andrejthechef
UKDessertDessertVegetarian

Rachel's Thanksgiving Trifle

A proper English trifle, the kind Rachel meant to make before two recipe pages stuck together, resulting in the infamous custard, jam, beef, peas and onion version from Friends.

prep
40 min
cook
20 min
total
1 h
serves
10
level
medium
Rachel's Thanksgiving Trifle, from Friends

In Friends, Rachel sets out to make a classic English trifle for Thanksgiving, but two pages of her recipe book have stuck together, so without realizing it she layers in an entire separate recipe for a beef, pea and onion shepherd's pie underneath the custard and jam.

Monica eats a spoonful anyway rather than hurt Rachel's feelings, and Joey famously loves it, tasting it layer by layer and declaring "jam, good; custard, good; meat, good," in one of the show's most quoted food scenes. This recipe is the trifle Rachel actually meant to make.

Part of our 60 famous foods from movies and TV list.

method

  1. Spread the sponge pieces with jam, and layer them in the base of a large glass trifle bowl.

  2. Drizzle with sherry if using, and scatter over about half the berries.

  3. For the custard, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch together. Heat the milk until just steaming, then whisk it slowly into the yolk mixture. Return to the pan and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened. Stir in the vanilla, and let cool slightly.

  4. Pour the warm custard over the sponge and berries, and let it settle into the gaps.

  5. Chill for at least 2 hours, until the custard is fully set.

  6. Top with the whipped cream, the remaining berries, and toasted almonds just before serving.

chef's tips

  • A proper English trifle is a genuinely good dessert when layered correctly in this order, jam-soaked sponge, custard, cream, built in a clear glass bowl so all the layers show.
  • In Friends, Rachel's version goes wrong specifically because two pages of her recipe book stick together, so without realizing it she layers in a separate recipe for a savory shepherd's pie, resulting in beef sautéed with peas and onions layered in with the custard and jam.
  • Monica eats a spoonful anyway rather than hurt Rachel's feelings, and Joey, famously, enjoys it precisely because he tastes all the separate elements as, in his words, "jam, good; custard, good; meat, good," in one of the show's most quoted food moments.
  • Use a clear glass bowl for this if at all possible; part of a trifle's appeal is seeing all the distinct, colorful layers through the glass.