Description
A festive layered dessert made with chocolate sponge, kirsch cherries, silky custard, and whipped cream. Perfect for holiday potlucks!
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (30 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 4 cups (600 g) pitted cherries, fresh or frozen
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar (adjust to fruit sweetness)
- 2 tbsp kirsch or cherry liqueur (optional)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water (for thickening, optional)
- 3 cups (720 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 5 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream, well chilled
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup cherry preserves or lux jam (optional)
- 1 cup dark chocolate shavings (70% cocoa)
- Whole cherries or maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Make the chocolate sponge: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13 pan with parchment. Whisk eggs and sugar over a bain-marie until warm and sugar dissolves. Whip to ribbon stage, then gently fold in sifted flour, cocoa, and salt. Fold in melted butter and bake for 18-22 minutes. Cool completely.
- Make the cherry compote: In a saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, and lemon juice. Simmer for 8-12 minutes until cherries soften. Add kirsch if desired, and thicken with cornstarch slurry if needed. Cool completely.
- Make the pastry cream: Whisk egg yolks and sugar, then mix in cornstarch. Heat milk to just under boiling, temper yolks with hot milk, and return mixture to pot. Simmer until thickened, then whisk in butter and vanilla. Chill.
- Whip the cream: Chill mixing bowl and whisk. Whip cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to medium-stiff peaks. Stabilize if needed.
- Assemble the trifle: Layer sponge at the base, soak with kirsch-cherry syrup, add cherry compote, a layer of cherry preserves (optional), pastry cream, and whipped cream. Repeat layers and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. Garnish with chocolate shavings and cherries before serving.
Notes
Use high-quality chocolate for best flavor. Chill all components before assembly to prevent weeping. Can be made 1-3 days in advance.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Layering
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 210mg
Keywords: Black Forest, Trifle, Christmas Dessert, Holiday Recipe, Layered Dessert