Photo: Fresh Cranberry and Semisweet Chocolate Trifle Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Cranberry Compote, recipe follows
- Chocolate Pastry Cream, recipe follows
- 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
- Chocolate shavings, for garnish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the remaining butter and sugar. On medium speed, cream the mixture until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time and beat until smooth.
Sift the remaining flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add one third of the flour mixture to the creamed mixture at a time, beating after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix well.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until it springs back when touched, about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly in the pan. Remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
Slice the cake into 1/2-inch slices.
To assemble, spread 1 cup of the Chocolate Pastry Cream over the bottom of a large, deep glass trifle bowl. Top the cream filling with some of the chocolate pound cake. Spoon some of the cranberry mixture over the cake. Spread 2 cups of the Chocolate Pastry cream over the cranberries.
Spread the whipped cream over the top and garnish with chocolate savings. Spoon the trifle into individual serving plates and serve.
Cranberry Compote:
- 1 pound fresh cranberries
- 2 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 cups water
- 6 tablespoons cornstarch
Put the cranberries, orange and lemon zest, orange and lemon juice, sugar, vanilla, and 1 1/2 cups of the water in a medium-size nonreactive saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 8 minutes.
Dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining 1/2 cup of water and add to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium, then stir constantly until the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat and cool completely.
Yield: 4 cups
Chocolate Pastry Cream:
- 1 quart milk
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 10 large egg yolks, beaten
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons butter
Combine the milk, sugar, chocolate, and vanilla in a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to incorporate the chocolate. When the mixture comes to a gentle boil or simmers after about 5 minutes, take 1 cup of the chocolate mixture and add it to the yolks. Whisk well. Slowly whisk the yolks into the chocolate mixture. Cook over medium heat until it thickens slightly, about 4 to 5 minutes. Dissolve the cornstarch in the water. Slowly stir into the hot liquid. Continue to cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter. Pour into a glass bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap down on the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Cool completely and chill for at least 4 hours.
Yield: 8 cups
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By galeghands_7781114
Moyock, NC
on July 09, 2011
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I made this for the first time in 2000. It was for a company Christmas party. Everyone loved it! In fact a few years later a co-workers husband remarked about his fond memories of the dessert. A man commenting on a dessert a few years later says good things in my book! I came on line today because I needed to copy the pastry cream part over ,as it was misplaced, and felt I had to share this input because if made correctly and you like the flavor combination you should LOVE this! Enjoy. It is always wise to read a recipe through to catch any mistakes that humans can sometimes make!
By cdruman_3986623
Waterbury, CT
on November 20, 2010
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I make this every year for Thanksgiving- a family favorite! The four cups of water is a typo - you just need 2.
By nick_9480305
Phoenix, AZ
on January 10, 2009
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I thought this was going to be super great, but it was one of the worst dessert that I have ever eaten. The cake was dry, the chocolate pastry cream was not that tastey, and the cranberry mixture left little to be desired. If you are thinking about making this, please don't, you will save yourself time, and money!
Read all 11 reviews