The 'F.R.I.E.N.D.S' Culinary Cut

The One With The Trifle

Perhaps one of the most iconic Thanksgiving television moments — Rachel Green's Trifle. Accidentally blending two disparate recipes, minced meet pie and a classic English trifle, resulting in something that tastes like…feet. While Rachel’s trifle did not work out (although Joey would disagree), I admire Rachel’s ambition to try a new recipe the day of. I too make a new recipe on Thanksgiving each year to brighten the table and layer an exciting new dish to our traditional spread.

Last year it was green bean casserole (shout out to the delicious Bon Appétit recipe), the year before that it was risotto. This year it is going to be this gorgeous trifle. It has a naturally impressive stance, comes together easily and can be made hours in advance, most of the layers even the day before. Even if you not are not a fan of being in the kitchen, all your friends will trust you, be happy you made this dish and thanks to a digital platform, you need not worry about recipe pages getting stuck together.

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Key Lime Trifle

I went back and forth on this recipe for awhile. I wanted to do a savory-sweet trifle like Rachel, I really did. I worked a few ideas but most of them made my stomach churn. After some testing, I could not find the the right balance and ultimately felt like I was forcing it. Maybe one day I will figure out the right recipe but until then I landed on something else which I feel is perfect.

While this does not scream traditional Thanksgiving dessert, I think it works wonderfully. One of my friends brought a Key Lime Pie to Thanksgiving last year and I loved the idea. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around I have eaten enough pumpkin and apple delights that I am eager for something new. Not necessarily ready to retire pumpkin and apple but a welcomed freshness is appreciated, and that is what this is.

So I decided to do Rachel Green justice and make a dessert trifle, the way she originally envisioned. These bright flavors offer a delightful contrast to the rich and hearty spread. The creamy and zesty layers are balanced with light and buttery cookies and finished with a whipped topping that resembles a snow fallen morning. I love how this turned out and am excited to share it at my Thanksgivings going forward, I hope you do too.