Irish Trifle
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened, for greasing pan
- 85 grams cake flour (scant 3/4 cup)
- 14 grams cornstarch (1 1/2 tablespoons)
- 120 grams eggs (2 extra-large eggs plus 1 tablespoon)
- 150 grams sugar (2/3 cup), divided
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 85 grams egg whites (2 1/2 whites)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 13 cup cream sherry, more to taste
- 13 cup raspberry jam
- 2 23 cups chilled creme anglaise (see recipe)
- 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- Freshly grated nutmeg
- Make the cake: Brush a 9-inch cake pan with softened butter and lightly flour sides.
- Lay pan on a sheet of parchment paper and trace around bottom of pan.
- Cut parchment round and place in pan with pencil marks facing down.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Sift cake flour and cornstarch into a bowl or onto a sheet of parchment.
- In the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with the paddle, combine 2 eggs, half the sugar and the vanilla.
- Mix at low speed for 30 seconds to combine.
- Turn mixer to highest speed and beat for 5 minutes, until mixture is light, pale and fluffy.
- Turn mixer down to medium and beat for 3 minutes.
- Scrape mixture out into a large bowl.
- Gently fold in half the flour mixture, then gently fold in remaining half.
- Wash the stand mixer bowl thoroughly with soap and hot water, then dry.
- Add egg whites, remaining sugar and salt to bowl.
- Using the whisk attachment, beat at medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes, or long enough to obtain a soft, creamy meringue.
- Do not over-whip; you do not want a stiff and dry meringue.
- Carefully fold half the egg white mixture into batter, along with melted butter.
- Carefully fold in remaining egg white mixture.
- Gently scrape into prepared cake pan.
- Put cake pan on a baking sheet and place in oven.
- Bake 30 minutes, until light golden brown and a tester comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and reverse onto a rack.
- Remove parchment paper and cool for 5 minutes, then flip cake over and let cool completely.
- Wrap tightly in plastic if not using right away.
- Cake can be made a few days ahead and refrigerated, or frozen for several weeks.
- Assemble the trifle: At least 6 hours, and no more than 24 hours, before you plan to serve trifle, spread top of cake with jam and cut into 2-inch squares.
- Line a flat wide bowl (preferably a trifle dish) with cake squares, in one layer.
- Douse cake with 2 to 4 tablespoons cream sherry, more if desired.
- Cover with parchment or plastic wrap , set a plate on top, and set a weight (such as a large can of tomatoes) on top of the plate.
- Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or longer.
- Uncover cake.
- Spike creme anglaise with a tablespoon or two of sherry if desired, and pour over cake.
- Chill for an hour or more in refrigerator.
- Just before serving, beat cream until it forms soft peaks, and flavor it with a spoonful of cream sherry if desired.
- Spoon over trifle.
- Dust with a very small amount of nutmeg and serve.
butter, cake flour, cornstarch, eggs, sugar, vanilla, egg whites, salt, butter, cream sherry, raspberry, chilled creme anglaise, heavy cream, nutmeg
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015856 (may not work)