Allergens: Gluten (cake) | Dairy (cream) | Eggs (custard) — all can be swapped
Cuisine: British
Follow on Instagram: @simplycookingx

Christmas Trifle is a British holiday icon: a big glass bowl of layered joy—sponge soaked with flavor, fruit, jelly, custard, and a cloud of cream. It’s been part of British celebration tables for centuries, evolving from boozy, custard-heavy versions into today’s family-style dessert that’s designed for sharing. The beauty is that it’s forgiving: you can keep it traditional, make it lighter, or adapt it for allergies without losing the “wow” factor.

Ingredients (Serves 8–10)

Layer 1: Sponge

• 300–350 g sponge cake, cubed (store-bought or homemade)
  (Gluten-free: use GF sponge or GF ladyfingers)

Layer 2: Soak (choose one)

• ½ cup orange juice (family-friendly), or
• ¼ cup sherry + ¼ cup orange juice (traditional-ish)

Layer 3: Fruit

• 2 cups mixed berries (strawberries/raspberries/blueberries)
• 1 cup mandarin segments (drained)
• Optional: pomegranate arils for Christmas look

Layer 4: Jelly

• 1 pack raspberry or strawberry jelly (make per pack directions)
  (Lower sugar: choose sugar-free jelly and follow instructions)

Layer 5: Custard (easy method)

• 2 cups milk (dairy milk or oat/soy milk)
• 3 tbsp custard powder (or cornstarch + vanilla)
• 2 tbsp sugar (or sweetener), to taste
• 1 tsp vanilla

Layer 6: Topping

• 1½ cups whipping cream, lightly sweetened
  (Dairy-free: coconut whip or plant-based whipping cream)

Garnish

• Fresh berries, pomegranate, orange zest, or dark chocolate shavings
  (Skip nuts to keep nut-free.)

Instructions

1. Prepare jelly
   Make jelly per package instructions. Cool until room temp (not set).
2. Cook custard
   In a saucepan, whisk milk + custard powder + sugar + vanilla.
   Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until thick. Cool completely (cover surface to prevent skin).
3. Build Layer 1 (sponge + soak)
   Add sponge cubes to the trifle bowl. Drizzle with orange juice (or sherry mix).
4. Build Layer 2 (fruit)
   Add berries + mandarins evenly over sponge.
5. Build Layer 3 (jelly)
   Pour cooled jelly over fruit. Refrigerate 2–3 hours until set.
6. Build Layer 4 (custard)
   Spoon cooled custard over the set jelly layer. Chill 30 minutes.
7. Build Layer 5 (cream)
   Top with whipped cream. Garnish. Chill until serving.

Kitchen Equipment

• Trifle bowl (or large glass bowl)
• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Measuring cups/spoons
• Mixing bowls
• Spatula
• Refrigerator space (the real challenge)

Dietary Substitutions & Allergen Swaps

• Gluten-Free: GF sponge/ladyfingers + check jelly/custard powder labels.
• Dairy-Free: Use oat/soy milk for custard + coconut whip on top.
• Egg-Free: Use custard powder (egg-free) or cornstarch + vanilla pudding method.
• Nut-Free: Keep garnishes nut-free; avoid almond toppings.
• Low-Carb (Trifle-Style Bowl):
  • Use sugar-free jelly, berries only, and keto sponge (or skip sponge and layer Greek yogurt/coconut yogurt + sugar-free vanilla pudding).

Chef’s Tips

• Cool before layering: Warm custard melts jelly and turns your trifle into a “tragedy bowl.”
• Best texture: Assemble the day before, then add whipped cream the day of serving.
• Clean slices: Chill longer—trifle rewards patience.

Wine Pairing

• Wine: Moscato, Prosecco, or a light dessert wine.
• Non-alcoholic: Sparkling grape juice, cranberry spritz, or orange-vanilla iced tea.

Nutrition Facts (Estimate)

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10 trifle)
Servings Per Recipe: 10

(Varies heavily by cake, jelly, and cream used.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I make trifle 1–2 days ahead?
Yes. Build through custard, refrigerate. Add whipped cream and garnish on serving day.

Q: Why did my layers bleed?
Jelly wasn’t fully set or custard was warm. Fully chill each layer.

Q: What fruit works best for Christmas?
Berries + mandarins + pomegranate are the cleanest, most festive combo.

Q: Can I skip jelly?
Yes—replace with a berry compote or extra fruit + a thicker custard layer.

If you make this, tag @simplycookingx and use #GlobalChristmasSeries.