Ingredients

Custard

  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 25g cornflour
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 600ml milk
  • 300ml single cream

Filling

  • 16 trifle sponges
  • 0.5 jars strawberry jam
  • 10 amaretti
  • 800g tin of pear halves in natural juice or light syrup
  • 250ml madeira
  • 175g red seedless grapes, halved

Decoration

  • 150ml whipping cream
  • 50g flaked almonds, toasted

Method

  • Acquire a shallow 2.25l glass bowl

Custard

  • First, make the custard. Whisk together the egg yolks, cornflour and sugar in a large bowl
  • Heat the milk and cream together in a pan until almost-boiling
  • Gradually whisk into the yolks then return the mixture to the pan
  • Stir over a high heat until the mixture just comes to the boil and the custard thickens
  • Take off the heat, cover, and allow to cool

Filling

  • Split the sponges and spread with jam
  • Sandwich together and arrange in the base of the dish
  • Crumble the amaretti over the top
  • Combine 150ml pear juice from the tin with the sherry, and sprinkle over the sponge
  • Level and press down the sponge with a spoon
  • Drain the pears and cut each in half lengthways, then arrange over the sponge
  • Scatter the grapes over the top
  • Spread the cooled custard over the fruit
  • Cover and leave until completely cold before transferring to the fridge to chill and set

Decoration

  • Beat the whipping cream until just stiff enough to hold a soft floppy shape
  • Gently spread over the surface of the set custard
  • Cover and chill until ready to serve

Notes

  • Used about half the filling quantities