Lemon meringue trifle
By Chatelaine
* PLUS 8 hr chilling time
Photo, Roberto Caruso.
Looking for a great make-ahead desert? This lemon meringue trifle recipe improves over time as the ladyfingers soak in the limoncello & lemon juice.
Ingredients
-
2
eggs
-
8
egg yolks
-
1 cup
granulated
sugar
-
3/4 cup
lemon juice
-
1 tbsp
lemon zest
-
1/4 tsp
salt
-
1/4 cup
unsalted
butter
, cubed
Meringue
-
6
egg whites
-
1 1/2 cups
granulated
sugar
-
1/3 cup
water
-
1/4 cup
corn syrup
-
1/2 tsp
cream of tartar
-
1/4 tsp
salt
-
2 tsp
vanilla
-
1/4 cup
lemon juice
-
1/4 cup
limoncello
-
2 150-g pkgs
ladyfingers
, (not sugar-coated)
Instructions
- LEMON Curd: Whisk eggs, yolks, sugar, lemon juice, zest and salt in a large bowl. Place bowl over a large pot with 1 in. of simmering water over medium. Beat, using an electric mixer on medium-low, until mixture is thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 10 to 12 min. Remove from heat and beat in butter, 1 cube at a time, until pale and frothy, 1 to 2 min. Place plastic wrap directly onto surface of curd and refrigerate until cool, about 30 min.
- MERINGUE TRIFLE: Whisk egg whites, sugar, water, corn syrup, cream of tartar and salt in a large metal bowl set over a large pot with 1 in. of simmering water over medium until sugar dissolves, about 3 min. Beat with an electric mixer on medium-high, until stiff peaks form when beaters are lifted, 7 to 9 min. Remove from heat. Beat in vanilla.
- COMBINE lemon juice and limoncello (or alcohol-free version, below) in a small bowl. Quickly dunk half of the ladyfingers, 1 at a time, in limoncello mixture, then place in bottom of a 3-qt trifle bowl. Layer with half of the lemon curd, then half of the meringue. Repeat. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or up to 24 hours.
- TO serve, toast the top of the meringue with a kitchen torch, if desired. Garnish with candied lemon peel, if desired.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories
- 291,
- Protein
- 5 g,
- Carbohydrates
- 50 g,
- Fat
- 8 g,
- Sodium
- 135 mg.
- Excellent source of
- vitamin B12
Lemon meringue trifle – Kitchen Tips:
- This is a great make-ahead dessert that actually improves as it sits and the ladyfingers soften, making it perfect for entertaining!
- You will need 5 to 6 lemons to yield 1 cup lemon juice for this recipe.
- Instead of using limoncello, make an alcohol-free lemon syrup by simmering 2 tbsp lemon juice with 2 tbsp granulated sugar in a small saucepan until sugar melts.
- No trifle bowl? You can make this dessert in any large glass bowl.
- Only need to serve 8 people? No problem, this recipe is easily halved. Just use a smaller glass bowl or vessel.
