Platform Ban Trifle
Based on:
TypeDessert
Serves4 people
DateOctober 15, 2026
Layered trifle as train platform with prohibition stripe, full of tension between sweet, sour, and sharp.
A layered trifle with ladyfingers as station platforms and diagonal lime strips as 'prohibition signs', inspired by the alcohol ban at German train stations. Sharp lime cream and slightly bitter orange curd pull against each other: tension between festivity and prohibition, visible as a platform with a red stripe.
Ingredients
- 200 g ladyfingers
- 100 ml strong black tea (cooled)
- 4 limes (zest and juice)
- 250 g mascarpone
- 200 ml whipping cream
- 60 g sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 oranges (zest and juice)
- 50 g butter
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 red grapefruit
- 4 tbsp red currant jam
Method
- Make the orange curd: heat the juice and zest of 2 oranges with 25 g butter and 30 g sugar. Whisk 2 eggs, add, and heat while stirring until thickened. Let cool.
- Whip the cream until stiff. Mix mascarpone, zest and juice of 2 limes, 30 g sugar, and 1 beaten egg until creamy. Fold in the whipped cream.
- Cut the grapefruit into thin slices, then into strips.
- Briefly dip the ladyfingers in tea and arrange them in straight lines on 4 plates, forming the platform.
- Spread a thin layer of currant jam over the ladyfingers as a red prohibition stripe.
- Spoon on a layer of lime cream and a layer of orange curd, letting them overlap slightly.
- Lay the grapefruit strips diagonally across the platform as prohibition signs.
- Garnish with extra lime zest and a bit more jam for accent if desired.
Serving notes
- Serve the trifle on a rectangular plate for the platform effect.
- Ensure the red jam stripe is clearly visible as a prohibition line.
- Let the grapefruit strips stick out diagonally as warning signs.