Wow your guests with this delicious winter Ginger Trifle – Jamaican Ginger Cake infused with Cointreau orange liqueur, layered with pear compote, custard and cream and topped with crunchy ginger biscuit and chocolate decorations.
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Ginger Trifle with pear compote : Inspired by a comment…
Are you a trifle lover? It has to be one of my favourite desserts, not least because it is really easy to make. Whilst there are as many variations as your creativity will allow however, this Winter Pear and Ginger Trifle has to be one of the best. Honestly! I have made and eaten a lot of trifles in my time and this one is seriously ‘up there’.
It was originally inspired by a blog comment on my Jamaican Ginger Cake post back in 2016. Katie (who at the time was blogging at Apple & Spice) said ‘Try some (ginger cake) in the base of a trifle – It’s amazing’. So I did. And she was right! All I can say is thank you Katie. This Ginger Trifle recipe is a keeper for sure and perfect for the Winter season.
What is the best ginger cake for Gingerbread Trifle?
As with so many trifles in our house, this one was also devised to use up left overs… On this occasion from the many sponges I made to perfect my original Ginger Cake recipe. If you don’t have any left overs, then make some. This trifle is THAT good, it is worth every minute of effort just to try it.
Since first making this pear and gingerbread trifle, a second recipe for Dark & Sticky Jamaican Ginger Cake has been posted on Gluten Free Alchemist. Both recipes are good and both are perfect for trifle. My personal favourite of the two however, has to be the later version (the Dark and Sticky one). But for this trifle (and whichever recipe you choose), it is important to go for a good, sticky ginger cake of the Jamaican variety. It just makes the trifle what it is!
For those who are not gluten free, the options are even more straight forward. Wheat-eaters can buy ready-made Jamaican ginger cake to make ginger trifle. To be honest, the fact that there doesn’t appear to be a ready-made gluten free Jamaican ginger cake to buy in the supermarket, makes no sense at all. But although I have searched, it remains more than elusive. If anyone out there knows where to find one, please let me know!
Pears for Pear and Ginger Trifle
What makes this ginger trifle so special is that the ginger cake has been married with a layering of simple home-made pear and brown sugar compote. Pears are at their best in the Autumn and Winter seasons and they go really well with warming winter spices.
The variety of pear is less important, but make sure they are very firm. When making the compote, also be careful not to over-cook them. The texture of the wet, slightly crisp pear against the soft, slightly sticky, alcohol-soaked cake is to die for.
Can I use other fruit?
Although I have never made ginger trifle with other fruit, if I were to do so, I think I would choose to add layers of citrus. Orange and/or lemon would blend beautifully against the ginger. The magic would surely dance on the taste buds… (makes a mental note to make and eat as soon as possible…)
Add a little booze to your Winter Gingerbread Trifle
Surely no trifle is complete without a little added tipple and this one is no exception. But when first making pear and ginger trifle, which tipple to add was a bit of a conundrum. Whilst wanting to work with whatever was to hand in the drinks cupboard, I wasn’t sure of what bottle might complement ginger best.
When unsure, it is always best to test! And several tasters of liqueur-soaked cake cubes later (which may have been a little more alcohol than cake), the taste buds settled on a happy dose of Cointreau for each serving. Of course, you may have other ideas… Feel free to make your own trifle tipple test-lab… It’s fun regardless of what you end up choosing.
How to Decorate Pear and Ginger Trifle
As with any good trifle, this recipe has the standard custard and whipped cream layers. But for extra pizazz, it has been topped with a sprinkling of my favourite (crushed) home-made Ginger Biscuits. If you haven’t made these biscuits, I really recommend them. They are incredibly crunchy, gingerly-warming and totally delicious. And they are the perfect addition to the trifle to give a contrasting crunch against the pillowy soft decadence of the cream, custard and alcohol-soaked cake.
