The ultimate makeover: Blueberry trifle

Angela Nilsen discovers a lighter way to serve this ever-popular dessert

  • Prep:30 mins
    Cook:30 mins
    Plus chilling
  • Serves 8
  • More effort

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 292
  • fat 18g
  • saturates 10g
  • carbs 26g
  • sugars 20g
  • fibre 1g
  • protein 8g
  • salt 0.28g

Ingredients

  • 25g golden caster sugar
  • 2 tsp custard powder
  • 2½ tsp cornflour
  • 350ml semi-skimmed milk
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 vanilla pod, slit lengthways
  • 200ml/7 fl oz tub half-fat crème fraîche
  • 50g golden caster sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 50g self-raising flour
  • 2 tbsp wild blueberry ‘St Dalfour with no added sugar’ fruit spread
  • 3 tbsp marsala
  • 2 tbsp golden caster sugar
  • zest 1 small lime
  • 225g blueberries
  • 200g / 8oz tub organic Greek yogurt
  • 250g / 9oz tub light mascarpone
  • 2 tsp golden caster sugar

Tip

Making it healthier
A serving of classic trifle contains 713 calories, 53g fat (28g saturated) and 34g sugar. Angela made a fat-free sponge for the base, reduced the egg yolks in the custard and replaced cream with half-fat crème fraîche. Used light mascarpone and Greek yogurt for the topping instead of cream. Used less sugar in the overall recipe, and replace sweetened jam with pure jam with no added sugar.Get ahead
The custard, cake and fruit layers can be made a day ahead ready for assembling.

Method

  1. Make the custard: blend the sugar, custard powder and cornflour with 1 tbsp milk to make a runny paste. Beat in the egg yolk. Pour the remaining milk into a pan, scrape in the vanilla seeds, add the pod, then allow to come just to the boil. Stir this into the cornflour paste, then pour into a clean pan. Cook over a medium heat, stirring all the time, until thickened. Remove from the heat, then stir in the crème fraîche until smooth. Pour into a bowl, cover the surface with cling film to stop a skin forming, allow to cool, then chill until completely cold.

  2. Make the cake: heat oven to 180C/ fan 160C/gas 4. Lightly oil and line the base of a 20cm round cake tin. Put the sugar and eggs into a bowl. Whisk with electric beaters for 5 mins until very thick, paler in colour and the consistency of whipped cream. Sift over the flour and quickly, but lightly, fold it in. Spoon the mixture into the tin and carefully level it, being careful not to squash it. Bake for 25 mins until risen, then remove and cool on a wire rack. Peel off lining paper. Halve the cake so you have a semi-circle. (The other half can be frozen for another time.) Split the semi-circle in half with a knife, then sandwich back together with fruit spread.

  3. Put the sugar and lime zest for the fruit into a pan with 2 tbsp water. Bring slowly to the boil until the sugar has dissolved, then bubble for 1½-2 mins until syrupy. Tip in the blueberries, then cook very briefly, stirring once or twice only, just until they start to burst and release their juices (but still stay whole) and you get a purple syrup. Set aside to cool.

  4. The sponge and custard layers can be built up to 2-3 hrs ahead of when you want to serve. Cut the jammy sponge into cubes, then place in the base of a glass dish. Drizzle over the Marsala. Keep about ¼ of the berries back for the top, then spoon the rest over the sponge with a little syrup. Discard the pod from the custard, then pour it over the fruit.

  5. Just before serving, beat the yogurt, mascarpone and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Pile onto the custard, then drizzle over the reserved fruit and syrup. Use a skewer to swirl some of the juices through the creamy topping. Serve straight away or the syrup discolours the topping. This is best eaten the same day.

Suggested recipes from this collection...