

Bird’s custard can be found in some specialty grocery stores, or you can order it online. You can use a purchased cake for this trifle. Most English cooks use a Madeira cake, which is similar to a pound cake in America and was named after the wine that often accompanied it.

If you decide to use Bird’s Custard powder, make two batches (2 pints) following the instructions on the back of the can.

(If you decide to use Bird’s Custard powder, make two batches (2 pints) following the instructions on the back of the can.)

Friends: Rachel Green's English Trifle

You will want to make the cake and the custard first. Obviously, if you are using a packaged pound cake or ladyfingers, then start with the custard. If you are making a box cake or cake from scratch, be sure to bake that up first. Both the cake and the custard will need to cool before assembling the trifle.

Don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients and instructions. Most of it is because of the homemade custard. If you order Bird’s Custard Powder

IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

Fruit Trifle Recipe

Serving: 1 portion | Calories: 328 cal | Carbohydrates: 21 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 24 g | Saturated Fat: 14 g | Cholesterol: 192 mg | Sodium: 121 mg | Potassium: 201 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 16 g | Vitamin A: 969 IU | Vitamin C: 17 mg | Calcium: 135 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Amanda Formaro is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four grown children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years. She is also a craft book author five times over and product developer as well as the owner of FunFamilyCrafts.com. You can find her on social media by using the buttons to the left!Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

An English trifle is a quintessential dessert that has graced British tables for more than four centuries. This decadent-looking treat is simply luscious and often made with alcohol, some with jelly and some not, while the fruit is a must-have for some and a turn-off to others.

How To Make An Easy Trifle Dessert The Bossy Kitchen

Essentially, an English trifle needs sponge fingers or pound cake, perhaps soaked in sherry—but this is optional only if children are not involved. It also needs jelly (aka Jell-O in the U.S.), a thick layer of creamy custard, and adeep layer of lightly whipped fresh cream. The rest is all about personal preference.

A trifle made with jelly might be more appealing to children, and many adults love it too, because as it soaks into the cake, it gives it more texture. If you prefer a trifle without jelly, simply proceed without it—this will be quicker to make because it doesn't need to set up in the fridge. Both are equally delicious.

A footed trifle bowl is traditional and makes an elegant presentation for the famous British dessert. If you don't have one, make it in any large glass dish, or assemble it in individual glasses.

Raspberry Trifle With Ladyfingers

I’ve had trifles before, but never one made with gelatin. I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but I think I prefer it. I made this recipe twice using both unflavored (Knox) gelatin and strawberry Jell-O. Both were good, though I preferred the look of the flavored version. It’s a great make-ahead dessert that looks elegant. —Danielle Centoni

Over time, a trifle will settle to the bottom and lose its layers, so you don't want to make it too early. If using jelly, prepare the bottom layers with enough time for them to set up. You can also prepare all of the ingredients and have them ready in the refrigerator. It's generally best to finish assembling a trifle no more than an hour in advance.

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2, 000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Easy English Trifle {christmas Trifle}

I don't like this at all. It's not the worst. Sure, this will do. I'm a fan—would recommend. Amazing! I love it! Thanks for your rating!

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.If you’re hosting a Friends-themed Friendsgiving dinner then it’s an absolute must that you make Rachel’s Traditional English Trifle for dessert! I mean, “Jam? Good! Custard? Good! Meat? GOOD!”

A few years ago, my fellow Friends-fan and friend, Lauren, flew down to visit and we threw a Friends-themed Friendsgiving Party with foods specific to the Thanksgiving episodes of Friends. And yes, we made Rachel’s famous Traditional English Trifle … the traditional way: with the beef sautéed with peas and onions.

Finger Licking Christmas Trifle Recipes

I made Rachel’s Traditional English Trifle the … traditional … way with the beef, onions, and peas because I was doing a photoshoot for