Black Forest Trifle

This is a rich and luxurious chocolate and cherry trifle. A stunning dessert.

Serves: 8-10

Prep Time: 30 min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total:  30 min

Ingredients

1 chocolate cake (Devil's food cake)
2 cups custard, homemade, bought (Devon custard) or powdered (will require milk and sugar)
250 mL whipping cream
1 tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1 jar (28 oz) pitted sour cherries in light syrup
2-3 tbsp. kirsch (optional)

Directions

1. Cut cake into small slices and arrange half of the cake on the bottom of a large glass bowl.
2. Open jar of cherries, draining half the syrup into a separate bowl.  Mix kirsch with the syrup, then spoon over cake, just enough that it becomes moist.
3. Using a third of the cherries, sprinkle evenly on top of the cake. The cherries do not have to completely cover cake.  To decorate, press cherries against the inside of the glass bowl.
4. Spread custard over cake and cherries.  If using custard that has made from a powder, make sure that custard is fully cooled.
5. Make another layer of cherries on top of custard.
6. Whip cream and sugar with an electric mixer until peaks form, about 3 min.
7. Spread layer of whipped cream over top of the cherries.
8. Using remaining cherries, decorate the top.  Also sprinkle with toasted almond slivers.
9. Cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until serving.

Recipe from Family Circle's Cheesecakes, Pavlovas and Trifles (1998)