Low-Fat Recipe for Trifle

Jul 5, 2010
Cecily Layzell

Low-Fat Recipe for Trifle with Fresh Fruit & Quark - Image by Cecily Layzell

Fresh fruit, low-fat quark and crème fraîche and zesty lime juice give this easy trifle recipe loads of flavour with fewer calories.

Trifle is often associated with Christmas dinner. However, it is such a versatile, easy dessert that it can be eaten at any time of year, and goes down particularly well in the summer when fresh fruit is available in abundance. This low-fat recipe replaces the traditional double cream with quark and crème fraîche, mixed with zesty lime juice.

The great thing about this easy dessert is that it can be made several hours in advance. Prepare all the separate components, cover and store in the fridge until needed. If making the custard, allow this to cool first before putting in the fridge.

It is possible to make this trifle in one large bowl, however it looks most impressive when served in individual glasses and does not take any additional time to prepare this way.

To make the trifle suitable for children, simply leave out the alcohol and increase the amount of orange juice to 4 fl oz / 125 ml.

Tip: Slice or half/quarter the fruit if it is large. Fruits like blueberries can be used whole.

Low-Fat Recipe for Trifle

Serves 4.

Preparation time: 20 minutes.

Trifle Ingredients:

1 packet of ladyfingers (also called sponge fingers or trifle sponges)
1 shot of Cointreau (or try other alcohols such as Disaronno, Frangelico or sherry, if these are knocking around instead)
3 fl oz / 100 ml orange juice
4 oz / 125 g low-fat quark
2 oz / 75 g low-fat crème fraîche
Juice of half a lime
5 oz / 150 g fresh fruits (raspberries, strawberries, bananas, blueberries etc)
8 fl oz / 250 ml low-fat custard (store-bought or home-made with semi-skimmed or 2% milk)

Trifle preparation:

Line the bottom of four attractive glasses or small glass bowls with two layers of the ladyfingers. If necessary, break the ladyfingers into pieces so that they fit.
Mix the liqueur and juice together and pour over the ladyfingers. Put the glasses to one side until all the liquid is absorbed.
In a large bowl, mix together the quark and crème fraîche. Cut the lime in half, extract the juice and add very slowly, stirring all the time otherwise the quark-crème fraîche mix may curdle.
To assemble the trifle - this only takes a few minutes, so it can be done right before serving - cover the softened ladyfingers with fresh fruit (save four pieces of fruit to garnish). Next, add a layer of custard. Finally, carefully spoon a layer of quark mix over the custard.
Decorate each portion of trifle with a piece of fruit and serve.