Black Forest Trifle blends German Flavours in a traditional English dessert is vegan and free from eggs, dairy, gluten and Top 8 Allergens.
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Our family is a blend of German and English heritage we blended the two in our "free from" Black Forest Trifle. It is top 8 allergens free (except coconut), Gluten Free and Vegan. There are two variations of the pudding one is an adult boozy version and the other replaces the alcohol with flavoured simple syrup. If choosing the version with alcohol please mind that it is consumed responsibly by adults only, not when pregnant, and never before driving or operating any other machinery.
The dessert is easy to assemble but is best made over two days to not rush the sponge cake base and allow it to properly cool.
Equipment Needed:
- a Trifle dish or deep glass bowl (they are often available at thrift shops in our area but Stokes in Canada carries a nice one or you can use fancy glasses or sunday cups for individual trifles. This is what we use to make some kid safe and some adult style)
- a cherry pitter (invest in a good one like this)
Recipe Notes for Black Forest Trifle:
This is a layered dessert with many steps. Please read through it before starting it and check that all the ingredients are safe for you.
Custard- Bird's Custard Powder is safe for us, but the instant powder isn't. We pick it up in the international foods aisle (British). Interestingly it was supposedly developed as Mr. Bird's wife was allergic to eggs, not sure how true that is but I sure hope it is. It shows the market for allergen food has been around for ages. Check that it meets the needs for your restrictions as the Instant Custard contains milk and always verify the current gluten free certification. We have found that batches made in different plants aren't all gluten free.
Custard alternative- If you cannot use custard powder check for vanilla vegan pudding mixes like the one from Simply Delicious. It is available in most grocers baking or natural foods aisles. The Simply Delicious products are plant based and are gluten free as well as top 8 allegens free.
Dairy free Whipped Cream- You can use ready made coconut whipped cream in a can or whip your own. I used the Gaylea coconut whip canister to save time and energy. We pick it up in the refridgerated food section near the milk alternatives.
Cake hack- A Gluten Free Box Cake Mix is a good way to shave off time when making black forest trifle but I used our Chocolate Cake recipe.
Alcohol- Check that the alcohol you use is safe for you and doesn't contain your allergens. We use potato based vodka, like Beatties Vodka, in many of our extracts, rather than wheat based spirits as they are "safe for us".
Substitutions
If the custard powder in your area isn't suitably gluten free or allergen friendly, feel free to use a curd. A vegan pudding made from fruit juice and starch, like corn or arrowroot and heated then cooled is a fabulous addition to a trifle.
The other custard substitution is to use a vegan pudding. It can be made with ground chia and coconut milk and allowed to thicken. Another way is to use an allergen free pudding mix like the Simply Delish Vanilla pudding. It is both vegan and gluten free in addition to being top 8 allergen free.
Adaptations and Flavour Changes
Trifles cant be pretty much any flavour combo. If a German/English mix doesn't strike your fancy why not try another? A Tiramisu flavoured trifle would be a fantastic Christmas dessert. With coffee flavoured custard, pudding or curd, vanilla cake, whipped coconut cream, and loads of shaved chocolate on top.
What to Serve with Black Forest Trifle
A great cuppa with plenty of milk or coffee is the best accompaniment with this pudding. Black Forest Trifle is a dessert course perfect for gatherings and holidays, be mindful with the alcohol in the dessert and do not drive when consuming it with alcohol.
Storage of The Trifle
Once assembled it is best eaten within 2-3 days if stored properly. To store uneaten trifle cover it well with plastic wrap in the fridge for 48-72 hours. Any longer is not recommended, neither is freezing. When storing in the fridge covered tightly leave off the coconut whipped cream until right before serving.
Other recipes you may enjoy
Allergen Friendly Chocolate Cake
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake our Allergy Friendly Chocolate Cake (9x13 inch sheet cut in 2)
- ¼ Cup Sour Cherry Jam or safe cherry pie filling
- 16 Cherries pitted and quartered, fresh or frozen
- ½ Cup Cherry Infused Potato Vodka homemade
- 2 ½ Cups Egg Free Custard or Dairy Free Vanilla Pudding (see notes)
- 1 Cup Dairy Free Whipped Cream can use more, if desired
Garnish
- Fresh Cherries pitted
- Dairy Free Dark Chocolate shaved
Instructions
- Cut the sponge in half. By this I mean slice it as if you were turning the one layer into two for a cake. The whole length of the cake so you end up with 2 thin 9 x 13 inch layers)1 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
- Slather on the sour cherry jam to the bottom of the two layers and lay the top one on top of the jam side of the bottom layer.¼ Cup Sour Cherry Jam
- Cut the cake layers. Cutting the cake in half so you end up with two half 2 layer cakes with jam in the middle.
- Place one cake in the bottom of the trifle dish and press it in. If you want to cut it in to cubes instead you can as it can look prettier in a glass dish.
- Pour half the cherry infused potato vodka alcohol over the cake layer.½ Cup Cherry Infused Potato Vodka
- Sprinkle ½ of the quartered cherries in the dish, evenly. Spoon on half the egg free custard or dairy free vanilla pudding. Get it into the cracks between the cake pieces.16 Cherries , 2 ½ Cups Egg Free Custard
- Place the second ½ of the cake in the dish on the cherries to make a second cake layer. The cake can be cubed and placed on top.1 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
- Pour the remaining cherry infused vodka alcohol on the top layer of cake.½ Cup Cherry Infused Potato Vodka
- Sprinkle the remaining quartered cherries In the dish. Add the last half of the custard by spoonfuls to fill any cracks until an even medium thin layer of custard fills the dish.16 Cherries , 2 ½ Cups Egg Free Custard
- Pipe or squirt on the dairy free whipped cream, depending on if you are using ready made or homemade topping.1 Cup Dairy Free Whipped Cream
- Add garnishes - whole pitted fresh cherries and shaved dairy free chocolate.Fresh Cherries, Dairy Free Dark Chocolate
Notes
- 1 can of well chilled coconut cream (at least overnight in the fridge)
- ¼ teaspoon creme of tartar
- 2 Tbsps powdered icing sugar
Allergy Note 1
Always check that each ingredient is safe for you. Reading all the ingredients and labelling as well as checking with the manufacturer should always be done before buying any product. Each person's allergies are different and only you and your medical team can determine what is best for you. Checking with the manufacturer is best practice to see if shared lines, or facilities are used when making any of the suggested products. Just because a product is right for us does not mean it is safe for anyone else. You must do your own research on each product.
Allergy Note 2
If making this recipe for anyone with an allergy always check with them for suitable products and ingredients. Each person knows their allergies best and can advise on what is safe for them to eat. Keep in mind that if making for another person they may not be able to eat it with shared prep surfaces, cooking equipment, and kitchens or other safety reasons.
Allergy Note 3
This is not medical advice. Always discuss your allergies, nutrition, and suitable products and recipes with your medical team before using.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
"The Allergen Free Kitchen" is not a registered dietician or nutritionist, does not replace a registered dietician or nutritionist and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend you consult with your medical team to find a registered dietician or nutritionist and for you to calculate the nutritional information. Calories and nutritional values can vary vastly depending on which brands were used and any substitutions used.
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