Best Tropical Trifle Recipes

COCONUT CUSTARD TRIFLE WITH VANILLA BEAN WHIPPED CREAM AND TROPICAL FRUIT WITH MACADAMIA NUTS

Steps:

• For the custard: Place 2 cups cream, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup coconut flakes and the vanilla seeds and pod in a medium saucepan. Whisk to combine and bring to a boil over low heat.
• Meanwhile, combine the eggs and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl. In another bowl, combine the cornstarch and remaining 1/2 cup cream.
• When the cream and coconut mixture comes to a boil, remove it from the heat and whisk half into the egg and sugar mixture. Then IMMEDIATELY whisk it back into the pan with the hot cream and coconut mixture. (See Cook's Note.)
• Return the saucepan to medium heat and gradually whisk in the cornstarch and cream mixture. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat to thicken the pastry cream, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. (It is necessary to bring this mixture to a boil to cook the cornstarch; if the mixture is not brought to a boil, the mixture will feel starchy and gritty. The desired outcome is the consistency of vanilla pudding. YUM!) Strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl and chill until chilled through. (This can be done really quickly over an ice bath.)
• For the tropical fruit salad: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the macadamia nuts on a small baking sheet and toast until golden and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, then roughly chop and set aside.
• Toast the remaining 1/4 cup coconut flakes in medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside to cool and crisp.
• For the whipped cream: Beat the cream, sugar and vanilla seeds in a chilled mixing bowl with a hand mixer until the cream starts to thicken and hold soft peaks.
• To serve: Layer some pastry cream, pineapple, banana, starfruit, mango, whipped cream, toasted macadamia nuts and toasted coconut in 4 individual trifle dishes. Repeat the layers and top with a dollop of whipped cream, toasted macadamia nuts, toasted coconut and some fruit, including a slice of starfruit.

TROPICAL MANGO TRIFLE

Steps:

• Combine mango, 1/2 cup sugar, lemon juice, and salt in a food processor; puree until smooth. Add egg yolks; process for 15 seconds.
• Pour mango mixture through a sieve set over a large metal bowl, pressing on solids with the back of a spatula to release as much puree as possible. Discard solids in sieve.
• Fill a large saucepan with 2 inches of water; bring to a simmer. Set metal bowl on top; whisk puree until thickened and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 170 degrees F (77 degrees C), about 10 minutes.
• Place metal bowl on a towel on a flat work surface. Whisk in butter 1 piece at a time until blended. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Combine milk and coconut pudding mix in a saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat; fold in grated coconut and vanilla extract. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
• Beat heavy cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup sugar gradually, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
• Place 1/2 of the pound cake cubes in the bottom of a large trifle bowl. Layer some of the bananas, pineapple, and strawberries on top. Spoon 1/2 of the mango puree and coconut pudding on top. Repeat layers with remaining pound cake, bananas, pineapple, strawberries, mango puree, and coconut pudding.
• Spoon whipped cream on top in big, fluffy swirls. Chill until serving.

TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• In medium bowl, beat milk and pudding mix with wire whisk 2 minutes. Stir in orange peel. Let stand 5 minutes.
• In 3 1/2-quart trifle bowl, place half of cake cubes. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the liqueur. Spoon 1 cup of the pudding over cake. Layer with pineapple, kiwifruit and remaining cake cubes. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon liqueur. Spoon remaining pudding over cake. Layer with mango and strawberries. Cover; refrigerate at least 4 hours.
• Sprinkle coconut in ungreased heavy skillet. Cook over medium-low heat 6 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently until browning begins, then stirring constantly until light brown. Cool completely; cover and set aside.
• Just before serving, sprinkle trifle with toasted coconut. Spoon down to bottom of dish to scoop out servings.

TROPICAL TRIFLE WITH FRESH PINEAPPLE

Steps:

• Mix custard powder with a few tablespoons cold milk in a bowl.
• Pour remaining milk into a saucepan, stir in sugar, and bring to a boil over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add custard mixture to hot milk, stirring continuously until liquid has thickened. Set aside to cool completely.
• Place pineapple in a large heavy pan, cover with water, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool, about 30 minutes. Strain the juice and set aside. Place pineapple pieces in a bowl.
• Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Sprinkle over pineapple pieces and toss to coat.
• Layer 1/2 the pound cake in a trifle bowl. Sprinkle with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the reserved pineapple juice. Spread 1/2 the pineapple pieces over the cake. Spoon 1/2 the cooled custard over pineapple. Repeat layers. Spread whipped cream on top and smooth out evenly. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.

