Ingredients
Strawberry jam
Sponge
Berry jelly
Vanilla custard
Method
Main
1.For strawberry jam, cook strawberries in a saucepan over low heat until slightly soft and juicy (5-10 minutes), add sugar and tartaric acid and stir occasionally until mixture is thick and molten bubbles appear and it registers 107C on a sugar thermometer (5-7 minutes). The jam should still have pieces of transparent berry through it. Keep warm. (If not using immediately, jam will keep in a sterilised jar for 1 year; warm before using.) Makes about 250ml.
2.For sponge, preheat oven to 175C. Whisk eggs and sugar in an electric mixer on high speed until tripled in volume (4-6 minutes), fold in flour, making sure you have no lumps, then fold in melted butter and pour into a 20cm x 24cm deep-sided baking tray lined with baking paper, smoothing top. Bake until cake is golden and springs back when lightly pressed (15-18 minutes). Set aside to cool slightly, then transfer to a sheet of plastic wrap, spread warm jam over and roll to form a log. Secure plastic wrap and stand until sponge is firm and jam is set (1 hour).
3.Meanwhile, for berry jelly, combine berries in a saucepan with sugar and 300ml water, bring to the boil over medium heat, then strain through a fine sieve, pressing on solids to yield 500ml (discard solids). Add squeezed gelatine leaves and transfer to refrigerator until set (2-3 hours).
4.Meanwhile, for vanilla custard, bring milk to the simmer in a saucepan with half the sugar and the vanilla bean and seeds over low-medium heat. Whisk yolks and remaining sugar in an electric mixer until pale. Add flours, whisk to combine. Add milk mixture, then return to saucepan and stir continuously over medium heat until flour is cooked and custard is thick (5-6 minutes). Cover closely with plastic wrap and set aside. Makes 250ml.
5.To assemble trifle, cut sponge into 1cm slices, brush with brandy, place half into the bases of four individual 250ml glasses, or one 1-litre glass bowl. Spoon half the custard over, then half the sliced berries, then half the berry jelly. Repeat the process, then serve.
Drink Suggestion: 2009 Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling. Drink suggestion by Jake Smyth
Notes