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Springtime Trifle

Prep Time:

7 Hours

Cook Time:

--

Serves:

10-12

Level:

Stoysich-Easter

About the Recipe

Layers of angel food cake, coconut pastry cream, and a medley of citrus segments, maraschino cherries, pineapple, and, coconut, an elegant Easter Dessert.

Ingredients

Coconut Pastry Cream

  • 2 (13½-oz.) cans unsweetened coconut milk, well shaken and stirred

  • 5 large egg yolks

  • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ¼ cup coconut oil

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract


Italian Meringue

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar

  • ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt

  • 3 large egg whites, at room temperature

  • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar


Citrus & Trifle Cake Ingredients

  • 7 cups cubed (1-inch pieces) store-bought angel food cake (or homemade)

  • 3 cups assorted citrus segments (such as navel orange, blood orange, or Ruby Red grapefruit, from about 3 lb. citrus fruits)

  • 1 ½ cups chopped fresh pineapple (or canned, well drained)

  • 1 cup unsweetened shaved coconut

  • ⅔ cup drained maraschino cherries



Preparation

Prepare the Coconut Pastry Cream:

  1. Whisk together coconut milk and egg yolks in a medium bowl until well combined. Whisk together sugar, flour, and salt in a large saucepan; whisk in coconut milk mixture. Bring to a boil over medium, whisking constantly. Boil, whisking constantly, until mixture is thick and pudding-like, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add coconut oil and vanilla; whisk until smooth. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface. Cool at room temperature 30 minutes. Transfer to refrigerator; chill until cold, at least 6 hours, best overnight or up to 2 days.

  2. Just before assembling, prepare the Italian Meringue: Cook sugar, ¼ cup water, and salt in a small saucepan over medium-high, stirring often, until sugar is dissolved and mixture registers 240°F on an instant-read thermometer, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat. While sugar mixture is cooking (after it reaches about 225°F), beat egg whites with a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium speed until foamy, about 30 seconds. Add cream of tartar to egg whites; continue beating on medium speed until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. (The goal is for the sugar mixture to reach 240°F at the same time the egg whites reach soft peaks.) Gradually drizzle in sugar mixture, beating on medium speed. Increase mixer speed to medium-high; beat until glossy and stiff peaks form, 1 minute, 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Set aside.

  3. Assemble the trifle: Spoon half of the Coconut Pastry Cream (about 2 cups) in an even layer in a 3½- to 4-quart trifle dish. Top with 3½ cups angel food cake cubes, 1½ cups citrus segments, ¾ cup chopped pineapple, ½ cup shaved coconut, and ⅓ cup cherries. Repeat layers once. Top trifle with Italian Meringue. Brown meringue using a kitchen torch, holding torch 1 to 2 inches from meringue and moving torch back and forth. Serve immediately, or chill, uncovered, up to 6 hours.

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