Who needs a black forest gateau when you can make a chocolate cherry trifle? An irrisistable special occasion summer pudding in a bowl. Who could possibly resist?
Beat the eggs with the sugar until thick, pale and tripled in volume. Electric beaters* are best for this.
2 large eggs, 120 g golden caster sugar
Fold in the flour and mix carefully until it's just incorporated.
100 g plain flour (all purpose flour)
Spoon into a lined 20 x 30cm Swiss roll tin and bake in a preheated oven at 180℃ (160℃ fan, 350℉, Gas 4) for 13 minutes, until lightly browned and springy to the touch.
Turn onto a wire rack to cool.
Cut into 16 fingers and sandwich together with a teaspoon of cherry jam.
8 tsp cherry jam
Chocolate Custard
Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl until well incorporated.
3 egg yolks, 30 g golden caster sugar
Whisk in the flour.
15 g plain flour (all purpose flour)
Bring the milk to the boil and whisk into the egg mixture.
275 ml milk
Return the whole lot to the pan and simmer for about 5 minutes whilst whisking from time to time.
Take off the heat and add the chocolate.
55 g dark chocolate
Stir until melted and smooth.
Leave to cool.
Caramelised Almonds
Mix the almonds in a bowl with the icing sugar and rum.
40 g flaked almonds, 10 g icing sugar, 2 tsp rum
Spread out onto a lined baking tray and bake at 180℃ (160℃ fan, 350℉, Gas 4) for about 6 minutes until caramelised but not burnt.
Leave to cool.
Chocolate Cherry Trifle
Line the base of a glass bowl or decorative dish with the sponge sandwiches.
Drizzle the alcohol over the top.
3 tbsp kirsch
Halve and stone the cherries. A cherry pitter* makes the job a lot easier.
250 g fresh cherries
Scatter these over the the sponges reserving a few whole ones for decoration.
Stir the icing sugar into the crème fraîche or whipped cream.
20 g icing sugar, 300 ml crème fraîche
Fold a quarter of the cream mixture into the chocolate custard.
Spoon the custard over the cherries.
Spoon the cream over the custard.
Scatter the almonds, reserved cherries and grated chocolate over the top.
10 g dark chocolate
Notes
Please note: calories and other nutritional information are per serving. They’re approximate and should only be used as a guide.