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    Home • Recipes • Make-Ahead

    Macaron Berry Sherry Trifle (Red, White & Blue)

    Published: May 17, 2018 · Modified: May 31, 2023 by Jill Colonna8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A classic British Sherry trifle given a French touch replacing sponge fingers with Parisian macarons. The result is an easy no-bake recipe for Macaron Berry Trifle. Perfect as a celebratory red, white and blue dessert.

    macaron berry trifle with red blue fruits

    British Trifle Meets Gluten-Free French Macarons

    A good sherry trifle is a must dessert as part of a patriotic Best of British party table. From watching or celebrating a Royal Wedding, to Wimbledon strawberry parties this summer, then you're covered with this easy no-bake, yet adult - Macaron Berry Sherry Trifle. For Francophiles, decorate this as the French flag for Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) on 14th July, or enjoy this for any occasion right up until Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year!

    It celebrates the freshest of sweet berries in season with ready-made macaron shells soaked in berries and sherry then topped with the lightest elderflower Chantilly cream.  And if you want to make a Union Jack decoration with berries, then this is a perfect quick dessert to fly the flag.

    Easy Make-Ahead Individual Desserts

    Bake a batch of macaron shells in advance (and even store them in the freezer) and this trifle is an easy dessert to assemble on the day.

    Macaron Berry Sherry Trifle

    Elderflower with Strawberries

    If you know my recipes in 'Teatime in Paris', then you'll know I adore the combination of sweet, fresh strawberries with elderflower - I have a most delicious strawberry éclair with an elderflower pastry cream that will make you forget to watch the wedding or the best shots in Wimbledon - but that's another story.  Here, I've just added a hint of elderflower to the trifle's Chantilly Cream to add some intrigue.

    If you can't find elderflower cordial or syrup, then you could always use St Germain elderflower liqueur - added with the sherry already in there, and your party will swing!

    Macaron Berry Sherry Trifle
    Macaron Berry Sherry Trifle - an easy dessert to assemble

    Celebratory Red, White & Blue Dessert

    This is an ideal Red, White and Blue dessert to fly the delicious flags: from the British Union Jack, the American flag for 4th July desserts - to the French flag for Bastille Day or Fête Nationale on 14th July.

    Looking for more berry desserts? See the market pages for recipes with blueberries and strawberries.

    Serve with Darjeeling tea, the Champagne of teas - or a glass of fizz!

    British Union Jack decoration with berries

    Although the photos for this recipe are made as a romantic dessert for 2 large portions, the recipe below is for 8-10 people. Let's be honest: I don't have a lovely party-sized glass bowl!

    More Trifle Desserts with Cracked Macarons

    If you love trifle, try my other easy versions with gingerbread or make them gluten free with macarons!  Cracked macarons? Please never bin them! They'll taste delicious and disguised in these easy trifle recipes:

    • Mini Raspberry, Rose & Lichi Macaron Party Trifles (gluten free)
    • Apple, Gingerbread & Salted Caramel Trifles
    • Macaron Tiramisu (gluten free)
    • Black Forest Macaron Creams.

    Berry Sherry Macaron Trifle recipe

    macaron berry trifle with red blue fruits

    Sherry Trifle with Macarons and Berries

    Jill Colonna
    Macaron Berry Sherry Trifle - a traditional British party dessert, replacing classic trifle sponges or lady fingers with gluten free Parisian macaron shells. 
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, teatime
    Cuisine British
    Servings 10 people
    Calories 300 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 40 macaron shells
    • 250 g / 9oz fresh raspberries
    • 250 g / 9oz fresh blueberries
    • 250 g / 9oz fresh strawberries
    • 200 g / 7oz dry Sherry
    • 3 tablespoon raspberry jam

    Elderflower Chantilly Cream:

    • 300 g / 11oz whipping cream chilled (at least 30% fat)
    • 3 tablespoon elderflower cordial or syrup (or caster sugar + vanilla essence)

    Instructions
     

    • First, chill a large bowl in the fridge or freezer for the Chantilly cream.  
      In a large glass bowl (if making one large trifle) or individual glass serving dishes, place half of the macaron shells at the bottom.  Top with half of the blueberries.
    • Liquidise half of the raspberries and strawberries with the sherry in a food processor (or just mash the berries with a fork to keep things easy) and pour the boozy pulp juice over the macarons.
    • With the remaining macarons, sandwich them together with the raspberry jam, so that there is the equivalent of one macaron per person.  Plop the macarons on the top.
    • To make the cream: whisk the chilled cream in the chilled bowl until soft peaks form.  Add the elderflower cordial/syrup (or sugar with a few drops of vanilla extract) and continue whisking until firm peaks form.
    • Top with the cream by either spooning or piping it out. Refrigerate until ready to serve and decorate with the remaining fresh berries.

    Notes

    For the elderflower Chantilly cream, I use Ikea's cordial or Monin's syrup (their elderflower/sureau is particulary good).
    If you prefer trifle with jelly, use the homemade raspberry & rose jelly used in my recipe for raspberry, rose & lychee mini macaron trifles.
    Keyword gluten free desserts, macaron desserts, red white and blue desserts, sherry trifle

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    Meet Jill Colonna

    Jill is both Scottish and French and author of the book and blog, Mad About Macarons since 2010. Here she shares over 30 years of experience of living the healthy food life with her French family in Paris - via easy recipes and local food guides in France.

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    1. Betty

      July 04, 2019 at 10:30 pm

      5 stars
      Just perfect for any summer celebration, but especially nice for Bastille Day or 4th of July!! And love all the variations on it too! Lovely!!

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        July 05, 2019 at 12:22 pm

        Thanks, Betty - and it just so happens to be gluten free too!

        Reply
    2. June S

      May 20, 2018 at 8:45 pm

      Yes we had the trifle for the wedding party too with a similar decoration on top. Next time it will be with your macaron base - they look great. I'll get your Dad to make it.

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        May 21, 2018 at 2:55 pm

        Hope you make it, then, Mum!

        Reply
    3. Liz

      May 20, 2018 at 10:22 am

      5 stars
      I love the idea of making a trifle with macarons! Leave it to your creativity! Perfect summer treat.

      We had an elderflower cake for our Royal Wedding party! But your trifle would have been a marvelous addition.

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        May 20, 2018 at 4:52 pm

        Good idea on the elderflower cake - bet it was like the royal wedding cake, Liz! The kids are loving this trifle so much, I need to make another batch of macarons, just for the shells!

        Reply
    4. Christina Conte

      May 19, 2018 at 4:01 am

      5 stars
      I love this British creation, Jill! Even without the Union Jack (and you did a great job) it looks wonderful! Perfect for our American 4th of July celebrations, too, with the red, white and blue!

      Reply
      • Jill Colonna

        May 19, 2018 at 11:34 am

        Thanks, sweetie. So, will you be watching the Royal Wedding during the night? Thinking of you with your scones and cups of tea!

        Reply

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