Chocolate Cherry Trifle

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients

* 2 (approximately 12 ounces each) chocolate pound cakes
* 1/2 cup black cherry jam
* 1/2 cup cherry brandy
* 2 cups drained bottled sour cherries (recommended: Morello)

Custard:

* 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, minimum 70 percent cocoa solids, chopped
* 1 1/3 cups plus 1 tablespoon milk
* 1 1/3 cups plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
* 8 egg yolks
* 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1/3 cup cocoa

Topping:

* 3 cups heavy cream
* 1-ounce bittersweet chocolate
* Special Equipment: Large wide trifle bowl

Directions

Slice the chocolate pound cake and make jam sandwiches with the cherry
jam, and layer the bottom of a large wide trifle bowl. Pour over the
cherry brandy so that the cake soaks it up, and then top with the
drained cherries. Cover with cling wrap and leave to macerate while
you make the custard.

Melt the chocolate on low to medium heat in the microwave, checking
after 2 minutes, though it will probably need 4 minutes. Or you can
place it in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Once the chocolate
is melted, ser aside while you get on with the custard.

In a saucepan warm the milk and cream. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and
cocoa in a large bowl. Pour the warm milk and cream into the bowl
whisking it into the yolks and sugar mixture. Stir in the melted
chocolate, scraping the sides well with a rubber spatula to get all of
it in, and pour the custard back into the rinsed saucepan. Cook over a
medium heat until the custard thickens, stirring all the time. Make
sure it doesn't boil, as it will split and curdle. Keep a sink full of
cold water so that if you get scared you can plunge the bottom of the
custard pan into the cold water and whisk like mad, which will avert
possible crisis.

The custard will get darker as it cooks and the flecks of chocolate
will melt once the custard has thickened. And you do need this thick,
so don't panic so much that you stop cooking while it is still runny.
Admittedly, it continues to thicken as it cools and also when it's
chilling in the refrigerator. Once it is ready, pour into a bowl to
cool and cover the top of the custard with cling wrap to prevent a
skin from forming.

When the custard is cold, pour and spread it over the chocolate cake
layer in the trifle bowl, and leave in the refrigerator to set,
covered in cling wrap overnight.

When you are ready to decorate, softly whip the cream for the topping
and spread it gently over the layer of custard. Grate the chocolate
over the top.

From: foodnetwork.com