At first consideration, a dish that originated in 18^th century England doesn’t seem like an appropriate pick for a Memorial Day dessert. But, once you start thinking about the sweet cream mixing with soft pastry and fresh berries – red and blue, of course –  it becomes a clear winner. Better still, these individualized versions are perfect for entertaining. Don’t hesitate to ring in the start of summer with this patriotic dessert.

Patriotic Memorial Day: Personal Mixed Berry Trifle

Berry trifle dessert

Image Via: PG Everyday

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Yield: 36 trifles

Ingredients:

For Cookies: 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour. 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup butter, softened 1 ½ cups sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract   For Custard: 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/3 cup sugar 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla  For Berries: 1 pint strawberries 1 pint raspberries 1 pint blueberries 1/3 cup sugar ½ cup sherry (optional)

Berry Trifle

Image Via: MelandBrent.blogspot.com

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 of the berries, sugar, and sherry, if using. Cover and refrigerate.
3. Start making the cookie cups. Cream the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy. Then, add in the egg and vanilla extract.
4. Meanwhile, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
5. With the mixer on the lowest speed, slowly introduce the dry ingredients into the wet. Let mix until a cohesive dough forms.
6. Shape the dough into small balls and place each one in a muffin tin. (Note: Consider liners for easy clean up.)
7. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes until they are set and golden brown on top.
8. As soon as the cookies are done, take the end of a small rolling pin and press down in the center of each to create the cup indentation.
9. While the cookie cups cool, start the custard by cracking the eggs into a small bowl.
10. Then, in a saucepan, combine milk, sugar, and cornstarch over medium-high heat. Allow the milk to scald, or reach the point just before boiling.  Stir occasionally to keep the cornstarch from clumping.
11. Once the milk is scalded remove it from the heat and mix two tablespoons of the liquid into the eggs.
12. Then, pour slowly pour the egg mixture into the milk, whisking constantly so the eggs don’t curdle.
13. Then, return the milk back to the heat and stir it gently for 2-4 minutes or until it thickens into a custard.
14. Remove the custard from the heat, mix in the vanilla extract, and allow to cool completely.
15. Assemble to trifles by filling each cookie cup with custard and  a generous spoonful of the macerated berries. Then, top them with the remaining fresh berries.

Trifle isn’t just a Memorial Day dessert. Feel free to play around with the ingredients to suit your needs. Use a spice cookie recipe and chocolate pudding to make these sinfully decadent for dinner with your special someone. Or, go traditional and use pound cake cubes in place of the sugar cookies for a dinner party dessert that’s bound to impress. Do you have a go-to Memorial Day Dessert? Let us know.