Trifle drama

[peplepue]

Just started making the trifle but have put jelly and fruit in before the sponge fingers. the jelly has already set. Should I just bung the sponge fingers on top, then add custard or shall I scrape the jelly out and put the sponge on the bottom?

Leave out the sponge altogether. Or do another layer of jelly with sponge in on top.

Stop! Go no further! I'm googling if you can gently melt the jelly down and start again. I think you can and the jelly will reset.

The jelly is needed to soak into the sponge to make it soft. Otherwise it will be custard with crunchy centre sponge. Either do another layer with jelly and sponge, or leave it out. The custard is the best bit anyway 😋

https://gelatinartmarket.com/pages/working-with-gelatin#:~:text=Once%20gelatin%20has%20set%20it,a%20pot%20of%20boiling%20water

I think you can remelt the jelly over a bain marie and start again. Obviously the fruit might get squishy and you could just leave out the sponge fingers or depending on the shape of your dish, if it has straight sides you could put the sponge fingers, standing up around the outside as if you always meant it to be that way.

Thanks for the quick replies! Sounds like I need to re-melt the jelly then, I didn't even think that would be possible.

Do it really, really gently though. Do not risk the microwave. If you have any extra jelly left over or a sachet of gelatin in the cupboard or some of that flan jelly thing - you might like to augment.
I'll be up with the black coffee and cigarettes until we bring this baby back into land safely, like Appollo 13.

https://www.reddit.com/r/cookingforbeginners/comments/f5esbz/homemade_jello_too_firm/?rdt=61395

Let's ask Reddit.

Ha ha, well, I'm now thinking about augmenting. I've just messaged my husband to see if he can lay his hands on more jelly. (I realise that all this jelly talk is super controversial when it comes to trifle - hoping I don't get banned!)

No need for that!

Nooooo. Stop. You’re about to have the best trifle of your life. I always do jelly and fruit first. Then sponge. Then custard. It’s amazing. My DH ex GF did it and he passed it on.

Soak sponge in loads of booze then put on top of jelly under custard

That's a good idea.

Ok cancelled the call for extra jelly and I'm going to risk the sponge on top of jelly, soaked in sherry. Let's see if it works.

Good idea. They'll never know. x

Then it won't be trifle, surely? It'll just be jelly and custard.

I'd still like to see if you can remelt the jelly and set it again with the sponges in it but it's not my life, not my trifle, not my Christmas dinner and I can remelt and reset my own jelly in my own time, on my own dime and in my own high risk Heston Blunenthal-esque molecular biology lifestyle choice should I feel the need for speed!

Happy Christmas OP!

I think it'll be fine. Sounds lovely.

First prize for the best-titled post of the day! 😂🏆

I hope you've sorted it!

I always put the sponge on top of the set jelly and fruit. The texture of disintegrated cake in jelly makes me gag! It took me until I was about 30 to realise I like trifle, I just needed it to be separate!

😱 what do you eat on Boxing Day for breakfast? Can't beat left over trifle for breakfast

Chop up the sponge, sprinkle with sherry, then pile on top of the jelly. Cover with custard.

I'm about to do exactly this. www.kitchensanctuary.com/proper-sherry-trifle/#wprm-recipe-container-33206

Spread the sponge with jam if you have some.

Just burnt the custard

That looks very sophisticated. I think we've just turned the situation around. I can lay off the black coffee and cigarettes now.

We brought the trifle back! Splashdown!