English Trifle

Step 1

First, make the custard: In a bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar until light. Stir in the cornstarch. In a saucepan, scald the milk (do not boil it). Whisk the hot milk into the yolk mixture, then pour this back into the pan. Cook, stirring, over low heat until the custard thickens. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the custard into a bowl and set aside to cool completely.

Step 2

While the custard cools, combine the cut-up fruit with the Triple Sec. Set aside to macerate for 30 minutes. Spread the flat sides of the ladyfingers with jam, and place them in the bottom of a pretty glass bowl. Spoon the fruit and any liquid over the ladyfingers. Pour the cooled custard over the fruit. Refrigerate, covered, until the custard has set.

Step 3

Beat the cream with the sugar until it holds a fairly stiff peak. Spread the whipped cream over the chilled custard, reserving some of the cream to pipe decoratively through a pastry tube, if desired.