Christmas Trifle

The word “trifle” comes from the old French term “trufle,” and literally means something whimsical. Early in English history, Christmas trifle was nicknamed Tipsy Cake, because its high alcohol content tended to make one inebriated. There are a couple of examples of this in the Harry Potter books: 1) In The Order Of the Phoenix, Ron, Hermione, and Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room to find the Fat Lady acting strangely. When Harry asked what was the matter, Hermione said, “Overindulged over Christmas, apparently.” Some say she did overindulge--on Christmas Trifle--much to the annoyance of the Lady in the portrait next to her, who was shielding her baby from the Fat Lady most of the holiday. 2) In The Half-Blood Prince, after the Fat Lady was slashed by Serius Black, she was temporarily replaced by Sir Cadogan. Ron and Harry found him “enjoying a Christmas party with a couple of monks.” As they approached, he said, “Merry – hic – Christmas!” Drunk on spirits, they were, but rumor has it that they also ate a whole Christmas trifle between the three of them. Perhaps the most famous trifle-induced drunken episode in the wizarding world took place at the first ever Ministry of Magic Christmas party. Edgar Stroulger, an inventor of magical devices, including the Sneakoscope, was only invited to the occasion because his father was once chief of the Wizard’s Council (the predecessor to the Ministry of Magic.) Edgar snuck away with the entire Christmas Trifle, which he ate by himself, becoming intoxicated to the point that he started cursing people at the party. Before he was stopped by Damocles Rowle (then the Minister For Magic), Edgar had infected Eldritch Diggory’s eyes with the Conjunctivitis Curse, made Perseus Parkinson’s hair fall out with the Calvus Curse, and had duplicated Albert Boot five times with the Gemino Curse. Fortunately, Dilys Derwent, a healer at St Mungo's Hospital, was present and reversed the curses immediately. This recipe is liquor-free.

Sources: whatscookingamerica.net, Half Blood Prince, Order Of the Phoenix, harrypotter.wikia.com, cooksinfo.com.

Ingredients:

Ginger Sponge Cake

1 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

6 egg yolks

6 egg whites

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/3 +1/2 cup cream

1 can evaporated milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1-15 oz. bottle pourable sour cream

Cranberry Compote

2-12 oz. bag of cranberries

2 oranges, peeled and cut into chunks

2 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup orange juice

Juice of 1 lemon

Zest of 1 lemon, finely grated

1/2 cup sugar

Vanilla Pudding

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup corn starch

3 egg yolks

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon vanilla

STEP 1: First, let's make the cake by separating the egg yolks from the whites. Be sure not get any yolks in the whites. If whites get in the yolks, it's okay.

STEP 2: In a bowl, mix together, 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg.

STEP 3: In a mixing bowl, beat 6 egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 tablespoon molasses, and 1/3 cup cream.

STEP 4: Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

STEP 5: Clean the mixing bowl then whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.

STEP 6: Fold the whipped egg whites into the batter.

STEP 7: Spread the batter in the bottom of a greased 9x12 cake pan then bake at 375° until a toothpick comes out clean (about 25-30 minutes.)

STEP 8: Mix together 1/2 cup cream, 1 can evaporated milk, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, and

1-15 oz. bottle pourable sour cream.

STEP 9: When the cake comes out of the oven, pour the milk mixture over it, and let it soak in.

STEP 10: Next make the cranberry compote. In a pot, combine 2-12 oz. bag of cranberries; 2 oranges, peeled and cut into chunks; 2 cups pure maple syrup, 1/2 cup orange juice, Juice of 1 lemon, zest of 1 lemon, finely grated, and 1/2 cup sugar. Boil until cranberries crack (5-10 minutes.) Transfer to a blender and pulse until smooth, then set aside.

STEP 11: Next, make the pudding. In a pot, combine 2/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup corn starch, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

STEP 12: Heat 3 cups whole milk in a microwave for 4 minutes.

STEP 13: Add the hot milk into the cornstarch mixture over medium heat, stir constantly until mixture starts to thicken (about 10 minutes).

STEP 14: Temper the eggs by whisking one cup of the pudding mixture into the three egg yolks. If you add it directly to the pot, you will end up with scrambled eggs. Return it to the pudding mixture and cook, stirring constantly for another mintue. Remove from heat.

STEP 15: Whip 2 cups whipping cream, and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until stiff.

STEP 15: Layer the cake, compote, pudding and whipped cream as shown in the photo.