Mrs Oliver's massive retro trifle

“A really good trifle recipe never goes out of fashion – this fruity number's an all-time classic ”

8 trifle sponges , or 1 Swiss roll, sliced

1 punnet strawberries , hulled and sliced

1 small wineglass Cointreau

135 g pack strawberry jelly

2 pints milk

4 teaspoons caster sugar

35 g sachet strawberry blancmange

450 g tinned mandarin segments , drained

135 g packet orange jelly

30 g custard powder , enough to make 600ml

300 ml double cream

good-quality chocolate , for grating

1 orange , zest of

Method

1. This trifle is a Christmas tradition at our house – and it looks amazing when it's finished! It takes a bit of time but is well worth it. Make sure you allow each layer time to set completely in the fridge.
2. Lay out the sponges or Swiss roll on the bottom of a large glass bowl. Scatter over the strawberries and drizzle with the Cointreau.
3. Tear up the strawberry jelly squares, put them in a jug and add 300ml boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then add 300ml cold water. Pour over the sponge, place in the fridge and allow to set.
4. Pour a little milk into a bowl with 2 teaspoons of sugar and the blancmange and mix until dissolved. Bring 600ml milk just to the boil then add to the blancmange mix. Stir and return to the pan, whisking as you bring it back to the boil. Pour the blancmange into the bowl and allow to cool, whisking occasionally, then pour over the set strawberry jelly. Allow the blancmange layer to set in the fridge, then scatter over the mandarin.
5. Make the orange jelly the same way as the strawberry and allow to cool before pouring over the mandarins. Set in the fridge. Once set, make the custard using the remaining milk and sugar and the custard powder. Allow it to cool and pour it over the orange jelly. (If you want to add extra layers of blancmange and custard, go for it!)
6. Whip the double cream until you get soft peaks, then spread it over the top layer of custard. Sprinkle the trifle with the grated chocolate and orange zest before serving. What a finish!

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