Monday, May 7, 2012

Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons

Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons
Today is Asian Gaga's birthday (I think she has outgrown the nickname I gave her for this blog a while ago but it's too confusing to come up with a new one). As my bestest friend in the whole wide world, I like to bake her something extra special for her birthday each year. Last year it was the Mint Slice Cake. The year before was a Lady Gaga Cake. And before that was the Lemon Meringue Cheesecake. This year she requested something with passionfruit and lemon in it. I decided I wanted to make her a birthday trifle. I love trifles. I may have gotten slightly carried away. I drew a diagram and everything.
Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons
Behold, my Seven Layer Passionfruit and Lemon Trifle. It includes (starting from the bottom); a Passion Pop mousse, lemon cake, lemon and passionfruit curd, passiona (passionfruit soda) jelly, chocolate and passionfruit macarons, whipped cream with fresh passionfruit and mini meringues on top. The inspiration for this epic trifle came from several different places. But before I tell you about it, I need to tell you about what happened while I was making this trifle. The event that will forever be known to me as The Trifle Disaster of 2012.
Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons
I started this trifle two days in advance because I knew that all the different elements would need time to be prepped and chilled. Day one went smoothly, I made the passion pop mousse, the cake, curd, jelly and macarons. The next morning I worked at a leisurely pace to make the meringues and cream and it was going very smoothly. I was pleased. I had been taking a shot of each layer as I added it for the animated GIF further down in this post. All the components were done and I just had to take a shot of it before adding the last meringue layer. I turned my back for a second to find my camera and turned back just in time to watch the trifle slide off the spot where I had placed it and completely upend itself on my carpet. SPLAT. Completely destroyed. I screamed. A horror movie kind of scream, followed by a full-blown hysterical meltdown. A day and a half of work down the drain and I had to either give up or START ALL OVER AGAIN. Ugly crying ensued.
Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons
Yep. This kind of shit happens to me all the time. Because I'm unco and careless and messy. Like the time I dropped my camera into the middle of some freshly baked cupcakes. This time some kind of insane determination took over, and I refused to be defeated by my clumsiness. I scooped the mess off the carpet, threw it in the bin and started over (after A talked me down from my hysteria and bought me a whole bunch of new passionfruits). I made an absolute mess of my kitchen but by the end of the second day I had nearly recovered. It wasn't quite as neat and perfect as the first time around, but it was good enough. By the next morning I had a fully assembled trifle. Sighs of relief were abundant.
Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons
Most of the inspiration for this dessert came from a great passionfruit dessert I had at Hemingway's Manly which used Passion Pop, the iconic Aussie chick drink. I thought it was a great way to add a hint of nostalgia for our teenage years. It was not surprising that I got my ID checked when I went to buy a bottle of the passionfruit flavoured sparkling wine, they must have thought I was 16 or something. But it was worth it, the passion pop mousse is a delight to eat. It might be my favourite layer of this entire trifle. The pretty cubes of passionfruit soda flavoured jelly and crunchy mini meringues on top were inspired by some fabulous desserts that I tried at Quay recently. I decided on a whim to add the layer of macarons, remembering how pretty they looked in a Donna Hay trifle recipe from a while back. I made a chocolate passionfruit ganache for the macarons, which is one of my favourite macaron flavours. The moisture from the other layers does make the macarons turn soggy pretty quickly, so the last three layers are best left to be assembled right before serving. So, this weekend I made TWO trifles. I am insane but it was worth it because it's for my bestie and she deserves it, she is amazing. If you are as insane as me, I have included the recipe below. I advise you not to dump the entire contents on the floor right after you finish making it. I think I lost several years off my life this weekend. P.S. See if you can spot where disaster struck and I had to start over in the gif below. It's not the best gif ever, I was shooting handheld and had no idea if I was taking it from the same angle each time. Plus it's shot with two different trifles :P
Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons
Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons
(I used a 15-19cm wide x 15cm tall trifle bowl)
Layer 1: Passion Pop Mousse
I made a half batch of Sprinkle Bakes Champagne Mousse, replacing the champagne with Passion Pop. If passion pop is unavailable you can replace it with sparkling mixed with passionfruit pulp to taste. Pour mousse mixture directly into the bottom of the trifle bowl and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours.

Layer 2: Lemon Cake
Prepare the lemon cake from this recipe, using a 17cm round cake tin instead of a rectangular tin. You may need to add 5 minutes to the baking time. Trim the edges of the cake if needed so that it will fit tightly over the top of the mousse layer.

