ITALIAN LIQUEUR TRIFLE

Cake Ingredients:

1 cup self raising flour
1 tablespoon corn flour
5 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
¾ cup caster sugar
⅔ cup Marsala (or sherry)
80g butter – melted
2 x 250g Strawberries punnet
2 tablespoons plain or rice flour
600ml thickened cream – whipped (½ cup needed for custard).
Grated chocolate

Custard Ingredients:

¼ cup custard powder
¼ cup caster sugar
1½ cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
½ cup cream

MAKING THE CAKE

Pre heat oven 180C.

Line either two round spring form cake tins or one (you will need to cut your cake in half after it has cooled down though).

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs for 6 minutes or until thick and pale. Using a metal spoon (or in a mixer), add the sugar beating constantly until dissolve and mixture is pale and glossy. Next add the vanilla essence, flours (these need to be sifted 3 times first) and melted butter. Mix quickly and lightly. Spread mixture evening into your prepared cake tin/s.

Bake for 40-50 mins (one cake) or 20 mins (two spring form tins) until the sponge is lightly golden and shrinks from sides of the tin.

Leave sponge in tin/s for 20 mins before turning onto wire rack to cool.

MAKING THE CUSTARD

Combine custard powder, sugar and milk in a saucepan. Stir continuously over a low heat until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in essence and ½ cup cream. Remove from heat and cool.

MAKING THE TRIFLE

Find a reasonable sized bowl (5 litre sized).

Wash and remove the tops of the strawberries. Slice these leaving about 10 whole ones.

Next place each cake on a plate and coat both cakes with ⅔ cup Marsala. Use it evenly on both cakes.

Next place one cake in the bottom of the bowl, then using a knife cut the cake into sectors.

Pour the custard over this cake base, followed by sliced strawberries; (this is also an easy and fun cooking activity for the kids too).

Next, cut the top layer into sectors and place on top of the custard and strawberry layer.

Spread and flatten the whipped cream on top of the cake, followed by the whole strawberries for decorating.

Add grated chocolate and chill in refrigerator.