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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Easy Individual Sherry Trifles Recipe

    Published: Jul 23, 2024 by Beth Sachs · 5 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Sherry trifles pin image.

    Easy individual sherry trifles recipe made with crumbled Madeira cake, ready-made custard, a cheat's raspberry jelly, and topped with lightly whipped cream.

    Served in individual dessert glasses, these easy mini trifles are the perfect make-ahead dessert option!

    Sherry trifles on a serving platter.

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    Using ready-made custard (I usually use Ambrosia or Bird's custard powder) means this classic English dessert is super quick and easy to assemble!

    Decorate the tops of the trifles with fresh raspberries, fresh mint, and chopped pistachios, but any fresh fruit, nuts, or even chocolate curls would work well.

    These individual trifles are the perfect dessert for dinner parties, summer BBQs, or even Christmas!

    👩‍🍳 Love make-ahead desserts? Try my apple and blueberry crumble next!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • 🔪 How to make individual trifles
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More easy dessert recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    1. Classic layered English dessert.
    2. Make-ahead.
    3. Uses ready-made custard to save time.
    4. Easily doubled to feed a crowd.
    5. Serve in individual dessert glasses or one big trifle bowl.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Ingredients needed to make sherry trifles.

    Madeira Cake - use homemade or shop-bought Maderia cake. You can substitute with plain pound cake or trifle sponges.

    Sherry - a sweet sherry is best for soaking the sponges. If you want to keep it alcohol-free, use orange juice instead.

    Raspberry Jelly - make a quick cheat's jelly with raspberry jam and fresh raspberries.

    Custard - I use ready-made custard from a carton or tin, but you could also make custard using custard powder, or from scratch with egg yolks, milk, and cream. I add a little vanilla extract to give the ready-made custard more flavour.

    Double Cream - lightly whip the cream to soft peaks and sweeten with a tablespoon of icing sugar.

    Decoration - I like to decorate the sherry trifles with fresh raspberries, mint, and chopped pistachios.

    🔪 How to make individual trifles

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Crumble the Madeira cake into 8 large glasses and drizzle ½ teaspoon of sherry into each glass so it soaks into the cake.

    Two: Put the raspberry jam into a saucepan and heat it until it becomes thinner. Don't let it boil. Take off the heat and stir in the fresh raspberries. Allow to cool slightly then spoon equally over the sherry-soaked cake pieces.

    Three: Mix the ready-made custard with the vanilla extract and spoon over the raspberry jelly.

    Four: Finally, whip the double cream and icing sugar together until you get soft peaks, and top each trifle with cream. Decorate with fresh raspberries and chopped pistachios. Chill for at least 3 hours before serving.

    Sherry trifles topped with fresh raspberries.

    📖 Variations

    • Use orange juice instead of sherry to keep it alcohol-free.
    • Make a strawberry trifle using fresh strawberries and strawberry jam. You could use cherries too.
    • Make chocolate trifles by using chocolate Madeira cake, chocolate custard, and decorating with chocolate curls.
    • Use sponge fingers instead of Madeira cake.
    • Dust with icing sugar for a pretty finish.
    • Make one big trifle in a trifle bowl, rather than individual trifles.
    Trifle deocration.

    🥡 Storage

    Make-Ahead - Assemble the trifles up to 24 hours beforehand but hold off adding the whipped cream until just before serving. Wrap in cling-film (plastic wrap) and refrigerate until needed.

    Store - Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.

    Freeze - Unfortunately trifles are not freezer friendly.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    What are the layers of trifle?

    Traditionally, the layers of a trifle include cake pieces, custard, fruit pieces, jelly, and cream.

    What alcohol is best for trifle?

    For a traditional English trifle, a sweet or cream sherry is most often used. You could also use brandy, rum, or port.

    Can I use ready-made custard in a trifle?

    My easy individual sherry trifles are made using ready-made custard from a carton or tin, or custard made with Bird's custard powder. You can, of course, make your own custard, but then it wouldn't be very quick.

    How do you eat trifle?

    Dig in with a big spoon!

    Individual sherry trifles.