Layer 3: Lemon & Passionfruit Curd
3 passionfruit
Juice and grated zest of 1/2 a lemon (about 2 tbsp juice)
2 eggs + 1 egg yolk
100g (bit less than 1/2 cup) sugar
70g (5 tbsp) butter, softened

Place all ingredients except the butter in a saucepan and place on low heat. Stir continously (and I mean it, stop watching it and it will turn to scrambled eggs within seconds), until it's thick and coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 5-8 minutes.  Remove from the heat, strain to remove passionfruit seeds (if you prefer) and whisk in butter until smooth. Pour into a bowl and cover surface with clingfilm. Keep chilled in the fridge until ready to spread over top of cake layer.

Layer 4: Passiona Jelly
2 tbsp powdered gelatine
200ml (about 3/4 cup) + 600ml Passiona (about 2 1/2 cups) (or any passionfruit flavoured soda, I used Kirk's pasito)

Place 200ml passiona and powdered gelatine in a small saucepan and stir over medium heat until the gelatine is well dissolved. Pour gelatine mixture plus 600ml passiona into a cake tin or rectangular tray to set (I used a 24x32cm tray so that the jelly set 1cm thick). Chill in fridge until set, then cut using a long sharp knife into 1cm cubes. Keep chilled in the fridge until ready to sprinkle over curd layer.
Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons
Layer 5: Passionfruit Chocolate Macarons
I used my plain macaron shell recipe, using yellow gel colouring to tint the shells and only piping regular 4cm rounds. For the ganache, I placed 150g chopped dark chocolate and pulp and seeds from 1 passionfruit in a bowl and then heated 100ml heavy cream in a small saucepan until nearly boiling and poured it over the chocolate. Leave it to melt for 5 minutes and then whisk until smooth (if there are still unmelted bits, place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir until smooth). Strain mixture to remove seeds, then chill until thick and cooled but still pipable. Pipe or spoon between macaron shells. Refrigerate in an airtight container until you are ready to assemble your trifle for serving.

Layer 6: Passionfruit Cream
300ml (about 1/4 cup) thickened/whipping cream
1 tbsp icing sugar, sifted
1 passionfruit

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream and sugar on high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold through pulp and seeds from passionfruit. Chill until ready to assemble your trifle for serving.

Layer 7: Mini Meringues
I followed the instructions from Butter Me Up Brooklyn (but mine look no where near as pretty!), minus the orange zest. Keep in an airtight container until you are ready to assemble your trifle. Right before serving, assemble macaron layer, cream layer and place the mini meringues on top. Serve straight away.
Passionfruit & Lemon Trifle with Macarons
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44 comments:

  1. i just cannot stop staring at that gif and i cannot believe you made it twice you crazy girl! looks freaking awesome though esp with all that cream mmm and lol carded on passion pop haha

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  2. You are a genius!

    I would of had a total melt down had I dropped this gorgeous looking trifle. Well done you having to start all over again!

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  3. I could stare at that gif all morning. so... mesmerizing...

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  4. This is amazing Steph!!!! It looks so beautiful and I'm sure it would taste even better. I love the gif too! I literally stared at it for 15 minutes haha xox

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  5. You crazy woman! So I'm guessing you'll be putting baking on a hold for a while? What a tremendous effort and gorgeous trifle for your bestie!

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  6. Only for a best friend would you endure the pain of making this astonishing trifle - twice! Fantastic work Steph (and the GIF is pretty awesome too).

    Passion Pop mousse.....hmmmm, that'd be a fun thing to serve up at my friend's respective 40ths this year.....the memories are flooding back :-)

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  7. omg i screamed on the inside when i read those fatal words "SPLAT. Completely destroyed". Argh! The pain! Well done you for soldiering on, and yes I can't stop staring at the gif either. It hypnotises me!

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  8. looks and sounds awesome. I'm sure it tastes heavenly with the passionfruit and the textures. Great job. You have a real flair. I enjoy reading your posts. :) Happy Monday!

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  9. This is amazing Steph, and I can't believe you made it twice! I definitely would have cried and gave up if I had knocked 2 days worth of work onto the floor so good work for picking yourself back up and doing it all over again!

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  10. Ah Steph, your horror story is one for the ages and I admire your fighting spirit. That trifle is just pure passionfruit porn :D

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  11. You are hilarious. I would have had the shits and given up completely if it fell. Steph I admire your determination. The dessert is beautiful and you have totally inspired me. I love Passiona and the jelly is so easy. I am definately making it. Keep up the great work Lovely. You are truly a dessert genius.