For special seasonal, show-stopping wantonness however, this ginger trifle is also topped with a sparkly twinkle of edible glitter and a very special Hotel Chocolat Chocolate Gingerbread Man. This ginger-infused cutie makes each trifle look as truly classy as it tastes… Decadent, delicious, sumptuous, divine! (NOTE : When I made this trifle the Hotel Chocolat Men were gluten free. They have since started to include a ‘may contain’ warning on the packaging).
The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted a darker coloured trifley imposter in the photos. Your eyes have not deceived you… On the occasion when these photos were taken, Miss GF (then aged 10) decided she would prefer a non-alcoholic Black Forest Trifle. (with additional ginger biscuits and a chocolate ginger bread man, of course). And being the Christmas holiday, I obliged!
Other Yummy Trifles At Gluten Free Alchemist :
- Boozy Orange & Strawberry Trifle
- Banoffee Trifle
- Raspberry-Lemon Drizzle Trifle
- Black Forest Trifle
- Lemon & Berry Trifle
- Nutella Trifle
- Tiramisu Trifle
- Trifle Cupcakes
- Angel Trifle with Strawberries & Cointreau
- Or head over to our dedicated Desserts & Trifles Index to see them all…
For everything else, click the link to see our gluten free Recipe Index…
Winter Pear & Ginger Trifle
Key equipment
- chopping board
- small sharp vegetable knife
- Small saucepan
- silicone/wooden spoon
- whisk
- fridge
- serving dishes/bowl (dependent on choice and whether making individual servings or one large trifle).
Ingredients
Pear Compote (make ahead of time)
- 4-5 fresh pears firm
- 2 tbsp soft light brown sugar
The rest of the trifle + putting it all together
- 500 g Jamaican Ginger Cake (approx) Cut into cubes. For GF recipes see NOTES below.
- 400 ml double (heavy) cream (approx)
- 8 tbsp Cointreau orange liqueur For a non-alcoholic trifle use pear or apple juice
- 500 g fresh custard cold
- 6 to 8 crushed ginger biscuits crunchy (for GF recipe see NOTES)
- edible glitter to decorate optional
- Hotel Chocolat chocolate gingerbread men optional (or alternative)
Instructions
Pear Compote
- Peel and core the pears and cut into cubes.
- Place the pear with the brown sugar in a saucepan and heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the pears begin to give off a little liquid. Turn down to a simmer leave to cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Whipped Cream
- Whisk the cream until it forms soft peaks. Set aside in the fridge until ready to assemble the trifles.
Putting the Trifles Together
- Take your chosen serving dish(es) and place a layer of ginger cake cubes in the base.
- Drizzle the cake layer with Cointreau (or alternative liqueur/juice).
- Top with a layer of compote.
- On top of this add a layer of custard.
- Repeat the layers of ginger cake, liqueur/juice and pear compote.
- Add a top layer of whipped cream.
- Sprinkle with some crushed ginger biscuits.
- Finally top with a chocolate gingerbread man (or alternative) and a sprinkle of magical edible glitter.
Notes
Nutrition
© 2019-2023 Kate Dowse All Rights Reserved – Do not copy or re-publish this recipe or any part of this recipe on any other blog, on social media or in a publication without the express permission of Gluten Free Alchemist
Winter Pear & Ginger Trifle Shared with :
- Cook Blog Share with Lost In Food
- What’s for Dinner #231 with The Lazy Gastronome
- Creative Muster #363 with Fluster Buster and Adoring Creations
- Full Plate Thursday #463 with Miz Helen’s Country Cottage
This post was originally published on 11.1.2017 and updated on 19.12.2019
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Thank You Helen. You’re so welcome. Happy New Year xxx
I am not really into booze but I did think I would like this with apple and gingerbread with a good cider as the booze – and the orange reminded me of a gingerbeer I had yesterday with a slice of orange – it was really good. Love your pretty trifles – they sound amazingly delicious.
