One-Hit Wonder: Cranberry Cognac Trifle
I brought this to a Christmas party last night. Unless you suddenly get laid off from your job and are injected with gallons of extra energy at the same time, I don't necessarily advise making it. It was delicious--eggy, vanilla cake; cranberry jam; orange-scented custard;, and cognac syrup, fit snugly into a (newly purchased) trifle dish and soaking up each other's flavors.
Loretta helped me "paint" the cake with syrup and jam. It took me twice as long, but she acted like I just flew her to Disney World. She kept crinkling up her nose, smiling her biggest smile, and saying, "Mom, what can I do now?"
Despite that cute story, I'm still warning you to think twice--maybe three times--before you spend all your precious time so flagrantly. You have to make the cake, and you need THREE baking sheets to do it. Then you make the jam and custard (which, despite my years of cooking experience, I still find nerve-wracking). Then you assemble the damn thing, which has never been my forte. I'm all thumbs when it comes to making things look pretty. Rustic is more my thing.
But it turned out, I reverently carried it on my lap to the party, and it garnered the desired oohs and ahs when I unveiled it. And it tasted....how should I describe it? Like Christmas in a bowl. A really good Christmas, when it snows on Christmas Eve, you have a week's vacation coming up, and someone gives you an iPhone (totally hypothetical).
On the way home, we loaded tired kids into the car and I put my licked-clean new trifle bowl on the floor. We took a sharp corner and it fell down and shattered against the door. Yancey said, "Well, that was one-hit wonder." Looks like I won't be making another trifle this year (or maybe decade), but it was a wonder nonetheless.
P.S. If you want a little taste of the magic without the insanity, read my Cranberry Vanilla Jam guest post on Eralda's blog, The Split Pea.
Cranberry Cognac Trifle
Thankfully, I was able to find this on Epicurious. I wasn't about to type it out for the 1 reader that might think about making it. Not to mention the carpal tunnel that would ensue. The recipe jauntily says something like, "You can make this over several days and assemble it eight hours before serving!" Like that's supposed to make you feel better.
Find the recipe here
December 2, 2009
Reader Comments (22)
That is a work of art....so beautiful. I'm all for Christmas in a bowl, or in a cup, a heart, or a box. Much love to your family during the season of of hope and magic.
Such a bummer about the bowl! I tried to make a trifle years ago and used my large cake dish which I was told could double as a trifle dish. Wrong. They are totally different sizes and shapes (I didn't know at the time, obviously) and I had to throw the whole thing away. This is a MUCH more involved recipe but sometimes you want to make something really special and this certainly is. Bravo!
i just laughed out loud and that is a very good thing...because my day is shaping up to be another horrible wonder. BUT, you did it. while i am terribly sorry about the bowl, it really does make for a good story. thanks for making the trifle so we don't have to. :)
Blast! Seriously?
Well, thank god you took pictures before the bowl's untimely death. It looks beautiful and sounds delicious.
It may be time consuming but man oh man does this look delicious! Sorry to hear your bowl broke. Maybe you will get another one for Christmas :)
you had me first nodding my head, laughing...laughing some more, and then, "OHHH!" about the bowl. It looks delicious and this is right up my alley. I love that Loretta loved helping...Veronica loves that too and suggested making cake at 8:00 in the morning. And yes, the way some recipes make it sound like, "Well it ONLY takes....hours/days!" Or for me, "how many steps are they asking me to make?" thanks I think I'll have to make it for sure.
P.S. the ooo's and awww's are what we live for, with one hand out saying stop, while the other hand is saying c'mon, more & more.
My mother makes a quickie version using chocolate chip cookies, kahlua, berries, and cool whip. It may not be as impressive looking as yours, but it's quick and delicious!
At least the bowl broke AFTER your labor-intensive trifle was admired and enjoyed! The jam alone would be enough for me!
This is brilliant. Seriously. The colors, the textures, the flavors-- they're all perfect!
Yay to Yancey for being awesome about the broken trifle dish! How many people do you know who would've gotten mad and sulky about it? Not him - just write it off as a "one hit wonder", love it.
Thank you for your honesty. I'm glad I was warned. The picture made me want to make it. I'll wait until I don't have a 18mo old and am Un-pregnant. And probably the bowl breaking is God's way of keeping it for only really special and infrequent events....or it was the devil?!
Just made a ridiculously yummy gingerbread/pumpkin trifle for Thanksgiving and it wasn't too, too much work. I found it on the Epicurious website. So, so, so good. And FYI, I put it in a trifle bowl I picked up at Ikea for $8. Not a crazy fan of Ikea, but was thrilled about this find :)
you crack me up, you are becoming more and more like your mommie, sorry!
CUTE CUTE post! Your stories brighten my day : )
Totally, Kamille. I don't pretend I don't like compliments anymore. I just soak them up...
Sounds good to me....one thing I love about trifle is the layers can be made with just about anything. It's especially useful if you have a cake sitting around that's about to go stale. My mom used to make a trifle that was purchased pound cake in cubes, a "custard" made with sweetened whipped cream and cream cheese, crushed chocolate cookies, and raspberry jam. It was delicious.
Hi Talia! Yes, it sounds like you've got other things to do besides making trifle. My photos might have to do for now.
Good idea to get one at IKEA...I never thought of that. Now I have a bee in my bonnet about it. xoxoxo
Sister, I keep coming back here to look at these pictures!! Seriously. It looks so good. Reminds me of a pumpkin triffle my sister made for Thanksgiving last year.
Wow! Haven't even read the post yet...running out the door...but had to say that this looks AMAZING!!!
I'm sure this would be a hit at any Parties.
Sorry about the bowl, but good golly that is gorgeous.