Lemon-Berry Trifle

So easy to make, and so delicious. These mini-trifles, made with lemon curd and mascarpone, have a bright lemon flavor that is an exceptional way to end a delicious meal. You can make them right before serving or in advance and refrigerate them for up to 4 hours. If you don’t have mini trifle bowls or single-serve dessert bowls, you can use 10-ounce old-fashioned cocktail glasses.

Lemon-Berry Trifle
Makes 4 individual trifles.
Prep time 30 minutes. Total time 30 minutes.

12 to 16 Vanilla Pirouline cookies, plus 4 extra for décor (about 9 to 10 ounces)
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons lemon vodka
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
1 cup mascarpone cheese
1 1/4 cups lemon curd, divided
2 teaspoons finely chopped lemon zest
1 1/3 cups fresh blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries
1/2 cup heavy cream, chilled

Using a serrated knife, cut each Pirouline cookie into 8 pieces. On the bottom of each dessert bowl, arrange about 24 to 32 cookie pieces.
In a small saucepan, bring water, lemon juice, and sugar to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, and becomes liquefied, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lemon vodka and lemon extract. Cool for 5 minutes. Pour the lemon and sugar mixture over the cookie pieces, about 1 1/2 tablespoons per dessert serving.

Combine mascarpone cheese, 3/4 cup lemon curd, and lemon zest in a bowl. Blend well. Divide the cheese mixture among the four dessert bowls, about a 1/2 cup each. Spoon the remaining 1/2 cup lemon curd over the cheese mixture, about 2 tablespoons per dessert serving. Top with 1/3 cup berries, per dessert serving. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes, or up to 4 hours.

15 minutes before serving, place a small, deep bowl into refrigerator to chill. Just before serving, remove bowl from refrigerator, and place cream in chilled bowl. Using an electric mixer or manual rotary beater, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Dollop the whipped cream over the trifle. Garnish with a whole Pirouline cookie, and serve.