Tropical Trifle Recipes

TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• Place a medium heatproof bowl over a medium saucepan filled with a few inches of simmering water; make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Place the butter in the bowl and melt completely. Add the sugar, passionfruit juice and lemon juice and whisk until smooth and combined. Whisk in the eggs until smooth. Continue to cook, whisking every 1 to 2 minutes, until the curd thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 8 to 10 minutes. The consistency will be similar to thin gravy. Strain into a clean bowl and cool at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cover the surface of the curd with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled (the curd will thicken as it cools), at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Put the coconut milk in a large bowl and sprinkle the pudding mix on top. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Switch to medium-high speed and blend until the mixture is completely smooth and thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Keep refrigerated until ready to assemble.
• To assemble, spread 1/2 cup of the curd over the bottom of a large (about 3 quarts) glass trifle dish, then top with about half of the pound cake pieces, making sure there is one single layer of pound cake without any gaps. Top with half the pudding. Layer in 2 cups of raspberries, making sure to create a double ring against the outside edge of the trifle dish, so the color really shows through. Continue to layer the trifle dish with half of the whipped topping, the remaining pound cake, the remaining pudding, the remaining whipped topping and drizzle with the remaining curd.
• Place the kiwi rounds and blackberries along the edge of the trifle dish. Next, create a ring of raspberries working inwards. Pile the diced mango into the center of the trifle.

TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• In medium bowl, beat milk and pudding mix with wire whisk 2 minutes. Stir in orange peel. Let stand 5 minutes.
• In 3 1/2-quart trifle bowl, place half of cake cubes. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the liqueur. Spoon 1 cup of the pudding over cake. Layer with pineapple, kiwifruit and remaining cake cubes. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon liqueur. Spoon remaining pudding over cake. Layer with mango and strawberries. Cover; refrigerate at least 4 hours.
• Sprinkle coconut in ungreased heavy skillet. Cook over medium-low heat 6 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently until browning begins, then stirring constantly until light brown. Cool completely; cover and set aside.
• Just before serving, sprinkle trifle with toasted coconut. Spoon down to bottom of dish to scoop out servings.

TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• Make jelly according to directions on packet and place in fridge until almost set.
• Cut sponge cake in half and spread lemon butter on one half of the cake and then replace the the other half back on top.
• Cut cake into square pieces and place in and around trifle bowl.
• Sprinkle with sherry.
• Pour almost set jelly on top of sponge and refrigerate til set.
• Pour custard over jelly refrigerate til cold.
• Decorate with whipped cream and fruit.

TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• For the Mango Puree: Combine all the ingredients in pot, stir to combine and continuously through cooking until the puree bubbles, about 12 minutes.
• For the Candied Cashews: Place the rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Next, line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. You can also use a jellyroll pan.
• In a medium heavy bottom saucepan melt the butter over high heat being careful not to brown the butter. To the melted butter, add the sugar, light corn syrup, and salt and stir to combine. Add the cashews and cook for 3 minutes stirring constantly.
• Pour the sugar coated cashews onto the lined baking sheet. With a heat resistant spatula spread the nuts in an even layer. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Use the heat resistant spatula to stir the nuts half way through the baking to help the nuts develop an beautiful even golden color.
• Remove pan from the oven and allow nuts to cool completely. Once cool, break into small clusters.
• For the Pastry Cream: Because the pastry cream needs to be removed from the saucepan immediately, prepare ahead and place a bowl, a fine mesh strainer or a food mill, and a heat resistant rubber spatula near the stove.
• In a second bowl, whisk together the flour with 1 cup of the sugar. Next, whisk in the eggs until smooth. The mixture will be very thick.
• Combine the milk, the remaining cup of sugar, the vanilla bean, and the salt in a medium saucepan. Over medium heat cook the milk mixture being sure to occasionally stir to prevent scorching and a skin from forming. Remove the pan from the heat when it just begins to simmer. While whisking constantly, slowly pour, in a thing stream, about half of the milk into the sugar, flour, egg mixture. Using the same method of pouring slowly and whisking, return the mixture in the bowl to the saucepan with the remaining milk. Return the pan to the stove and cook over medium to medium-low heat while whisking constantly but not vigorously to avoid incorporating air into the pastry cream. Cook the mixture until it thickens. Immediately remove the pan from the stove as soon as the first bubble breaks the surface of the pastry cream.
• As soon as the pastry cream is removed from the heat pour the hot pastry cream into the strainer or food mill. Use the spatula to scrape the pan and to push the pastry cream through the sieve, if using.
• Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the cream to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate at least several hours, or overnight.
• Slice the cake in half horizontaly, brush with simple syrup or a good quality liqueur.
• Spread your favorite jam between the layers of cake and cut in squares. Make a mixture of half pastry cream and half whipped cream.
• For assembly, place layers of cake on the bottom of a trifle dish. Layer with mango puree, grilled pineapple, candied cashews and the pastry cream/whipped cream mixture continuing layers until the bowl is full. Garnish with coconut and more candied cashews.

COCONUT AND TROPICAL FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• To make the coconut custard, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the milk with the 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add them to the saucepan, then drop in the pod.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and coconut milk until completely smooth. In another small bowl, whisk the egg yolks until combined.
• When the milk mixture is hot, stir the cornstarch mixture to recombine, then whisk it into the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. While whisking constantly, pour about one-third of the hot thickened milk into the egg yolks, then scrape the yolk mixture into the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom of the pan, just until the mixture begins to boil (it will be very thick). Remove from the heat and strain into a clean bowl. (The vanilla pod can be rinsed, dried, and used for another purpose; see page 14.) Stir in the 1 cup (70 g) coconut, and refrigerate until chilled. (To speed up the chilling, you can set the bowl containing the custard in a larger bowl filled with ice water.)
• To make the fruit filling, in a nonreactive skillet, gently cook the pineapple until it is heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool completely.
• Add the strawberries, mango, 6 tablespoons (75 g) sugar, lime juice, and rum to the pineapple and toss gently.
• To assemble the trifle, use a 2-quart (2-liter) rectangular baking dish with at least 3-inch (8-cm) sides. Remove the parchment paper from the sponge cake and cut out 2 pieces that each fit in the bottom of the baking dish. (You'll need the cake trimmings, so don't eat them!)
• Spread 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the coconut custard evenly in the bottom of the dish. Place one of the cake pieces on top. Spread half of the fruit filling and some of their juice over the cake.
• Spread about 1 cup (250 ml) of the coconut custard over the fruit, then place the second cake piece on top. Cover the cake with the remaining fruit filling and juice. Spread another 1 cup (250 ml) of the coconut custard over the fruit, and cover with the cake trimmings, fitting them in a single layer.
• Finally, spread the remaining coconut custard over the top and refrigerate, uncovered, for about 30 minutes to firm up the top layer of custard. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled.
• Scoop out big spoonfuls of the trifle so all the layers of fruit, cake, and custard can be seen. Strew toasted coconut over the top of each serving. The dessert is delicious by served all by itself, but even better in a pool of Raspberry Sauce (page 246), Mango Sauce (page 246), or Strawberry Sauce (page 248).
• This trifle will keep overnight, but if stored any longer, the juices from the fruit will make the cake too soggy.
• I prefer to use unsweetened coconut, but if you can only find sweetened coconut, reduce the sugar in the custard by 1 1/2 tablespoons.

TROPICAL MANGO TRIFLE

Steps:

• Combine mango, 1/2 cup sugar, lemon juice, and salt in a food processor; puree until smooth. Add egg yolks; process for 15 seconds.
• Pour mango mixture through a sieve set over a large metal bowl, pressing on solids with the back of a spatula to release as much puree as possible. Discard solids in sieve.
• Fill a large saucepan with 2 inches of water; bring to a simmer. Set metal bowl on top; whisk puree until thickened and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 170 degrees F (77 degrees C), about 10 minutes.
• Place metal bowl on a towel on a flat work surface. Whisk in butter 1 piece at a time until blended. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Combine milk and coconut pudding mix in a saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat; fold in grated coconut and vanilla extract. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
• Beat heavy cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup sugar gradually, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
• Place 1/2 of the pound cake cubes in the bottom of a large trifle bowl. Layer some of the bananas, pineapple, and strawberries on top. Spoon 1/2 of the mango puree and coconut pudding on top. Repeat layers with remaining pound cake, bananas, pineapple, strawberries, mango puree, and coconut pudding.
• Spoon whipped cream on top in big, fluffy swirls. Chill until serving.

TROPICAL TRIFLE WITH FRESH PINEAPPLE

Steps:

• Mix custard powder with a few tablespoons cold milk in a bowl.
• Pour remaining milk into a saucepan, stir in sugar, and bring to a boil over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add custard mixture to hot milk, stirring continuously until liquid has thickened. Set aside to cool completely.
• Place pineapple in a large heavy pan, cover with water, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool, about 30 minutes. Strain the juice and set aside. Place pineapple pieces in a bowl.
• Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Sprinkle over pineapple pieces and toss to coat.
• Layer 1/2 the pound cake in a trifle bowl. Sprinkle with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the reserved pineapple juice. Spread 1/2 the pineapple pieces over the cake. Spoon 1/2 the cooled custard over pineapple. Repeat layers. Spread whipped cream on top and smooth out evenly. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.

TROPICAL FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• To make fruit compote, place 3/4 cup of sugar in a skillet. Add half the lime zest, 1 piece vanilla bean and 1/2 cup water to the pan. Heat the syrup, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until very reduced.
• Add 4 cups pineapple or Asian pear to syrup, reserving rest for garnish. Cook gently until fruit is glazed and softened but holds its shape, 2 to 6 minutes. Remove vanilla bean. Place fruit in a bowl and let cool.
• In clean skillet, add remaining sugar, lime zest, other piece of vanilla bean and 1/2 cup water. Make a syrup as in Step 1. Add 4 cups papaya or mango to syrup, reserving rest for garnish. Cook gently until fruit is glazed and softened, but holds its shape, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove vanilla bean. Place fruit in a bowl and let cool.
• To make yogurt cream, simmer an inch of water in the bottom of a double boiler. In a small bowl combine gelatin with 2 teaspoons cold water and set aside. Place egg yolks, sugar, lime zest and juice in top of double boiler. Whisking constantly, heat yolks over simmering water until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Take egg mixture off heat and whisk in gelatin until it dissolves, about 20 seconds.
• With electric mixer, whip cream until thickened and soft peaks just begin to form. Whisk yogurt and crème fraîche into yolk mixture, then whisk in whipped cream.
• Slice layers of cake in half horizontally and trim so they fit into a large glass bowl. Place one layer in bowl. Starting at edge of bowl so that fruit shows through glass, place kiwis in one layer on cake. Spread a quarter of yogurt cream over kiwis and top with another cake layer. Using a slotted spoon, scoop a layer of papaya on the cake, then another quarter of cream and third layer of cake. Top with remaining fruit, another quarter of cream and final cake layer. Spread remaining cream on top. Cover trifle with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to 3 days. Before serving, press pieces of sliced tropical fruit on top.

TIPSY, TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• For Curd.
• In a microwave safe dish, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar.
• Heat to dissolve sugar whisking after a minute.
• Add butter and stir until it has melted and combined.
• Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Beat eggs into cooled lemon mixture until well blended.
• Return to microwave oven and cook over medium-low, whisking ever minute, about 5 minutes or until mixture thickens and coats spoon.
• Cool.
• Softening apricots.
• Add white Wine to Apricots for one hour then remove from wine.
• Pour the wine into a glass filled with ice for your self to enjoy while making trifle.
• For Pudding.
• Mix the pudding ingredients together whisk till smooth set aside.
• Assembly.
• In a trifle bowl place half of the angel food cake follow with 1/2 of the lemon curd, pudding, apricots, bananas, 1/3 coconut, cashews and cool whip.
• Repeat with second layer.
• Top with 1/3 of cool whip garnish with rest of cashews a coconut.
• Refrigerate till ready to eat.

QUICK TROPICAL CHEESECAKE TRIFLE

Steps:

• Layer half the cake cubes in bottom of large straight-sided serving bowl. Top with half the cheesecake filling and fruit. Repeat layers.
• Drizzle with jam; sprinkle with coconut.
• Serve immediately. Or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.