Macaron trifles with raspberry, rose and lychee, inspired by the flavour of Pierre Hermé's Ispahan macarons. A Parisian touch to British trifle, making them gluten free and made with homemade raspberry jelly.
Perfect for afternoon tea or as a Valentine's Dessert, Mother's Day or just a treat.
Retro British Trifles with a Parisian Macaron Touch
I have been itching to show you these mini macaron trifles - Ispahan style!
As I was listening to Abba, my kids caught me using my macaron spatula as a microphone. Caught! Transported back home to Scotland in the 80s - and before you could say Super Trouper - my nostalgic mind had turned to trifle.
You see, Mum always made her best and biggest celebratory trifle for end of year parties. However, with such a huge festive spread on the buffet table, we didn't have that much room left for dessert. How frustrating, looking at its pretty pristine layers of fruity wobbly jelly, sherry sponge, custard and cream in that big, glass bowl.
Individual Mini Trifles for Afternoon Tea
Hence my urge to make individual mini versions in shot glasses - dessert shots!
Better known as verrines in Parisian patisseries, so called as they're presented in small shot glasses. Incidentally, Chef Philippe Conticini was first to come up with the idea in Paris. As a result, serving them in mini shot glasses as French verrines makes the trifles perfect for afternoon tea.
I couldn't resist using Parisian macarons to replace the classic trifle sponge layer. As macarons are gluten free, this makes the trifles gluten free too! They fit a verrine or shot glass perfectly. Moreover, adding a handy few homemade rose macarons left in the freezer, I whipped up these mini macaron trifles in no time. The result was that French touch of Parisian "Ispahan" inspiration.
For more on afternoon tea in Paris, see my Parisian Guide to the Best Tea Rooms.
What Does Ispahan Mean?
'Ispahan' is a Damask rose named after the city Isfahan (French: Ispahan) in Iran where it was apparently discovered in one of the city's beautiful gardens. The rose has been made famous in Paris by pastry chef, Pierre Hermé.
Pierre Hermé discovered rose in Bulgarian cuisine in 1985 and looked for ways to associate the flavour combinations. He's originally from Alsace, the region famous for their French Gewürtzraminer wines with tones of rose and lychees. So you can see why he chose such a romantic combination with raspberries together with rose and lychee.
In 1987 he first created the Paradis rose and raspberry cake at Fauchon and, following its success with such flavours, created the Ispahan macaron, while at Ladurée. The Ispahan macaron is now a popular classic all around Paris and found in all sorts of varying forms. It's a bright pink macaron, filled with rose cream, lychee and fresh raspberries.
For more, see my post on the Best Macarons in Paris.
How to Make Classic Trifles Gluten Free
Macaron trifles are a great way to turn classic trifle recipes gluten free. Either use this recipe for raspberry macarons or the recipes in my books and pick the macaron flavours to match the trifles. Here are some ideas from my macaron recipes in my book, Teatime in Paris:
- Mojito macarons (make a lime jelly and add a touch of mint essence in the cream)
- Fizzy Orangina macarons (using orange jelly);
- Raspberry, Lime & Tarragon "Maclairs";
- Rhubarb and Poppy macarons (great with strawberry trifle) ... the list goes on so over to you!
More Trifles to Serve with Macarons
For more trifles, see the following recipes. What about adding macarons to turn them into mini macaron trifles? This makes them gluten free.
- English Christmas Trifle - the real classic;
- mini All American Red, White and Blue Trifles . They're ideal if feeling patriotic for a themed party or seasonal holiday.
- Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle
- Gingerbread Trifles
- Red, White & Blue Macaron Berry Trifle.
Mini Macaron Trifles - Ispahan Style
Ingredients
- 200 ml (7fl oz /¾ cup) Raspberry juice
- 2 Gelatine leaves @ 2g each
- 8 rose or raspberry macarons bought or homemade (see NOTES)
- 240 ml (8.5fl oz / 1 cup) Whipping cream (30% fat), chilled
- 2 tablespoon rose syrup (I use Monin)* see NOTES
- 24 raspberries (3 per shot glass)
- 8 lychees
Instructions
- Place a large glass bowl in the fridge for the Chantilly cream later.
