How to Make an Irish Trifle

How to Make an Irish Trifle Host: Welcome back! We are here with Mary and she is going to put together for us my favorite, an Irish dessert called Trifle. So, let's get this thing assembled. What do we do here? Mary: Okay. Trifle is very simple. There are layers of lady fingers which I already baked. Host: So, it’s like a what? Mary: Yes, it’s sponge cake. Host: Okay. Mary: A layer of that is put at the end with some Jell-O that I did a little earlier because the Jell-O needed to set before we finish it off. On top of that, I put in -- Host: Some fruits. Mary: Some fruits, yeah. Host: [Voice Overlap] kind of fruit. Mary: Yeah, it’s like a fruit cocktail, a little bit of everything into it. That’s on top of it. It gives it a nice layer. Host: Right and good texture too. Mary: Yeah. Host: So, the sponge cake absorbs the Jell-O. Mary: The sponge cake and the Jell-O is at the end and then you have the fruit. It looks pretty. Host: It does. Now, what comes next? Mary: Next, we have custard made with egg yolks and sugar, okay? Host: It’s kind of like a sweet pudding? Mary: Yes. It’s like a vanilla pudding throughout the world but not sweet. And that’s left with just one layer, exactly like this. Host: And this is the perfect bowl to use to display. Mary: Yes because then you get to see the layers. Host: To see all the layers, oh that’s great! Mary: Exactly. And you see what it looks like and what it should look like. Host: And then what comes on after that? Mary: Then we put on the layer of cream, that’s it. Host: Whipped cream. Mary: Whipped cream, regular heavy whipped cream. Host: And do you sweeten this or is it just [Voice Overlap]? Mary: You can do either. I usually just leave it because you have the custard, you have the Jell-O. Host: It might be too overwhelming if you add more sugar. Mary: Exactly, exactly. Host: Got it. Mary: And then you have fruits. The fruits is done as well, so that helps. Host: Now, this is a typical Irish dessert, what’s another -- Mary: To be a Sunday dessert. Host: This should be a Sunday dessert? Mary: Yeah. Host: This would be within all the family gathered together, special treat. Mary: Exactly, right. Host: And what are some other desserts that are famous in Ireland? Mary: Well, everybody had orchard, so apple and pears, so stewed fruit with ice cream or cream. Also, little apple tart with cream was the other thing. Host: Now, I have a friend who is Irish, who is telling me about a cake where you bake little treats inside of it. Mary: Yes. Host: What is that? Mary: That’s a barnbrack. Host: Barnbrack. Mary: That’s used for Halloween. Host: Oh, for Halloween? Mary: Yeah. Host: What are some of the treats that are inside? Mary: Let’s put in -- Host: They're not edible, right? Mary: No. Host: You have to eat everything slowly. Mary: They were putting in a ring for marriage. Host: So, if you get the piece that has the ring in it that means that’s sort of the tradition that you'll get married? Mary: Right, that’s the idea there that we have. Host: I’m sure that’s what all of the girls want. Mary: Right. Host: They wanted the piece of the ring. Mary: The other was a coin for prosperity. Host: That’s probably what all the guys want. Mary: Right. More so than the ring I'm sure. Host: Right, exactly. Mary: Then -- Host: So, a lot of the desserts are -- I mean a lot of the people, it seems like from Ireland, grow their own vegetables. They have orchards for their own fruits or tropical local markets. Mary: Right. Host: So, that’s where a lot of the ingredients would come from. Mary: Right. Now, that’s what it looks like finished. And then on the top, just put a little sprinkle of chocolate just to give it a little difference in color. Host: Good for the eye and good for the stomach. Mary: Yeah, exactly. Host: Good for everything. Mary: Right. Host: Well now that we’re done, we can -- Mary: Now, we have this finished. Host: I want to go eat our home meal. Mary: It sounds good. Host: Going to go sit down with friends. Could I carry it in? Mary: Sure. Host: Will that be okay? Mary: Sure. Host: All right, we’ll be right back.