Avoca has shared the recipe for their decadent Christmas trifle and we’re digging in

No festive spread is complete without a traditional Christmas trifle taking centre stage on the table. The Avoca trifle is one of the best around, and now we can make it at home

Ingredients:

Serves 8-10

(Preheat oven to 170 °C / gas mark 5)

For the sponge:

5 medium eggs

140g caster sugar

½ tsp pure vanilla essence

140g plain flour

For the custard:

6 large eggs

100g caster sugar

40g cornflour

175ml cream

150ml milk

½ vanilla pod, split in half length-wise

For the fruit mix:

250ml sherry

250ml water

500g caster sugar

800g fresh raspberries

For the topping:

400ml cream, stiffly whipped

2 tbsp toasted flaked almonds

Raspberries to decorate

Method:

To make the sponge:

1. Line a 27 x 3m loose-bottomed round tin with baking parchment.
2. Using an electric mixer, whisk together the whole eggs, vanilla and caster sugar for 12 -15 minutes or until the mixture is pale in colour, has doubled in size and can hold a figure eight made with a whisk.
3. Carefully fold in the sifted flour without deflating the mixture. Spoon in the pre-lined tin and then bake in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes. Remove and cool on wire rack.

To make the custard:

1. In a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour for 3 – 4 minutes. Place the milk, cream and split vanilla pod in a heavy saucepan and bring to just below boiling point, then pour the hot milk and cream over the egg yolks whisking vigorously as you add the liquid.
2. Return from the heat, transfer to clean bowl and allow to cool.
3. Cover and place in the fridge until required. This custard will keep perfectly in the fridge for 3 – 4 days as long as you use the milk and cream with a good shelf life.

To make the fruit mixture:

1. In a stainless-steel saucepan place the port, water and caster sugar on a low heat stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then increase the temperature and allow to boil vigorously for 2 – 3 minutes.
2. Add the raspberries and bring back to the boil. Remove from the heat and strain the fruit from the stock and reserve the port stock syrup.

To assemble the trifle:

1. Break the sponge into pieces and dip each piece into the port stock syrup, allowing the sponge to soak up the syrup.
2. Arrange the sponge in the bottom of the bowl, spoon a generous amount of the raspberries onto the sponge and then add another layer of sponge and raspberries.
3. Cover the entire surface of the mixture with the cold custard, smoothing the surface with a spoon or a palette knife.
4. Then top with stiffly whipped cream and finally, the toasted flaked almonds and raspberries to decorate. Ideally, return to the fridge for an hour or two before serving. It is perfect to make the night before but, if doing so don’t add the flaked almonds until just before serving.

Serve and enjoy!

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