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Bagatelle French Canadian Trifle Recipe

Elevate your dessert game with this stunning Bagatelle French Canadian Trifle! Inspired by a classic children's treat from La Beauce, this grown-up version, originally featured in Saveur magazine (2000), transforms simple ingredients into a show-stopping dessert. Layers of moist white cake, creamy custard (a sophisticated upgrade from jelly!), fresh berries, and a delightful Marsala wine drizzle create a symphony of flavors and textures. Perfect for parties or a special occasion, this trifle is surprisingly easy to assemble and requires minimal cooking time—mostly just chilling for maximum deliciousness!

Prep Time 60 mins
Cook Time 285 mins
Calories 459.9 kcal
Protein 9g
Rating 5.0 (1 Reviews)
Bagatelle French Canadian Trifle 83

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Bagatelle French Canadian Trifle

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (9-inch) cake (recipe specifies white cake)
  • 2 tablespoons Marsala wine (optional)
  • Not found in recipe instructions
  • fresh berries, for garnish (optional)
  • Not found in recipe instructions

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How to Make Bagatelle French Canadian Trifle

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake a 9-inch white cake according to package directions or your favorite recipe.
  2. While the cake is baking, prepare the custard: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 4 large egg yolks, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup cornstarch, and a pinch of salt.
  3. Gradually whisk in 2 cups of whole milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and comes to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  4. Pour the custard into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming, and refrigerate until completely chilled.
  5. Once the cake is cool, crumble it into bite-sized pieces.
  6. Hull and slice 2 cups of fresh strawberries.
  7. Assemble the trifle in a large glass bowl or trifle dish: Layer half of the cake, half of the strawberries, and half of the chilled custard. Repeat layers.
  8. Drizzle the top with 2 tablespoons of Marsala wine (optional).
  9. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld and the trifle to set.
  10. Garnish with fresh berries and a dusting of powdered sugar before serving (optional).

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

7 g

Sugar

115g

Fat

65g

Carbs

19g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Sweets & Sides Desserts French The Americas Vegetarian Spring Recipes Summer Recipes Holiday Recipes Baking

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Course Main Ingredient Cuisine Preparation North American Low Protein Desserts Fruit Canadian Easy Dietary Low Sodium Quebec Low In Something Berries Raspberries Strawberries