Richard Simmons Royal Trifle Recipes

CLASSIC TRIFLE

Steps:

• Put 750g frozen summer fruit in a pan with 200g caster sugar and 1 litre water and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Cook for 2 mins, then scoop out 6 tbsp fruit and 150ml juice. Now carry on cooking the fruit in the pan for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, soak 9 sheets leaf gelatine in cold water to soften it. If you have a hand blender, blitz the cooked fruit or mash with a potato masher, then strain through a sieve into a large bowl and push through the pulp so just the skins and seeds are left.
• Squeeze excess water from the gelatine, add to the hot fruit syrup and stir to dissolve. Cool, then chill until on the point of almost setting.
• Make the custard according to pack instructions with 75g custard powder, 1.2l milk and 50g caster sugar to create a really thick custard. Cover the surface with baking paper while it cools a little.
• Pile 1½ - 2 cubed madeira cakes into a trifle bowl, spoon over the reserved juice and berries, then 4 tbsp sherry or cassis.
• Pour over a thick layer of custard, pushing it against the side of the dish to seal in the cake below. Leave to cool and set with a skin - this makes a barrier for the jelly.
• When the custard is cold and set, and the jelly is on the point of setting, spoon the jelly over the custard and chill until ready to complete.
• Whip 300 - 450ml double cream with 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tbsp icing sugar until just holding its shape, then spoon round the bowl over the set jelly. Scatter with 2 crushed amaretti biscuits and chill until ready to serve.

ROYAL CANADIAN TRIFLE

Steps:

• Cut pound cake into 1/2 inch thick slices;.
• halve each slice, lengthwise;.
• place on a cookie sheet.
• Drizzle cake slices with sherry.
• allow to stand 10 minutes, or until wine is absorbed.
• line the side of an 8-cup glass serving bowl with cake.
• arrange remaining cake in bottom of bowl.
• Dissolve gelatin in boiling water in a large bowl.
• stir in ice cubes until melted.
• chill until gelatin is syrupy.
• fold in fruit cocktail and lemon juice.
• chill about two hours.
• Prepare custard mix with milk, following label directions.
• pour into a medium sixed bowl,cover with plastic wrap.
• chill at leasr one hour,.
• Beat cream with sugar in a small bowl til stiff.
• fold half the cream into the chilled custard and pour over firm gelatin in bowl.
• just before serving, garnish trifle with remaining whipped cream and strips of angelica and candied cherries Cook time is chill time.

MARY'S ROYAL CHERRY TRIFLE

Steps:

• First, make the custard. Tip the caster sugar, cornflour and vanilla into a mixing bowl and add the eggs and egg yolk. Whisk with a hand whisk until smooth and blended.
• Pour the milk and double cream into a pan and heat gently until hot, but do not boil. Pour this over the egg mixture and immediately whisk until blended. Wash the pan to remove any scum from the milk and pour the custard back into the clean pan. Heat gently, stirring constantly until thickened. Don't panic if the custard starts to look lumpy as it thickens, just continue to heat and whisk until the custard is thick and smooth. Pour into a jug and cover the surface of the custard with cling film to prevent a skin from forming. Set aside to cool.
• Tip the stoned cherries into a pan with half the jam or conserve and cook over a medium heat for 5-10 mins until softened and saucy. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
• Spread half the slices of Madeira cake generously with the remaining cherry jam. Sandwich with the remaining cake slices, then cut in half. Pour the kirsch or brandy into a shallow bowl, dip each sponge sandwich into the liqueur, then arrange in the base of the trifle dish (you will need a shallow, straight-sided, 20cm round glass dish about 5cm deep). Line the edges of the dish first to create a stripy effect, then fill in the centre with the remaining sandwiches, pouring over any remaining liquid.
• Spoon over the cherries and any juice from the pan, then scatter over the broken biscuits. Pour over the cooled custard, then spread whipped cream over the top. Decorate with fresh whole cherries and chill for a few hours, or make it a day ahead and chill for up to 24 hours before serving.

ROYAL SUMMER TRIFLE

Steps:

• First, make the jelly. Put the gelatine in a small bowl, cover with water and set aside to soak. Meanwhile, tip the sugar, lemon zest and juice and 400ml water into a pan over a low heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Add the strawberries and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 mins until the strawberries have broken down. Pour the mixture through a sieve into a jug. Squeeze the excess water from the gelatine and stir this through the strawberry mixture until dissolved, then stir in a drop of red food colouring, if using.
• Pour the custard into the base of a 3-litre trifle bowl and top with the cake pieces. Drizzle with the berry cordial and scatter with the raspberries. Slowly and carefully pour over the jelly mixture and chill for 5 hrs until set.
• When the jelly layer is set, make the orange cream layer. Put the cream, sugar and orange zest in a pan over a low heat and bring to a simmer. Turn up the heat to medium and bubble for 3 mins exactly, then immediately remove from the heat and stir in the orange juice. Pour the mixture through a sieve over the set jelly layer and chill for 4 hrs.
• Whip the double cream, icing sugar and vanilla bean paste to soft peaks using an electric whisk, then dollop the whipped cream over the trifle using a large spoon. Chill for at least 1 hr or until ready to serve. Halve most of the strawberries through the stem and scatter these over the trifle along with the mint leaves. Serve the orange slices and remaining whole strawberries in a bowl on the side.