Cranberry Trifle

Ingredients

• For the cranberry jam:
• 24 ounces fresh cranberries, washed
• 24 ounces pure, unsweetened cranberry juice
• 4 ounces elderflower liqueur, such as St. Germain, or a complementary alternative
• 16 ounces plain or lightly toasted sugar
• 1 strip of orange peel, optional
• 1 cinnamon stick, optional
• For the whipped mascarpone:
• 24 ounces mascarpone, straight from the fridge
• 14 ounces heavy cream
• 5 ounces dark maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• To Assemble:
• 1 angel food cake, store bought or homemade, cut into 1-inch cubes
• Cardamaro, or other spirit, to taste

Directions

1. For the cranberry jam, add the fresh cranberries, cranberry juice, liqueur, sugar, orange peel, and cinnamon, if using0, to a 5-quart stainless steel or enameled Dutch oven. Set it over high heat and bring everything to a boil, stirring often. Lower the heat so the mixture bubbles gently, then cook until the cranberries have mostly burst and the mixture has thickened into a jammy consistency, about 20 minutes. Take the pot off the heat, cover it, and hold it at room temperature until you’re ready to use it, up to 3 hours. Before assembling, discard the orange peel and cinnamon stick.
2. For the whipped mascarpone, place the mascarpone, cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and cloves in the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Begin mixing on low, then turn the mixer to high and whip until the cream is thick and firm, about 5 minutes. Use it right away, or cover and chill for up to 2 days; if it softens, whisk it briefly again before assembling.
3. To assemble, spread cubed angel food cake across the base of a trifle dish or large bowl, then add a generous splash of Cardamaro, or your chosen alternative. Spoon on a thin layer of cranberry jam, then add a thicker layer of whipped mascarpone. Continue layering in the same order until the dish is filled. Serve right away, or cover and refrigerate for up to 6 hours before serving.