Espresso Cherry Trifle

If you really want to impress a dinner party, use this recipe with a good Brazilian yellow bourbon coffee! However, "regular" espresso will work just as well. Marsala is a fortified Italian wine available from liquor stores. You could use dry sherry, Tia Maria liqueur, Kahlua liqueur or brandy instead. Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons marsala
2 tablespoons caster sugar
1/2 cup strong espresso coffee, cooled slightly
4 mini jam sponge rolls, cut into 5mm-thick slices
50g good-quality dark chocolate, grated
1/2 cup thick vanilla custard
425g can black pitted
cherries, drained

PREAARATION:
Combine marsala, sugar and coffee in a jug. Stir until sugar dissolves.
Divide the sponge slices between four 400ml-capacity whisky glasses. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the coffee mixture. Drizzle remaining coffee mixture over the sponge slices.

Top with half the chocolate, and all the custard and cherries. Drizzle with the reserved coffee mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining chocolate and serve.