Chocolate Persimmon Trifle is a unique dessert creation, inspired by my friend Carole’s suggestion that I should try using Hachiya persimmons (the soft variety) in puddings and custards. I love Hachiya persimmons and I usually eat them as is, but I’m always up for a challenge. At first, I wanted to play it safe and make a persimmon almondine tart but that would have been too easy. So I made a trifle with layers of basic white cake, persimmon pudding and chocolate.
I usually cook with Fuyu persimmons (the hard variety) but after this decadent dessert, I’m definitely going to test out more recipes using the Hachiya variety.
1. Info for Chocolate Persimmon Trifle
- Cook Time: 1 hr 20 min
- Total Time: 2 hr 30 min
- Servings: 8
- Calories: 150 kcal
2. Ingredients for Chocolate Persimmon Trifle
- 1 (12 X 17-inch) white sheet cake (see tips), (still warm, just out of the oven)
- 3 egg yolks
- 4 tablespoons superfine sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon extract (or powder)
- 2 cups mascarpone cheese
- 2-1/2 cups heavy cream, cold
- 1 dried persimmon, stemmed and finely diced
- 1 cup Hachiya persimmon pulp (see tips)
- 1 cup milk chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup rum
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
3. Directions:
- For the mascarpone filling: Beat the 3 egg yolks with 2 tablespoons of superfine sugar in a small stainless steel mixing bowl. Prepare a double boiler: Fill a saucepan with water, making sure the water barely covers the bottom of the stainless steel mixing bowl. I always like to add a little kitchen towel on top of the pan, under the bowl so there won’t be any splatter of water in your egg mixture. Bring the water to a boil then lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Place the stainless steel bowl on the saucepan and start whisking the egg mixture vigorously for about 3-5 minutes using a handheld mixer. You’ll get a pale, yellow foam and the texture of the egg yolk will be thicker. The mixture should fall like a ribbon of sauce when you lift the whisk.
- In another mixing bowl, whisk the mascarpone cheese to soften it. Slowly add the egg mixture to the mascarpone, adding just a little egg at a time. Add the vanilla extract and salt.
- Divide the filling into 2 bowls. In one bowl, add the persimmon pulp, dried persimmon bits and cinnamon extract.
- Heat a pot half-full of water to a gentle simmer, cover it with a piece of cloth so the bowl does not move and place a stainless-steel bowl filled with chopped milk chocolate on top. When the chocolate is melted, let the chocolate cool for about 2-3 minutes and add it to the second bowl of mascarpone. Add a tablespoon of rum.
- Clean your handheld mixer in hot soapy water. Always make sure the beater blades are completely clean prior to whipping cream or egg whites for optimum results. Whisk the 2 cups of cold whipping cream until it forms soft peaks. Add 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Divide the cream in half. Using a silicone spatula, gently fold half the whipped cream into both mascarpone mixtures to get an airy batter.
- How you assemble the dessert is up to you. The girls and I were debating on how to present these dessert cups. We used 7-¾-ounce whiskey glasses but in the end, I found that the container was a little large for one serving. I would say, pick a container depending on the appetite of your guests.
- Using a circle cutter, create 16 (3-inch diameter) rounds of white cake. Place a round of white cake in each cup. Drizzle with a little rum. Spoon a layer of persimmon pudding. Stack another layer of white cake, drizzle a little rum and complete with the chocolate layer. Even out the top using a spreader. Repeat the same procedure for the rest of the cups. Plastic-wrap the containers and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
- When you’re ready to serve, unwrap the cup, decorate with berries or dried fruits, a milk chocolate truffle, (I used Lindt chocolate), a thin homemade milk and white chocolate piece (I’ll post how to make them soon) or a gavotte milk chocolate crepe dentelle cookie and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Bon appétit!
