Almond Sherry Christmas Trifle

Serves: 2

Camila Dooley

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

52

Spice

47

Sweetness

50

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.2

Difficulty

Ingredients:

6 large

Egg Yolk

3 tbsps

Whole Milk

1 tbsp

Sugar

Directions:

1

Make cake layers: Preheat oven to 350°F with racks in upper and lower thirds

2

Butter sheet pans, then line bottoms with parchment paper and butter parchment

3

Dust with flour, knocking out excess

4

Break up almond paste with your fingers into a food processor

5

Pulse until coarsely ground, then add 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and process until very finely ground

6

Transfer mixture to a large bowl and whisk in yolks, milk, and extracts

7

Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they hold soft peaks

8

With mixer at low speed, add remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a slow stream

9

Beat at medium-high speed until whites hold stiff, glossy peaks

10

Fold one third of whites into batter to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly

11

Fold in remaining 3/4 cup flour

12

Divide batter between pans, spreading evenly, and rap pans against counter a couple of times to release any air bubbles

13

Bake cakes, switching position halfway through, until pale golden and springy to the touch, 16 to 18 minutes

14

Cool in pans until warm

15

Invert onto racks lined with parchment

16

Carefully peel off parchment from tops and cool completely

17

While cake layers cool, pulse preserves in cleaned food processor until smooth

18

Preheat oven to 350°F with racks in upper and lower thirds

19

Butter sheet pans, then line bottoms with parchment paper and butter parchment

20

Dust with flour, knocking out excess

21

Break up almond paste with your fingers into a food processor

22

Pulse until coarsely ground, then add 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and process until very finely ground

23

Transfer mixture to a large bowl and whisk in yolks, milk, and extracts

24

Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they hold soft peaks

25

With mixer at low speed, add remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a slow stream

26

Beat at medium-high speed until whites hold stiff, glossy peaks

27

Fold one third of whites into batter to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly

28

Fold in remaining 3/4 cup flour

29

Divide batter between pans, spreading evenly, and rap pans against counter a couple of times to release any air bubbles

30

Bake cakes, switching position halfway through, until pale golden and springy to the touch, 16 to 18 minutes

31

Cool in pans until warm

32

Invert onto racks lined with parchment

33

Carefully peel off parchment from tops and cool completely

34

While cake layers cool, pulse preserves in cleaned food processor until smooth

35

Assemble trifle: Trim 1/2 inch from edges of 1 cake layer with a serrated knife to make a 14-by 9-inch rectangle, reserving trimmings; with short end nearest you, halve cake lengthwise

36

Brush top with some of syrup, then spread 1/4 cup preserves over each piece, leaving a 1-inch border all around

37

Beginning with a short end, roll up each piece tightly to form a log

38

Repeat with remaining cake layer

39

(You will have 4 logs total

40

) Spoon 1 cup custard into bottom of trifle dish

41

Cut 1 log into 5 rounds with serrated knife, then halve each round

42

Brush generously with syrup all over

43

Stand half-moons, curved sides up, around edge of trifle dish (at bottom), arranging them snugly and pressing against side to help them adhere

44

Tear reserved trimmings into pieces, then dip in syrup and arrange over custard in center of dish

45

Cut and brush remaining logs in same manner, arranging slices, curved sides down, against side of trifle dish above first layer (there may be some left over)

46

Add remaining custard

47

Brush any remaining cake slices with syrup and arrange in center over custard

48

Chill trifle, covered, at least 8 hours

49

Trim 1/2 inch from edges of 1 cake layer with a serrated knife to make a 14-by 9-inch rectangle, reserving trimmings; with short end nearest you, halve cake lengthwise

50

Brush top with some of syrup, then spread 1/4 cup preserves over each piece, leaving a 1-inch border all around

51

Beginning with a short end, roll up each piece tightly to form a log

52

Repeat with remaining cake layer

53

(You will have 4 logs total

54

) Spoon 1 cup custard into bottom of trifle dish

55

Cut 1 log into 5 rounds with serrated knife, then halve each round

56

Brush generously with syrup all over

57

Stand half-moons, curved sides up, around edge of trifle dish (at bottom), arranging them snugly and pressing against side to help them adhere

58

Tear reserved trimmings into pieces, then dip in syrup and arrange over custard in center of dish

59

Cut and brush remaining logs in same manner, arranging slices, curved sides down, against side of trifle dish above first layer (there may be some left over)

60

Add remaining custard

61

Brush any remaining cake slices with syrup and arrange in center over custard

62

Chill trifle, covered, at least 8 hours

63

Make praline almonds: Have ready an unoiled sheet of parchment paper or lightly oiled foil

64

Heat almonds in a dry small heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until almonds are hot but not colored

65

Add confectioners sugar and cook, stirring and tossing, until almonds are lightly toasted and sugar glaze is caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes (not all sugar on almonds will melt completely)

66

Immediately transfer to parchment, spreading in 1 layer

67

Cool completely

68

Have ready an unoiled sheet of parchment paper or lightly oiled foil

69

Heat almonds in a dry small heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until almonds are hot but not colored

70

Add confectioners sugar and cook, stirring and tossing, until almonds are lightly toasted and sugar glaze is caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes (not all sugar on almonds will melt completely)

71

Immediately transfer to parchment, spreading in 1 layer

72

Cool completely

73

Make topping just before serving: Beat cream with Sherry and sugar until it just holds soft peaks

74

Spoon over top of trifle and sprinkle with praline almonds

75

Beat cream with Sherry and sugar until it just holds soft peaks

76

Spoon over top of trifle and sprinkle with praline almonds