posted by Kewpys Mom 12-02-99 6:50 PM 
 
Black Forest Trifle 
from The Canadian Living Christmas Book 
  
custard (recipe follows) 
1 chocolate cake (recipe follows, makes a dense cake) 
1/3 cup chocolate liqueur, kirsch, or cherry liqueur 
4 cup drained canned cherries, drained frozen cherries or cherry pie filling 
1 cup whipping creme 
2 tbsp icing sugar 
1 tsp vanilla 
 
Custard: 
3 cups milk 
5 egg yolks 
1/2 cup white sugar 
1/4 cup corn starch 
1 tsp vanilla 
In a sauce pan, heat milk until bubbles form around edges. 
In a heavy bottom sauce pan, beat yolks with sugar and cornstarch until smooth. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium, stir constantly for 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened. Reduce to low and simmer while stirring for 1 minute.  
Strain into a bowl, add vanilla. Place plastic wrap directly on surface, refrigerate until cool and up to 2 days. 
 
Chocolate Cake: 
1/2 cup butter softened 
1 1/3 cup white sugar 
2 eggs 
1 tsp vanilla 
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour 
1/2 cup sifted unsweetened cocoa powder 
1/2 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tsp baking soda 
1/4 tsp salt 
3/4 milk 
Line bottom of 9" pan with waxed paper, grease sides. Preheat oven to 350° F.
In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy, beat eggs in one at a time, beat in vanilla. Stir flour, baking powder, salt, and soda together. Add dry to creamed mixture alternating with milk, making 3 additions of flour and 2 of milk. 
Pour into pan. Bake at 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes, until toothpick insert comes out clean. Cool on rack in pan for 10 minutes, turn out on rack and cool for 1 hour. 
 
Trifle Directions:  
Break cooled cake into chunks and arrange in bottom of a 14 cup trifle bowl. Drizzle with liqueur. Set aside 1/4 cup cherries, spoon remaining over cake, arrange attractively along the edge of the bowl. (Note: the trifle made up to this point can be covered and refrigerated for 1 day) 
Whip cream with icing sugar, beat vanilla. Spread over custard. Garnish with chocolate curls and reserved cherries. 
Makes 12 servings