Apricot Trifle Recipes

APRICOT-FIG TRIFLE WITH CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the pudding, combine the cornstarch, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan and slowly stir in just enough milk to make a thick paste. Gradually stir in the remaining milk. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thick, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and butter. Pour into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.
• Place the apricots and figs in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand for 20 minutes; drain.
• Meanwhile, to make the caramel sauce, combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Cook over medium-low heat, without stirring, until the sugar is melted and turns a light amber color. Remove the caramel from the heat and carefully stir in the cream. Return to the heat and stir until the caramel is dissolved.
• To assemble, place 4 slices of pound cake in the bottom of an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Brush the cake with 1 tablespoon of rum and drizzle with 1/3 of the sauce. Scatter half of the fruit over the cake. Spread with half of the pudding. Make another layer with the remaining cake, rum, 1/3 of the sauce and the remaining fruit and pudding.
• Drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the top and refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours. Cut the trifle into 8 squares and serve.

APRICOT BERRY TRIFLE

Steps:

• Make the apricot custard:
• In a heavy saucepan scald the milk with the vanilla bean. In a metal bowl whisk together the egg yolks, the sugar, the cornstarch, sifted, and a pinch of salt. Add the milk mixture to the yolk mixture in a stream, whisking, and transfer the mixture to the pan. Boil the custard, whisking, for 1 minute, or until it is thick and smooth, strain it through a fine sieve into a bowl, and stir in the brandy. Chill the custard, its surfaced covered with plastic wrap, for at least 6 hours or overnight. Whisk in the crème fraîche, fold in the heavy cream, beaten to stiff peaks, and the apricots, and chill the apricot custard, covered.
• Make the red berry mixture:
• In a blender or food processor purée 2 cups of the strawberries, sliced, and 1 cup of the raspberries with the sugar, the lemon juice, and the framboise until the mixture is smooth, force the purée through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on the solids, and stir in the remaining 2 cups strawberries and 1 cup raspberries, both crushed lightly.
• Make the blackberry mixture:
• In a blender or food processor purée 1 1/2 cups of the blackberries with the sugar, the lemon juice, and the framboise until the mixture is smooth, transfer the purée to a bowl, and stir in the remaining 1 cup blackberries, crushed lightly.
• Assemble the trifle:
• Arrange one third of the cake on the bottom of a 3 1/2- to 4-quart trifle bowl, sprinkle it with one third of the brandy, and pour half the red berry mixture evenly over the cake. Spoon one third or the apricot custard evenly over the red berry layer, top it with half the remaining cake, and sprinkle the cake with half the remaining brandy. Pour the blackberry mixture evenly over the cake, spoon half the remaining custard over it, and top the custard with the remaining cake. Sprinkle the cake with the remaining brandy, pour the remaining red berry mixture evenly over it, and spoon the remaining custard evenly over the red berry layer, covering the red berry layer completely.
• Chill the trifle, covered, for at least 12 hours or overnight, garnish it with the berries, and serves it with the additional raspberries.

ENGLISH CHOCOLATE TRIFLE WITH APRICOTS AND RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• For Pudding:
• Whisk yolks, sugar and cornstarch in medium bowl. Bring half and half to simmer in heavy large saucepan. Gradually whisk hot half and half into yolk mixture. Return mixture to same saucepan and whisk over medium heat until custard boils. Boil 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Pour pudding into large bowl. Add white chocolate and butter and whisk until smooth. Chill until thick and cold, whisking occasionally, about 3 hours.
• For Apricots:
• Line cookie sheet with foil. Brush foil lightly with vegetable oil. Combine 2/3 cup water, honey, sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over high heat until sugar dissolves. Add apricots and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• Transfer 5 apricots and 1/4 cup poaching syrup to heavy small skillet. Combine remaining apricots with remaining poaching syrup, 3 tablespoons water and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in processor and puree. Pour puree into bowl. Cook apricots in skillet over high heat until syrup is reduced to glaze, turning apricots once, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, transfer candied apricots to foil. Cool. Mix any syrup from skillet into puree. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover candied apricots and puree separately and let stand at room temperature.)
• For Dark Chocolate Cream:
• Bring cream and corn syrup to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Add chocolate and whisk until melted. Chill until cold but still pourable, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Cut cakes into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Cut each slice into 4 squares. Arrange enough cake in 4-quart glass trifle dish to cover bottom, fitting tightly. Mix rum and liqueur in bowl. Drizzle 3 tablespoons over cake. Drop 1/3 of apricot puree by spoonfuls over cake. Gently spread with back of spoon, allowing puree to show at sides of bowl. Reserve 1/4 basket berries for garnish. Sprinkle 1/3 of remaining berries over puree, arranging some berries to show at sides of bowl. Starting 1 inch in from sides of bowl, pour 1/3 of dark chocolate cream over, making sure it does not touch sides of bowl. Starting at edge, pour 2 cups white chocolate pudding over chocolate cream. Repeat layering with remaining cake, rum mixture, apricot puree, berries, dark chocolate cream and white chocolate pudding in 2 more layers each. Smooth top. Cover and chill overnight.
• Spoon whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe around edge of trifle. Top with candied apricots and reserved berries. (Can be made 8 hours ahead; chill.) Serve cold.