Clinton Kelly Ginger Pear Trifle Recipes

GINGERED PEAR AND CRANBERRY TRIFLE RECIPE

Steps:

• Pears and Syrup Combine first 4 ingredients in heavy saucepan. Remove peel from lemon with vegetable peeler and add peel to saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil 5 minutes. Reduce heat, add pears and simmer until pears are tender, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pears to a bowl. Boil pear cooking liquid until reduced to scant 1 cup, about 20 minutes. Strain reduced syrup and pour over pears. Cool to room temperature. Preparation for Custard Scald milk in a heavy large saucepan. Whisk yolks, sugar and cornstarch in a medium bowl until smooth. Gradually whisk in hot milk. Return custard mixture to same saucepan. Cook over medium heat until custard boils and thickens, stirring constantly, about 8 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Mix in ginger. Chill until cold. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover pears and custard separately and refrigerate.) Preparation for Cake Cut cakes horizontally in half. Spread cut sides with 1 cup cranberry sauce. Reassemble cakes. Cut cakes crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide slices. Arrange 12 cake "sandwiches" in single layer cut side up over bottom of 12-cup glass bowl. Spread cake with 1/3 cup of cranberry sauce. Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to work surface. Cut pears into 1/2-inch pieces. Arrange 1/3 of pears over sauce. Measure 5 tablespoons pear syrup (reserve remainder for another use). Stir liqueur into 5 tablespoons syrup. Brush pears with 1/4 cup of liqueur mixture. Spread with 1 1/2 cups of custard. Place remaining cake "sandwiches" in a single layer over custard. Spread with 2/3 cup of cranberry sauce. Top with remaining pears. Brush pears with remaining liqueur mixture. Spread with remaining custard. Smooth top. Cover; chill overnight. In a large bowl whip cream ti stiff peaks. Spoon cream into pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Spread 1 1/2 cups of cranberry sauce over custard. Pipe cream in decorative border atop dessert. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Chill.) Garnish with almonds and mint sprigs.

GINGERBREAD PEAR TRIFLE

Steps:

• Make gingerbread: Preheat oven to 350°. Butter an 8- by 8-in. baking pan. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, 1 teaspoons ground ginger, the cloves, and 1/2 teaspoons salt. In a large bowl, whisk 3/4 cup granulated sugar with 1 egg until thick and pale.
• Stir in applesauce, molasses, 1 tablespoons fresh ginger, oil, and 1/4 cup hot water. Stir in flour mixture.
• Pour into pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes; turn out onto rack and let cool. Cut into 1-in. cubes.
• Cook pears: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add pears. Cook, stirring, until soft, 7 minutes.
• Stir in brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger, and 1/4 teaspoons salt.
• Make custard: In a pan over medium heat, whisk half-and-half, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cornstarch, and 1/4 teaspoons salt until thickened, 10 minutes. Take off heat; stir in vanilla and 2 tablespoons butter.
• Whip cream: In a large bowl, beat cream, powdered sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger until soft peaks form.
• 5. Assemble trifle: Put half the gingerbread cubes in a trifle dish or glass bowl. Sprinkle with half the brandy. Spoon half the pears and liquid over gingerbread. Pour half the custard over pears. Top with half the whipped cream and half the crystallized ginger. Repeat layers. Serve immediately, or cover and chill up to 1 day.