TROPICAL FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Make the trifle in a 9-inch round trifle bowl.
• Cut each pound cake round in half, horizontally into layers, so that you have 4 thin slices. Begin with by putting a slice of cake at the bottom of the glass. Spritz or drizzle the cake with a little peach liqueur.
• Fill a pastry bag with the Passion Fruit Pastry Cream and pipe it on top of the cake.
• Then add about 2 cups of the Macerated Tropical Fruit. Repeat this layering until you reach the top of the glass, finishing with a slice of cake.
• Top with the Chantilly Cream and garnish with candied ginger.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the extract and zest. Fold the dry ingredients by hand. Divide the batter into 2 greased 8-inch rounds, lined with parchment paper. Bake until golden brown and springy to the touch, about 1 hour.
• Mix the flour and the sugar together. In a heavy bottom saucepan start heating 3 cups of the milk and the vanilla bean over medium heat. In a bowl whisk together 1 cup of milk with the egg yolks, then add the flour and the sugar and whisk until smooth.
• As soon as the milk comes to a boil, pour about a third of the milk mixture into the eggs. Stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then add the mixture back into the pot. Stirring constantly until the custard thickens.
• As the custard starts to bubble, you should stir more vigorously to take out any lumps that form. Boil the custard for about 1 minute to allow the flour to cook out. Remove pasty cream from the heat into a clean bowl, and fold in the butter and the passion fruit puree. Put a piece of plastic wrap right on the top of the pastry cream and refrigerate until completely chilled, about 2 to 3 hours.
• Whip all ingredients together until soft peaks form.
• Toss cut fruit with sugar and set aside for 30 minutes.

TROPICAL FRUIT AND CAKE TRIFLE

Steps:

• Make pudding as directed on package. Heat oven to 350°. Line a 13" x 17" baking pan with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. In a bowl, combine 3/4 cup sugar, flour and salt. In another bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer until foamy. Add cream of tartar; beat until soft peaks form. Slowly add remaining 3/4 cup sugar, beating until mixture is thick and shiny. Fold flour mixture into egg mixture in four batches; spread batter in pan. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Loosen sides of cake with a knife; let cool. In a bowl, microwave jam for 30 seconds. Invert cake on cutting board; spread with jam and cut into 2-inch squares. In a nonstick pan over medium-high heat, toast coconut, stirring, 4 minutes. In another bowl, beat cream and coconut extract with an electric mixer until peaks form. Reserve 1/4 cup whipped cream. Fold pudding and 1/4 cup coconut into remaining whipped cream. In a large glass bowl, assemble trifle: Layer 1/3 cake squares, 1/3 fruit and 1/3 pudding mixture; repeat twice. Top with remaining 1/4 cup whipped cream and 1/4 cup coconut.

TIPSY, TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• For Curd.
• In a microwave safe dish, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar.
• Heat to dissolve sugar whisking after a minute.
• Add butter and stir until it has melted and combined.
• Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Beat eggs into cooled lemon mixture until well blended.
• Return to microwave oven and cook over medium-low, whisking ever minute, about 5 minutes or until mixture thickens and coats spoon.
• Cool.
• Softening apricots.
• Add white Wine to Apricots for one hour then remove from wine.
• Pour the wine into a glass filled with ice for your self to enjoy while making trifle.
• For Pudding.
• Mix the pudding ingredients together whisk till smooth set aside.
• Assembly.
• In a trifle bowl place half of the angel food cake follow with 1/2 of the lemon curd, pudding, apricots, bananas, 1/3 coconut, cashews and cool whip.
• Repeat with second layer.
• Top with 1/3 of cool whip garnish with rest of cashews a coconut.
• Refrigerate till ready to eat.

