The Golden Birthday Dessert...

So last night, I realized at about 7pm that I needed to make a tiramisu for my friend's bday today. Having been in my pjs all day, I dreaded getting dressed to go to the store. I decided to take a chance and whip up something with the ingredients on hand.

The end result? Not exactly a tiramisu, but a chocolate chai trifle! The birthday gal loved it! Michele turned a 50 years young today and she definitely deserved something extra special.Here are pics of her birthday dinner and the recipe for my Chocolate Chai Trifle I made in her honor:

Chocolate Chai Trifle:

1 box devils food cake mix
- Prepare as directed; cool.


8 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 half & half
- Whisk above ingredients in a heat proof bowl.
Place bowl over a saucepan of gently boiling water.
Continue whisking egg mixture over the boiling water until it lightens in color and reaches "ribbon" stage.
Remove bowl from heat and allow to cool.


2 cups heavy whipping cream
- Whip cream in stand mixer until stiff peaks form.


1 15oz container ricotta cheese
1 8oz brick cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
- Combine above ingredients in stand mixer with paddle attachment.
- Fold in cooled egg mixture.
- Fold in whipped cream.


1/2 cup prepared chai tea
- When cake has cooled, cube cake and place a layer in the bottom of your serving or trifle bowl.
- Sprinkle 1/2 of the chai tea over the cake.
- Top cake layer with cream/cheese/egg mixture.
- Repeat with cake layer, chai tea & cream/cheese/egg mixture.
- Allow trifle to chill in fridge overnight to meld flavors.
- Before serving, sprinkle chai tea or grated chocolate over the top.

Michele's Birthday Dinner @ Broadway Cellars

A great, smooth Zinfandel to celebrate!
Dinner I ordered: Duck Lasagna
(forgive the blurry pic!)