- Make the jelly: Soak the gelatine in cold water for 5 minutes. Heat the raspberry juice in a saucepan (don't boil), squeeze out excess water from the gelatine and dissolve into the warm juice. Add 1 tablespoon rose syrup.
- Drop in a couple of raspberries in each shot glass and top with the jelly, filling up to a third of the way up.
- Chill in the fridge for 2 hours.
- Using an electric whisk or stand mixer, whip up the cold cream in the chilled bowl and add 1 tablespoon rose syrup (or 2 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon rose water) until whipped firmly.
- Once the jellies are set 2 hours later, top with a macaron then the Chantilly cream and decorate with a lychee and raspberry.
Notes
Either buy rose macarons or make them yourself using the recipes in my books! Don't forget homemade macarons freeze well and are gluten free. See raspberry macarons recipe made with fresh raspberries and a white chocolate ganache. *If you don't have rose syrup, add 2 teaspoon sugar & 1 teaspoon rose water (concentration of 3% rose essence to water - otherwise if more powerful just a couple of drops!) If serving with wine, serve with a late harvest Gewurtzraminer or pink Champagne. NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: 230 Calories per serving (serves 8); 3g proteins; 13g lipids.
Bea
Elegant and delicious, can't wait to try these little beauties. Thanks for sharing.
Jill Colonna
Great pleasure, Bea. They're so different to the classic British trifle - the flavours together are a surprising taste but it's still a trifle with a bit of Parisian fun!
pictaram
It looks so beautiful!! A great dessert idea for me. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Jill Colonna
Pleasure to share.
David
This is something Mark and I will love! I can't wait to try it, Jill, and am always looking for something to serve after a Persian meal. As an aside, we just got a macaron store here and they are the worst I have ever had. Thick, and dense, and artificially flavored. Yuck. There ought to be laws... I do have another resource for better ones, but this was so disappointing.
Jill Colonna
Thanks so much, David. How exotic on your persian meal - bet it's full of delicious spices. This would be a lovely finish, what a great idea!
As for the macaron store on artificial flavours, I understand you. There is one that recently opened in Paris too but I couldn't even mention it on le blog since they were just so overly flavoured. Even the packaging weeks later smells of them!
You'll just have to make your own 😉
June Stobie
Long time since I made trifle Jill. Your version is so much more sophisticated. No macarons in the 80s but there was music. So in true ABBA style, Thank you for the Music.
Jill Colonna
Mum, you are just so cute! Was trying to do it macaron style but you're really still trying to get me to sing that Abba at your party soon. I know...I did it on Mother's Day once for you. I need wine for the courage to do it again but it's the sort of thing you can't drink a drop to pull it through. I'm losing confidence! I'll see what I can do ...
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
Thank you so much for sharing! Pinned/stumbled and yummed! xo
Jill Colonna
You're too kind Cynthia - thank you! I loved your Christmas trifle and talk of your British memories for such a deliciously nostalgic dessert.
Christina | Christina's Cucina
I'm so happy to see how beautifully these turned out with the macarons, Jill! Just perfect! I can imagine just how wonderful the flavors are together, too! So many of my favorites!
Thank you for including my patriotic trifles as they are not just patriotic for the US, but the UK, France and Australia! 🙂 Now I'm dying to make mini-trifles!
Jill Colonna
Raspberry, rose and lychee are just wonderful - but add some pink Champagne to that and it's a serious groaning experience. Roll on the next party to serve them!
I agree - I should have mentioned your red, white and blue trifles are great for many countries too! Thanks Christina x
Christina | Christina's Cucina
Don't forget to invite me! 😉
Jill Colonna
The party starts when you arrive, Christina 😀