Of course, the holidays are a busy time for just about everyone. As a party writer, and an expert caterer and event planner, I thought it might help you if I were to share one of my holiday dessert trade secrets - my Christmas trifle recipe.To save time, use my most popularly requested holiday dessert recipe in my dessert repertoire, Holiday Clementine Trifle.
I've found that trifles are often overlooked and undeservedly forgotten, especially Christmas trifle recipes. Whether a client requests that I make one of my trifle dessert recipes or I serve one of my trifle bowl recipes when I have host my own dinner parties - it's a dessert that I often hear people say that they've never had or one that they haven't had in a long time.
The great thing about holiday trifle recipes is, they're easy and quick to make because you build them in the bowl that you serve them in.
If you keep a pretty well stocked pantry, you can basically throw a trifle together at the drop of a hat. All you need is cake, fruit or chocolate, and whipped cream or pudding. What I find most people like about trifle holiday recipes is, they taste as good as they look.
A trifle is traditionally served in a trifle bowl or trifle dish. You can make trifle in any type of bowl, although trifle is customarily a deep, clear glass trifle bowl - sometimes stemmed. Serving trifle in a clear glass trifle bowl allows you to see all of it's wonderful and delicious layers.
You can purchase trifle bowls in the kitchen or home section of most major department stores. Check Costco, Sam's Club, Kmart and Target, too.
Clementines (also sometimes referred to as clementine tangerines, clementine oranges, and clementine mandarin) are primarily imported from Spain and Morocco, grow on clementine trees and are the tiniest of the mandarins.
Clementines are a great dessert option. One clementine is only about 50 calories. You can buy them seedless. And they're really delicious because they're intensely sweet.
I buy clementines only when they're in season. Clementine fruit peak season is November to January, although you might find them at your local grocery store now. And they're super nutritious, too. Two clementines will get you a day's worth of vitamin C.
When you shop for clementines
You want to buy the ones that are shiny and heavy for their size. They should also have a fresh, citrus fragrance with no hint of a fermentation type smell. The rind shouldn't feel dried out, so avoid the ones with any skin shriveling. And you're looking for the ones that aren't puffy and vacant but are instead, feel full.
How to store clementines
For the fullest flavor, store them at room temperature for three to four days. Or refrigerate them in a plastic bag. Or keep them in the crisper drawer for one to two weeks.
If you were looking for easy trifle recipes, this is certainly one of them. And an added plus is, this is a trifle recipe that garners a lot of compliments, so I hope that you'll enjoy it too.
Holiday Clementine Trifle
(Printable Recipe)
Makes 12 servings
6 clementines
12 oz. pound cake
6 tbsp. sugar
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 cups heavy cream
2 tbsp. orange juice
whipping cream
fresh mint
1.) Discard membrane of each clementine. Coarsely shop sections from 4 clementines with a knife.
2.) Cut pound cake into 1-inch cubes. Place half of the cubes into bottom of 3 and 1/2 quart trifle bowl.
3.) Whip 1 tbsp. sugar and cream cheese until fluffy.
4.) In a separate bowl, beat heavy cream into soft peaks. Beat in 3 tbsp. sugar.
5.) Stir one-quarter of heavy cream/sugar mixture into cream cheese mixture, then fold in remainder with a spoon.
6.) Pour whipping cream into bowl. Add 2 tbsp. sugar, and whip with electric mixer on highest setting until firmly whipped.
7.) Pour orange juice over pound cake cubes.
8.) Top with half the cream mixture, then half of the clementines. Repeat until you've filled the bowl. Leave enough room for garnish topping (about 1/4 of an inch).
9.) Carefully spoon fresh whipped cream over the entire top of trifle. Decoratively garnish trifle with remaining 2 clementines in any style that you choose, intermittently placing fresh mint. This recipe is excellent when served drizzled with chocolate sauce or hot fudge.
Cater-Hater Tips: 1.) Garnish your trifle with fresh fruit chunks or slices. I like to use kiwi and pineapple. The flavors meld together well and it also looks pretty.
For trifle bowl holiday ideas with a ... For an inexpensive centerpiece, fill the bowl with plain yet shiny, small to medium size (or use varied sizes for a more dramatic look) red, green, gold, or white Christmas ornaments (or use blue to celebrate Hanukkah) with ornament stems placed downward. Place candles on the table with the bowl of ornament bulbs. The candles will bounce light off of the (clear glass) trifle bowl and shiny ornaments, creating a pretty centerpiece table illusion.
You can also fill the trifle bowl with pine cones. Or you can fill the trifle bowl with a combination of both, pine cones and shiny holiday ornaments. When I'm invited to a holiday cocktail or dinner party, this holiday gift idea is one of my top holiday gifts that I sometimes give as a hostess gift.
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