TROPICAL FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Make cake according to Recipe #17617 directions.
• Combine dry pudding mix and milk, whisking until completly incorporated, about 2 minutes. Place in refrigerator until set, about 1 hour.
• Combine well-drained crushed pineapple and pudding, set aside.
• Crumble about 1/4 of cake into trifle dish or very deep bowl.
• Top with 1/3 of pudding mixture.
• Arrange sliced bananas in a layer on top of pudding.
• Place kiwis on top of bananas.
• Repeat Cake, pudding, banana, and kiwi layers two more times,with a pudding layer on top.
• Decorate the top with kiwis and pineapple chunks or rings.

TROPICAL FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Add milk to dry pudding mix in large bowl. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Gently stir in 2 cups of the whipped topping.
• Place half of the cake cubes in bottom of 2-1/2-qt. straight-sided serving bowl. Spoon half of the pudding mixture over cake cubes; top with half of the fruit. Repeat layers. Top with remaining 1 cup whipped topping and the coconut.
• Serve immediately. Or, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator.

TROPICAL AMBROSIA TRIFLE BOWL

Steps:

• Melt marshmallows with 1/4 cup heavy cream in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently until smooth, about 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
• Beat remaining 1 3/4 cups heavy cream in a glass or metal bowl until foamy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, continuing to beat until soft peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the cream will form soft mounds. Gently fold pineapple, coconut, vanilla extract, and cooled marshmallow into whipped cream.
• Layer about half the pound cake cubes in a trifle bowl. Spread about half the whipped cream over the pound cake and scatter about half the quartered mango chunks over the cream. Sprinkle about half the macadamia nuts over the mangoes. Repeat layers. Chill for 2 to 3 hours before serving.

TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• Place a medium heatproof bowl over a medium saucepan filled with a few inches of simmering water; make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Place the butter in the bowl and melt completely. Add the sugar, passionfruit juice and lemon juice and whisk until smooth and combined. Whisk in the eggs until smooth. Continue to cook, whisking every 1 to 2 minutes, until the curd thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 8 to 10 minutes. The consistency will be similar to thin gravy. Strain into a clean bowl and cool at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cover the surface of the curd with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled (the curd will thicken as it cools), at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Put the coconut milk in a large bowl and sprinkle the pudding mix on top. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Switch to medium-high speed and blend until the mixture is completely smooth and thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Keep refrigerated until ready to assemble.
• To assemble, spread 1/2 cup of the curd over the bottom of a large (about 3 quarts) glass trifle dish, then top with about half of the pound cake pieces, making sure there is one single layer of pound cake without any gaps. Top with half the pudding. Layer in 2 cups of raspberries, making sure to create a double ring against the outside edge of the trifle dish, so the color really shows through. Continue to layer the trifle dish with half of the whipped topping, the remaining pound cake, the remaining pudding, the remaining whipped topping and drizzle with the remaining curd.
• Place the kiwi rounds and blackberries along the edge of the trifle dish. Next, create a ring of raspberries working inwards. Pile the diced mango into the center of the trifle.

TROPICAL FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• To make fruit compote, place 3/4 cup of sugar in a skillet. Add half the lime zest, 1 piece vanilla bean and 1/2 cup water to the pan. Heat the syrup, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until very reduced.
• Add 4 cups pineapple or Asian pear to syrup, reserving rest for garnish. Cook gently until fruit is glazed and softened but holds its shape, 2 to 6 minutes. Remove vanilla bean. Place fruit in a bowl and let cool.
• In clean skillet, add remaining sugar, lime zest, other piece of vanilla bean and 1/2 cup water. Make a syrup as in Step 1. Add 4 cups papaya or mango to syrup, reserving rest for garnish. Cook gently until fruit is glazed and softened, but holds its shape, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove vanilla bean. Place fruit in a bowl and let cool.
• To make yogurt cream, simmer an inch of water in the bottom of a double boiler. In a small bowl combine gelatin with 2 teaspoons cold water and set aside. Place egg yolks, sugar, lime zest and juice in top of double boiler. Whisking constantly, heat yolks over simmering water until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Take egg mixture off heat and whisk in gelatin until it dissolves, about 20 seconds.
• With electric mixer, whip cream until thickened and soft peaks just begin to form. Whisk yogurt and crème fraîche into yolk mixture, then whisk in whipped cream.
• Slice layers of cake in half horizontally and trim so they fit into a large glass bowl. Place one layer in bowl. Starting at edge of bowl so that fruit shows through glass, place kiwis in one layer on cake. Spread a quarter of yogurt cream over kiwis and top with another cake layer. Using a slotted spoon, scoop a layer of papaya on the cake, then another quarter of cream and third layer of cake. Top with remaining fruit, another quarter of cream and final cake layer. Spread remaining cream on top. Cover trifle with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to 3 days. Before serving, press pieces of sliced tropical fruit on top.

QUICK TROPICAL CHEESECAKE TRIFLE

Steps:

• Layer half the cake cubes in bottom of large straight-sided serving bowl. Top with half the cheesecake filling and fruit. Repeat layers.
• Drizzle with jam; sprinkle with coconut.
• Serve immediately. Or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• 1. Thoroughly drain pineapple. Leave juice in large mixing bowl, reserve pineapple.
• 2. To juice, add cake mix, eggs, and oil. Mix thoroughly for 2 minutes. Pour into 9" x 13" pan; bake at 350 degrees for 32 minutes. Cool thoroughly.
• 3. Add pudding mix, milk, and orange zest to reserved pineapple. Mix for 2 minutes. Fold in Cool Whip.
• 4. Cut cake into 1/2 - 3/4 inch cubes.
• 5. To assemble trifle, in a trifle bowl or clear glass bowl, scatter 1/3 of the cake pieces, then 1/3 of pudding mixture, 1/3 of oranges, and 1/3 of coconut. Repeat for a total of three layers.
• 6. Chill well before serving, preferably overnight. May add an extra dollop of Cool Whip for presentation when serving.

TROPICAL TRIFLE

Steps:

• For the Mango Puree: Combine all the ingredients in pot, stir to combine and continuously through cooking until the puree bubbles, about 12 minutes.
• For the Candied Cashews: Place the rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Next, line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. You can also use a jellyroll pan.
• In a medium heavy bottom saucepan melt the butter over high heat being careful not to brown the butter. To the melted butter, add the sugar, light corn syrup, and salt and stir to combine. Add the cashews and cook for 3 minutes stirring constantly.
• Pour the sugar coated cashews onto the lined baking sheet. With a heat resistant spatula spread the nuts in an even layer. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Use the heat resistant spatula to stir the nuts half way through the baking to help the nuts develop an beautiful even golden color.
• Remove pan from the oven and allow nuts to cool completely. Once cool, break into small clusters.
• For the Pastry Cream: Because the pastry cream needs to be removed from the saucepan immediately, prepare ahead and place a bowl, a fine mesh strainer or a food mill, and a heat resistant rubber spatula near the stove.
• In a second bowl, whisk together the flour with 1 cup of the sugar. Next, whisk in the eggs until smooth. The mixture will be very thick.
• Combine the milk, the remaining cup of sugar, the vanilla bean, and the salt in a medium saucepan. Over medium heat cook the milk mixture being sure to occasionally stir to prevent scorching and a skin from forming. Remove the pan from the heat when it just begins to simmer. While whisking constantly, slowly pour, in a thing stream, about half of the milk into the sugar, flour, egg mixture. Using the same method of pouring slowly and whisking, return the mixture in the bowl to the saucepan with the remaining milk. Return the pan to the stove and cook over medium to medium-low heat while whisking constantly but not vigorously to avoid incorporating air into the pastry cream. Cook the mixture until it thickens. Immediately remove the pan from the stove as soon as the first bubble breaks the surface of the pastry cream.
• As soon as the pastry cream is removed from the heat pour the hot pastry cream into the strainer or food mill. Use the spatula to scrape the pan and to push the pastry cream through the sieve, if using.
• Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the cream to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate at least several hours, or overnight.
• Slice the cake in half horizontaly, brush with simple syrup or a good quality liqueur.
• Spread your favorite jam between the layers of cake and cut in squares. Make a mixture of half pastry cream and half whipped cream.
• For assembly, place layers of cake on the bottom of a trifle dish. Layer with mango puree, grilled pineapple, candied cashews and the pastry cream/whipped cream mixture continuing layers until the bowl is full. Garnish with coconut and more candied cashews.