    😋 More easy dessert recipes

    • Cinnamon Apple Crumble
    • Hot Cross Bun Pudding
    • Lemon Curd Tarts
    • Strawberry Crumble

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    Recipe

    Sherry trifles served in individual glasses.
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    5 from 9 votes

    Easy Individual Sherry Trifles

    Easy individual sherry trifles made with crumbled Madeira cake, ready-made custard, a cheat's raspberry jelly, and topped with lightly whipped cream.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine British
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Chilling Time 3 hours hours
    Total Time 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Servings 8
    Calories 300kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
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    Equipment

    • Knife
    • Saucepan
    • Wooden Spoon
    • 8 Dessert Glasses or 1 trifle bowl

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 200 g Madeira Cake
    • 4 teaspoon Sherry
    • 5 tablespoon Raspberry Jam
    • 250 g Raspberries reserve 8 for the tops of the trifles.
    • 250 ml Ready Made Custard
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 300 ml Double Cream
    • 2 tablespoon Icing Sugar
    • Fresh Raspberries and chopped Pistachios to decorate

    Instructions

    • Crumble or cut the Madeira cake and equally distribute it into 8 large dessert glasses. Drizzle ½ teaspoon of sherry into each glass so it soaks into the cake.
      200 g Madeira Cake, 4 teaspoon Sherry
    • Put the raspberry jam into a saucepan and heat it until it becomes thinner. Don't let it boil. Take off the heat and stir in the fresh raspberries. Allow to cool slightly then spoon equally over the sherry-soaked cake pieces.
      5 tablespoon Raspberry Jam, 250 g Raspberries
    • Mix the ready-made custard with the vanilla extract and spoon over the raspberry jelly.
      250 ml Ready Made Custard, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • Whip the double cream and icing sugar together until you get soft peaks, and top each trifle with cream. Decorate with fresh raspberries and chopped pistachios. Chill for at least 3 hours.
      300 ml Double Cream, 2 tablespoon Icing Sugar, Fresh Raspberries and chopped Pistachios to decorate

    Notes

    Expert Tips:
    • If you don't have dessert glasses, use large wine glasses instead.
    • Allow the trifle to chill and set for at least a few hours ahead of serving.
     
    Variations:
    • Use orange juice instead of sherry to keep it alcohol-free.
    • Make a strawberry trifle using fresh strawberries and strawberry jam. You could use cherries too.
    • Make chocolate trifles by using chocolate Madeira cake, chocolate custard, and decorating with chocolate curls.
    • Use sponge fingers instead of Madeira cake.
    • Dust with icing sugar for a pretty finish.
    • make one big trifle in a trifle bowl, rather than individual ones.
     
    Storage:
    Make-Ahead - Assemble the trifles up to 24 hours before serving but hold off adding the whipped cream until just before serving. Wrap in cling-film (plastic wrap) and refrigerate until needed.
    Store - Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Individual Sherry Trifles
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    300
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    16
    g
    25
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    9
    g
    56
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    84
    mg
    28
    %
    Sodium
     
    197
    mg
    9
    %
    Potassium
     
    184
    mg
    5
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    36
    g
    12
    %
    Fiber
     
    2
    g
    8
    %
    Sugar
     
    21
    g
    23
    %
    Protein
     
    4
    g
    8
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    657
    IU
    13
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    10
    mg
    12
    %
    Calcium
     
    96
    mg
    10
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tavo

      May 12, 2022 at 1:16 pm

      5 stars
      The trifles were indeed very easy to make and delicious! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    2. Gloria

      May 12, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect party dessert. Cute little glasses of sweet goodness. I know my guests will be thrilled.

      Reply
    3. Kali Alexandria

      May 12, 2022 at 1:31 pm

      5 stars
      The perfect dessert to impress those dinner guests! Thank you, it was delicious.

      Reply
    4. Caroline

      May 12, 2022 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      Such a classic dessert! Like the idea of individual versions, much easier to serve (and portion control!)

      Reply
    5. Sue

      May 12, 2022 at 2:19 pm

      5 stars
      My grandmother used to have a little glass of sherry every night, and I've been fascinated with it ever since I was a kid ~ this recipe sounds delish!

      Reply
    5 from 9 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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