Black Forest Trifle

Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

Cake

• 1/2 (18.25 ounce) box devil's food cake mix*
• 1/2 cup rum
• 1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling

Chocolate Custard

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups milk

Topping

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Instructions

Cake

1. Cake: Prepare cake mix according to package directions; cut into 1/2 inch slices.
2. Line bottom of 2 quart bowl of trifle dish with half of cake slices; sprinkle with 2 to 4 tablespoons rum.
3. Spoon half of cherry pie filling over cake; top with half of chocolate pudding.
4. Repeat procedure with remaining cake, rum, pie filling and custard. Cover and chill.

Chocolate Custard

1. Combine first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler.
2. Combine eggs and milk, gradually stir into dry mixture.
3. Bring water in double boiler to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook custard, stirring constantly until thick. Cool.

Topping

1. Beat whipping cream until foamy; gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until soft peaks form.
2. Spread over custard; garnish with almonds.

Notes

* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe. For this recipe, since you are only using one-half the box, add 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour.