PavêTrifle Dessert

Layered Cookie-and-Cream Trifle of the Holiday Table.

• 10 portions
• Prep 30 mins
• Cook 10 mins
• Sul (Italian-Brazilian)

Pavê is the joke and the dessert of the Brazilian holiday table at once — every family's uncle repeats the pun ('é pavê ou papá comer?') as it lands. Beneath the joke is serious business: coffee-soaked biscuits and custard cream fused overnight into something between cake and spoon-cream.

Ingredients

Cream

• •1 can (395 g) sweetened condensed milk
• •400 ml whole milk (use the condensed milk can to measure)
• •2 tbsp cornstarch
• •2 egg yolks (optional, for a richer custard)
• •200 ml heavy cream, whipped

Layers

• •300 g cornstarch biscuits (maizena cookies) or champagne biscuits
• •300 ml strong coffee, cooled, for dipping
• •100 g dark chocolate, shaved, to top

Method

1. Make the custardCook the condensed milk, milk, cornstarch, and yolks in a heavy pan, stirring constantly, until it thickens to a smooth custard, about 8 minutes. Cover and cool completely.
2. LightenFold the whipped cream into the cold custard in two additions — the mixture should be a soft mousse.
3. Build the layersDip biscuits briefly in the coffee — one second a side, no longer — and line the base of a glass dish. Spread a third of the cream, repeat biscuit and cream twice more, finishing with cream.
4. ChillRefrigerate at least 6 hours, ideally overnight, until the biscuits turn to cake. Shower with chocolate shavings at the table.

Questions