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  12. Oh my god, you poor thing!! I would probably thrown a tantrum and given up. But the finished product looks phenomenal! Well done :)

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  13. Gorgeous! Finished project looks worth it!

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  14. Holy macarons! This is a genius idea! IT looks absolutely spectacular! So sorry to hear that you had to make it twice but you sure have some confidence steph! Love what you do and that GIF i could stare at all day. lol

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  15. Complete genius!! That's all I can say...

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  16. Yum, how delicious! Love this idea!

    Kate {Something Fabulous}
    http://thesomethingfabulous.blogspot.com

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  17. HÄ°Ä°...It looks amazing...I love it ..I will it soon..

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  18. oh wow, i think i would have scrapped making a new one and drowned my sorrows in a box of wine! kudos for you for plugging forward! i looks beautiful....love how the macarons peek out at you, and you almost miss them. love the gif too!

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  19. i feel your pain!!! i think i would have given up but your creation is wonderful and i am so glad you pushed through it and shared with us. i am utterly impressed, as always.

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  20. This is beyond ridiculous, and by ridiculous I mean amazing. I'm sure your pal LOVED this totally OTT dessert; even more so 'cos you had to make it twice. Twice as nice!!

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  21. Wow. Wooow. Wow. Ok I do have some other words here somewhere.. The trifle and the gif are both absolutely breathtaking, and as for making it twice?! You are an inspiration!

    PS WOWOWOWOWOWOW.

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  22. This is a masterpiece. what beautiful flavors! And I love that gif. Brilliant.

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  23. Passionfruit has got to be one of my favorite flavors! I would love to have a bite of this!

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  24. thank is the most amazing trifle i have ever seen!! I thought my Nan (82 & rather creative) made trifle different by using carrot cake & lemon Jelly :)

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  25. i'm head over heels with your macarons, they are just perfect!

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  26. WOW, that is pretty incredible!!!!

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  27. It looks amazing! Your bestie is so lucky...yum! I dropped a perfectly wrapped box of cupcakes last week so I know the feeling, so frustrating! Well done on having the patience to do it again :)

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  28. WOW, this looks amazing and must taste like heaven yummie!

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  29. The desert looks beautiful. I would love to serve it at a garden party. You create such pretty food.

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  30. ive never seen a dessert like this before! Looks amazing! loving the GIF, i cant stop staring at it!

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  31. I'm not really a trifle person but this looks absolutely yummy! Genius!

    Rosie x
    freshlybakedrose.blogspot.com

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  32. This looks delicious. I love passionfruit!! So glad you were patient enough to remake it (oh and the gif is hypnotising)

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  33. Oh - I feel your pain. I can't believe it fell on the floor. This is the most incredible trifle ever!!!!! I have to make this. Beautiful.

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  34. That looks incredible! I'm not really a trifle person but my dad is and his birthday is coming up. Would it work if I changed the passionfruit to orange? My family dislikes passionfruit :(

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  35. I'm glad it's not just me that drops things. The other day I managed to upturn a pan of lasagne as I put it back in the oven. It landed, face down, on the oven door and began to bake on. I saved it by sliding a cookie sheet under it and flipping it back, then covering the top with more cheese and putting it back in the oven... but not until I had scraped the heck out of the oven door to get the cheese off! I'm thoroughly impressed by your tenacity in starting again :)

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    Replies
    1. HAHAHA! I think we may need to start a support group for us uncoordinated types that drop dishes on the floor :D

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  36. Just made and ate it! Made a few mods to be more family friendly ie no alcohol. Will post photo

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    1. Awesome! Seriously wasn't expecting anyone to try making this one. Can't wait to see it!

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  37. love me some passion fruit!!!

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  38. stumbled upon your blog a few days ago and fell in love with the look of this trifle!!! not a trifle person at all so i've never made but i just HAD to make this one!! went out and bought a trifle bowl and made this.. TASTED AWESOME, all the flavours just melded together like a dream! will definitely be making this again!! thanks so much for the inspiration!

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  39. I was looking in Pinterest for the best trifle ever and I found yours. It is simply the best. Thanks for sharing. I will talk about it in my blog www.pegamentoycucharas.com Regards from Spain!

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  40. gorgeous gorgeous delicious insanity!! I cannot believe you made it twice, the flavours sound fantastic and that animated gif if brilliant ;)

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