Trifle is a long established classic British dessert that has been made in England since 1596. It started out life a flavoured cream, but has since gone on to develop further layers of sponge, fruit and custard. Most people only make trifle at Christmas, but I’d quite happily eat it any time of the year! I was inspired to make my own Trifle Cupcakes after seeing CakeyBoi‘s version. They are a light vanilla sponge which has been filled with jelly and custard, then topped with whipped cream, chocolate flakes and a raspberry – hello yummyness! These Trifle Cupcakes are the ideal way to make trifle a more portable dessert and they would be fantastic at a party!
Step by step…
To start I made the cupcake batter and divided it between 12 cupcake cases. I baked them for 20 minutes until golden brown, then left them to cool completely.
I used a small knife to cut a circle in the top of the cake, then scooped out the sponge. Leave enough cake at the bottom and sides so that the cupcake retains it’s structure and won’t collapse. I put about a teaspoon of ready made strawberry jelly into each cupcake. You can use strawberry or raspberry jelly. Then add custard on top (which I forget to take a photo of). I used a good quality ready made custard.
Finally, I whipped up some cream and piped it on top of the cupcakes using my Wilton 2D nozzle. I sprinkled each cupcake with a bashed up Flake bar and then added a raspberry on top.
Which custard and jelly should you use for the fillings?
Using ready made jelly and custard makes these cupcakes really simple and quick to put together. The ready made jelly by the brand Hartleys is also vegetarian, so it’s great for a mix of dietary needs. The sachets or cubes of jelly that you make yourself aren’t usually vegetarian. If you’re not sure, look for gelatine on the label. Gelatine is made from boiling animal skin and bones (yuck, right?!) so you want to avoid this to suit a vegetarian diet. I like to use good quality custard, but something like Ambrosia would work well too. You could even make your own custard if you like, a creme patisserie custard is the best kind. You want it to be quick a thick custard so it doesn’t run out all over your face when you bite into the cupcake!
Can they be made in advance?
Because the cupcakes are topped with whipped cream, I would advise not to make them more than one day in advance of your event. Whipped cream is always best as fresh as possible, but it will be fine overnight stored in the fridge. Unfortunately, you cannot freeze these cupcakes once they are filled and decorated.
Many thanks to CakeyBoi for the inspiration for these Trifle Cupcakes! I took them along to my friend’s son’s birthday party, and both the adults and kids loved them!
Recommended equipment & ingredients*
| Cupcake tin | Cupcake corer | Piping bags |
| Wilton 2D nozzle | Red cupcake cases | Flake bar |
| Electric hand mixer |
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Trifle Cupcakes
Cupcakes filled with jelly and custard, topped with whipped cream, a raspberry and grated chocolate
Ingredients
For the cupcake sponge
- 175 g Butter or baking spread
- 175 g Caster sugar
- 3 Eggs large
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 175 g Self raising flour
For the filling
- 250 g Ready made strawberry or raspberry jelly
- 200 g Ready made custard
For the topping
- 300 ml Double cream
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp Icing sugar
- 12 Fresh raspberries
- 2 tbsp Chocolate curls or a bashed up flake bar
Instructions
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Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Line a cupcake tin with paper cases
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To make the cupcakes, cream together the butter and caster sugar until smooth
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Add the eggs and vanilla, and mix well
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Add the self raising flour and whisk in
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Divide the mixture between the cupcakes cases, and bake them for 20 minutes until then are golden brown. Put them on a rack to cool completely
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Use a small knife or cupcake corer to cut a hole in each cupcake. Leave enough cake at the bottom and sides so that the cupcake retains it's structure and won't collapse
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Put about a teaspoon of the jelly in the hole
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Then add custard on top of the jelly
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Whip up the cream with the icing sugar and vanilla, and pipe it on top of each cupcake
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Sprinkle the chocolate curls or flake pieces over the cream, and add a raspberry on top
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Serve immediately and store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days
If you like this, check out more of my Cupcake recipes!
Pin for later!
So easy and so yummy! I seemed to have lots of jelly and custard leftover; how sad that I had to eat it all up ? will defo make again.
Love the idea of a portable trifle. I’m with you, why only have trifle for Christmas? CT is a trifle lover too, so I might just have to make him some of these.
I hope you enjoy them!
Trifle cupcakes? all I can say is WOW. Gorgeous!!