For generations, trifle has been a staple on British tables and is even said to have been vouched for by Charles Dickens. With all that custard, cream, fruit, and sherry, there's a whimsical yet opulent quality. Since a traditional trifle serves up to 10 people, this dessert is typically served at large events.
There are several variations on the trifle recipe; some are quick and simple, made using custard that is prepared ahead of time or with custard powder. Alternatively, there's a classic British trifle consisting of cake, sherry, homemade custard, and fruit. Delicious all around.
What Is Trifle?
The classic trifle dates back to the 18th century in England (with similar but lesser-known recipes being present even before that) and was composed of three or four layers: custard, fruit, and a sponge cake soaked in alcohol. Homemade jelly was frequently spread over the fruit and dessert. This traditional version was consistently presented in a round dish.
American trifles are comparable, but thankfully a little simpler. They are made up of several layers of fruit, custard and crumbled or cubed cake. From brownies, white chocolate pudding and candy bar pieces to raspberries, peach yoghurt and angel food cake, the flavours might differ greatly. To provide texture, whipped cream and either nuts or crumbs are placed on top.
The History Of English Trifle
Food historians claim that trifles were simpler in the 1500s than they are now, consisting mostly of a light sponge soaked in alcohol and served with custard and whipped cream. The cream may have been flavoured with sugar, ginger, and rose water to give it a little additional taste.
The trifle evolved into something that resembled the modern dish by the 1700s, complete with its characteristic layers. The dish was expanded to include macaroons or almond biscuits dipped in sweet wine, all of which were topped with the customary custard and whipped cream layers.
During the Victorian period, soaking leftover sponge in alcohol was thought to extend its shelf life, and it was also an excellent method to use up any cream that would have gone bad otherwise. Later on, when the meal was quickly reaching the pinnacle of the English menu, fruit and jelly seemed to become an essential component. Every decade put its own twist on the classic, with the 1970s adding an abundance of glace cherries to top it off.
A few of this pudding's more charming names, such as 'tipsy parson', 'tipsy hedgehog', and 'tipsy cake', illustrate the whimsical and drunken nature of the entire concept.
Trifle Today
Today's inventive chefs and home cooks alike are still experimenting with trifles. Modern takes might include unusual components like matcha, passionfruit, or even savoury components for a risky twist.
Trifle is a mouth-watering trip through history. This layered dessert reflects the constantly shifting tastes and international influences that characterise the world of food, from its modest mediaeval origins to the opulent Victorian trifles and the contemporary, cosmopolitan versions.
