Brownie Strawberry Trifle
A luscious brownie strawberry trifle featuring fudgy chocolate layers, silky pastry cream, and strawberries macerated with a balsamic-espresso secret. This American potluck classic delivers effortless elegance.
Equipment
- Trifle bowl or 4 serving glasses
- Whisk
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 6-8 pieces of 2 x 2 inch chocolate brownies 1/2 a batch of Fudgy Chocolate Brownie or
- 1 batch of Chocolate Pastry Cream about 3 cups
- 4 tbsp kahlua OR milk
- 8 oz of fresh strawberries chopped into smaller pieces
- Icing sugar
Whipped Cream:
- 1 cup of chilled whipping cream or 1 1/4 cup of cool whip
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Flavor the strawberries and prep the creams
- Combine the chopped strawberries in a bowl with 1 tsp balsamic glaze and 1 tsp instant espresso powder. Stir well and allow them to macerate for 15 minutes to deepen the color and aroma.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the chilled whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla extract on low speed until the mixture thickens into silky soft peaks.
- Stir the chocolate pastry cream with the kahlua or milk until it loosens, becomes glossy, and falls off the spoon in slow ribbons.
Set up your assembly line
- Cut the brownies into uniform, bite-sized cubes. Keeping them in uniform sizes helps create stable, tidy layers in the glass.
- Arrange your ingredients brownies, macerated strawberries, pastry cream, and whipped cream in a line to ensure a clean and efficient assembly process.
Layer the trifle in glasses
- Using four 12-ounce glasses, start by pressing a layer of brownie cubes gently into the bottom to cover it completely without mashing them.
- Spoon approximately 3 tbsp of chocolate pastry cream over the brownies and smooth it to the edges. Add a layer of strawberries and a light dusting of icing sugar.
- Finish the round with a generous, pillowy layer of whipped cream. Repeat the layering process once more, maintaining clean lines through the glass.
Chill and finish
- Refrigerate the trifles until ready to serve. Top with additional fresh strawberries at the last moment to keep the garnish bright and fresh.
Notes
The Fudgy Factor: Fudgy brownies are superior to cakey ones in trifles because they act as a moisture barrier, keeping their shape rather than dissolving into mush.
Stabilizing the Cream: If preparing this dessert 24 hours in advance, whip the cream to medium peaks so it holds its structure without weeping.
Temperature Timing: Use room-temperature brownies with chilled cream. Warm brownies will melt the cream on contact and ruin the layered structure.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.
Nutrition
Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 7gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 240mgPotassium: 310mgFiber: 4gSugar: 45gVitamin A: 12IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 95mgIron: 3mg
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