Traditional New Zealand Boozy Trifle Recipe

At Christmas I wanted to make dishes to celebrate New Zealand, the country I used to call home for 8 years before relocating to New York. I had thought of making a pavlova, but they are pretty tricky and I wanted to actually succeed not frustrate myself in the process of making something. I decided to make Single Serve Boozy Trifle! My husband’s granny is the queen of Trifle and it is her contribution to Christmas dinner every year. As someone who wishes I was an amazing baker (and isn’t), trifle is so simple. Once you have all the ingredients, you don’t have to be very specific with how things are measured out and it is a no bake dessert. You’ll see my recipe is very rough and ready – that’s how I like to bake, kinda a la Nigella Lawson just throwing things together.

The best part is that Trifles should be made in glass bowls or glasses, so though simple to make they look very elaborate. I only managed a quick pic on my phone of the ones I created, so I’ve created a Pinterest Board of some Terrific Trifles – yum, yum. The traditional New Zealand Trifle is with raspberry and/or kiwi fruit but I was amazed to find pumpkin, gingerbread and loads of other kinds of Trifle. Check out the various kinds – you might find one works as a sweet treat for Valentine’s day.

Ingredients (makes 6 single serves in tall glasses)

1 Angel food cake (pound cake) broken into pieces

1 tub of whipped cream

1 box of Jello vanilla pudding (make according to the directions on the box and let cool before assembling)

1 small jar of seedless raspberry jam

1 punnet of strawberries and 1 punnet of raspberries (Depending on what is in season blueberries could also work. If none of these are in season, use your imagination)

6 kiwifruit (These were not in season, so I did not use any)

Brandy (This is the optional boozy part of the recipe. Of course their was no booze in mine cause I’m breastfeeding, and none in my toddlers. Single serve is a great way to let those who can booze it up!)

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Recipe

It’s pretty simple.

1. Take your chunks of pound cake and line the bottom of each cup.

2. Next cover the cake with a layer of pudding.

3. Now add a layer of raspberry jam followed by a layer of fruit.

4. Continue in that order till you reach the top of the glass. Pour a small amount of brandy down the center. The cake should soak it up.

5. Top each dessert with a generous dollop of cream.

No one in my family had heard of Trifle or seen it before. After commenting that it looked super yummy, everyone’s first thought was that it looked filling. Once they all digged in they realized because of the light angel food cake and fruit it’s actually pretty easy to get down. This kind of Trifle is fresh and light with all the fruit but also warming for winter with the addition of brandy.