Happy New Year Johanna. To be honest, I think trifles are amazing with or without booze! I just love the combination of textures and flavours x
Definitely on the trifle loving side and the ginger loving side. They look perfect for any Christmas pudding! Thanks for sharing with #CookBlogShare. Michelle
Thanks Michelle. For sure! x
Im definitely a trifle lover and I’m thinking a drop of rum would be good in these.
Good choice Jacqui. I’m also thinking a little Calvados might work well? xx
What a gorgeous sounding trifle! I never thought of using ginger cake as a base, but it's a genius idea! Thanks for linking up with the No Waste Food Challenge – it's always great to have you on board! 🙂
Thanks Elizabeth. It was such a good trifle. I was very disappointed when they had all been eaten!
Love the No Waste food Challenge. It's definitely one of my favourites! x
Love these Kate – thanks for entering these into Treat Petite!
Thanks Stuart. You're always welcome x
Wow these look stunning! Screw the diet and bring Christmas back! Thanks for linking up to #TreatPetite
Thanks Kat. Too right! Diets in January are over-rated anyway! x
I have had cointreau soaked ginger cake in a trifle before but not with the pear too. I can imagine that it tastes absolutely delicious.
Oh it does Charlotte! If you loved the cointreau-ginger, you have to try the pear addition! xx
Such a cute dessert and it sounds amazing, I don't think I have ever tried pear trifle… definitely something to add to the list for 2017 🙂 Happy New Year!
Thank you Margot. I often think of pear as an underused fruit. It is incredible in so many things and they are local too. We should use more of them!
These look absolutely awesome. I'm not a big trifle fan but if I was this would be top of my list of things to make!
Thanks Vicki. I think the flavours would be amazing outside of a trifle too! x
As a non-drinker I'd be going with the Black Forest one but my husband loves pears even though I'm not that keen on them. He also has a half drunk bottle of Cointreau on the drinks table. This Christmas he did pears in Amaretto for his trifle base.
Yum! Pears in Amaretto sound lovely!
As a non-drinker, you could always make the pear compote extra juicy and use the liquid from that! I often have to make non-alcohol same-look desserts for Miss GF and to be honest, the alcohol is just an extra that makes no odds to the enjoyment factor!
Happy new year to you Kate. These look divine! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Thanks Kirsty and to you! x
I saw these on my IG feed over Christmas and thought they looked so good. I love the flavoured and the addition of the gingerbread men! x
Thanks Jenny. The pear was incredible with the ginger….. thoroughly recommend it. And the gingerbread men were so cute, I couldn't leave the shop without them! x
These sound totally delicious – a ginger trifle is just genius! Definitely going to have to try it. Thanks for linking up with #CookBlogShare
Thanks Mandy. You're welcome x
So cute! You always do so well with your baking and you are very inventive. Happy new year to you too!
Thank you Alida. You are so kind xx
A trifle test lab does sound fun! These triffles are so pretty and I'd love the ginger one or the black forest one. Thank you so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice and happy new year x
Thanks Corina. You're welcome. Both trifles looked pretty amazing! x
Yay you tried it. Looks amazingly delicious. I wouldn't be able to choose between the black forest and the pear variety – guess I'd have to have both! Not thought of trying the cake soaked in Cointreau, will have to try that.
Those chocolate gingerbread men are so cute.
Have a wonderful 2017 🙂
I did and it was amazing! Thanks so much for the inspiration Katie. It was a seed of genius. You were in my mind as I made it…. so thank you and Happy New Year xx
Oh my that does truly look decadent and delicious. I am bookmarking to make this come Christmas all over again, just hope I remember. It has the wow factor indeed. Its so sad to see so many good bloggers giving up on blogging, i do think the blogging world has changed immensely. Thank you Kate, wishing you the best for 2017 x
Thank you Shaheen! I think there are so many extra blogging 'expectations' year on year that it is really hard to keep up if you are not at it full time! So far removed from the original intentions of a blog…… Oh well….. we can only do what we have time for xx