Celebrate Raksha Bandhan With Creative Trifle Jars

Family is the pillar stone of the Indian community but did you know that the only family member that gets not one but two holidays dedicated to them is your sibling? Fathers day and Mothers day are western holidays but Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj have been a part of our society for ages. These festivals celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters and what’s better than a sweet treat made with love to showcase that bond? Let’s roll up our sleeves, braid together a few homemade rakhis and get cracking on a Raksha Bandhan special dessert! 

When I got around to thinking about a dessert for Raksha Bandhan, I thought about the relationship between siblings. Sometimes you love them, sometimes you can’t see eye to eye, while sometimes you realise you’re just like them! It’s fun but it can also be messy – exactly like this trifle! Just as a trifle has layers of cake, custard and fruit; siblings have their own layers of inside jokes, quirks, arguments and personalities. So this Raksha Bandhan, let’s put together this wonderful banana themed trifle for your sibling! 

Most of the work needs to be done the day before; you assemble it on the day of the event, which frees you up to spend time with family. If you’ve got a large family, this is the perfect communal dessert to make! Just grab a glass dish or a trifle bowl if you have one and get assembling! You can also scale it down and make these adorable little trifle jars like we’re doing today. 

Equipment

One of the main things you need for this recipe is a great cookware set. The Bellagio Sauce Pan might seem unassuming but it’s the star of the show. The Bellagio range uses virgin aluminium which helps you to cook evenly. This is especially crucial when making custards as hotspots can curdle of cook the custard unevenly. I use non-stick pans on a daily basis. From my morning eggs to desserts, the Bellagio Non-Stick 4pc Cookware set does it all. The non-stick ceramic coating is crafted from sand;making it healthier, a better conductor of heat and more durable. 

For the Blender Banana Bread, we’re of course going to need our heavyweight Sumo Silverado along with the Wonderchef 19L OTG. This recipe is a fan favourite because of how easy it is to make but I’ll let you in on the secret – It’s the equipment that makes it so easy! Mixer grinders and OTGs are crucial to every home cook so it’s important to pick one that’s right for you. Wonderchef has OTGs to suit every home chef’s needs, from space-saving 9L ones to heavy duty 60L ones.

There is a fair amount of prep work involved in this dessert. All three elements are made the night before and stored in the fridge. I use this handy Bormioli Frigoverre Glass Storage Container almost everyday since it’s both freezer and microwave safe. 

How can I customise this trifle? 

There are several ways to make this trifle your own. Here’s a list of substitutions you can make- 

Cake – While I’ve gone with my favourite Blender Banana Bread sans the chocolate, you can try any of your favourite recipes. Here’s one for a vanilla cake and a chocolate cake that make good alternatives. These Air fryer Brownies work wonderfully as well. You can even use store bought cake in a pinch!  

Custard – While custard powder is definitely an alternative, I much prefer the taste of homemade custard. Especially this recipe which makes a thick and luxurious one. You can also replace the custard with whipped cream or chocolate mousse. 

Jelly & Fruit – The beauty of this jelly recipe is that you can substitute it with any juice you like. Orange, apple, guava or pomegranate are all great options. Same goes with the fruit. Just make sure you pair it with complementary flavours. If you’re going with a chocolate trifle then coffee makes a great top layer! 

Plating and Serving

These make the perfect gift for your siblings on Raksha Bandhan. It’s a low-effort-high-payoff dessert. Make it in cute mason jars and tie a ribbon around it to make it even more special. The Bormioli Fido Glass Jar Container makes the perfect vessel for thicome in perfect individual portions! Raksha Bandhan is all about the beautiful bond between brother and sister. While I share many things with my brother, dessert is definitely not one of them! Individual portions for all! 

Happy Rakhi! 

RECIPE CARD 

Makes 4 – 5 portions 

Ingredients- 

For the Custard 

1¼ cup Whole Milk 

4 Tbsp White Sugar 

2 Egg Yolks 

2 Tbsp Cornstarch 

1 tsp Vanilla Extract 

1 tbsp cold butter 

For the Jelly 

1 cup Mango Juice
¼ tsp Agar Agar

For the Banana Cake Layer 

See Blender Banana Bread Recipe 

Assembly 

Fresh Bananas 

Method – 

Blender Banana Bread – 

1. Follow recipe instructions here
2. I’ve chosen to make the banana bread without chocolate since we have a lot of flavours going on in the trifle. You can make it either with or without chocolate. 

The Custard – 

1. Add the milk and 2 tbsp of sugar to a pot and place it on low heat. 
2. While your milk is heating up, add the egg yolks, cornstarch and remaining 2 tbsp of sugar to a bowl and whisk until light and frothy. 
3. Once the milk is steaming but not boiling, take it off the heat and slowly drizzle half of the liquid into the egg mixture while stirring continuously. This will temper the eggs without scrambling them. 
4. Once tempered, add it back to the pot with the rest of the milk and place on low heat again. 
5. Cook the mix while continuously whisking until it thickens. This can take around 5-6 minutes. 
6. Once the mix starts to thicken you can switch to a silicone spatula if you like. Stir continuously until the custard starts to bubble slightly. 
7. Mix vigorously for another minute and take it off the heat. 
8. Add the butter and mix well, followed by the vanilla extract. 
9. Transfer the custard to a glass bowl and cover with cling film. Make sure the cling film is touching the surface of the custard to avoid the formation of a film. 
10. Once it cools to room temperature, place the custard in the fridge to chill. 

The Jelly – 

1. Add ¼ cup cold mango juice to a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin and whisk through. 
2. Wait 5 minutes for the gelatin to bloom. 
3. Put the mango juice and agar agar powder in a pot and place on low heat. 
4. Stir until the agar agar has dissolved. 
5. Allow the mix to boil for 2 minutes and then turn off the heat. 
6. Pour the Jelly into a fridge safe container and once it reaches room temperature, place it in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour or until set. 

Assembly – 

1. Gather your chilled custard, set jelly and cooled banana bread together. 
2. Slice some bananas and set aside. 
3. Whisk together the custard till it becomes smooth. 
4. Cut the jelly into small squares. 
5. Make slices of the banana bread and then chop the slices into little squares. 
6. Grab your dessert jar and begin building the layers, First add the banana bread, followed by the slices of bananas along the sides of the jar. Then add the custard and top if ott with the mango jelly. Alternatively, you can also repeat the banana bread, banana and custard layers again if you like.