Christmas Trifles: Layered Coconut Dessert Joy

By Bhavana Verma

Ingredients For the Coconut Custard:

2 cups coconut milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
For the Cake Layer:
1 sponge or pound cake (store-bought or homemade), cubed
2 tablespoons coconut liqueur or syrup

Ingredients For the Whipped Cream:

1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Garnish:
Sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
Pomegranate seeds or cranberries
White chocolate curls

Make Coconut Custard

Whisk coconut milk, sugar, and cornstarch then cook on medium heat until smooth and thick. Stir in vanilla and coconut extract and let cool.

Toast Coconut

Toast shredded coconut on medium heat until golden brown.

Assemble

Make base layer of sponge cake, drizzle some coconut liquer. Add custard layer and whipped cream layer. Repeat until jar is full.

Decorate

Garnish with toasted coconut, pomegranate seeds, and white chocolate. Serve chilled.