Description
A delightful layered dessert featuring lemon curd, meringue, and sponge cake.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- zest from 2 lemons
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup butter
- 4 egg whites
- pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- whipping cream
- lemon slices (for garnish)
- store-bought sponge cake or homemade recipe
Instructions
- Prepare the Lemon Curd: In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and lemon zest from 2 lemons. Add 1/2 cup of lemon juice and 4 egg yolks to the mixture. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup of butter, stirring until melted. Let the curd cool before using.
- Make the Meringue: Beat 4 egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1 cup of sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix well.
- Prepare the Sponge Cake: Use a store-bought sponge cake or bake your favorite recipe. Slice the cake into thin layers suitable for trifle.
- Assemble the Trifle: In a large trifle dish, place a layer of sponge cake at the bottom. Spread a layer of lemon curd over the sponge cake. Add a layer of whipped cream. Repeat the layers until the dish is filled, ending with a meringue topping.
- Finish and Garnish: For a toasty meringue, use a kitchen torch to brown the peaks lightly. Garnish with lemon slices on top.
Notes
- Ensure that the lemon curd is completely cooled before assembling the trifle to avoid melting the whipped cream.
- For extra flavor, brush the sponge cake layers with lemon syrup.
- If you don’t have a kitchen torch, place the final meringue layer under a broiler briefly, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- The trifle can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator, but wait to add the meringue until just before serving for optimal texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg