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1
Make jam: Combine all ingredients in heavy medium saucepan.
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2
Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture boils.
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3
Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until jam is thick, stirring often, about 22 minutes.
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4
Transfer to small bowl.
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5
Cover and chill up to 3 days.
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6
Make cake: Preheat oven to 325u00b0F.
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7
Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan.
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8
Line bottom with parchment; butter parchment.
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9
Blend almond paste and sugar in processor until mixture resembles fine meal, about 1 minute.
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10
Add butter and vanilla and blend well, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl.
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11
Blend in eggs 1 at a time.
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12
Using on/off turns, blend in flour, baking powder and salt (do not overmix).
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13
Transfer batter to prepared pan.
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14
Place pan on baking sheet; bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean and top is golden, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
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15
Cool cake in pan on rack.
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16
Cover; let stand at room temperature 1 day.
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17
Make custard: Whisk 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan to blend.
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18
Beat in yolks and vanilla.
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19
Gradually whisk in half and half.
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20
Stir over medium heat until custard thickens and boils.
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21
Transfer to bowl.
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22
Press plastic wrap directly onto surface; chill 1 day.
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23
Cut around pan sides to loosen cake; release pan sides.
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24
Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers; discard parchment.
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25
Spoon thin layer of custard over bottom of 3- to 3 1/2-quart trifle bowl.
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26
Trim 1 cake layer to fit, if necessary; place in bowl.
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27
Spread with 1/3 of custard.
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28
Mix chopped cherries into jam.
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29
Spoon 1/3 of jam mixture atop custard; spread to edge of bowl so that jam shows.
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30
Top with second cake layer, half of remaining custard and half of remaining jam mixture; spread to edge of bowl.
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31
Top with third cake layer.
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32
Spread with remaining jam mixture, if desired.
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33
Beat whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
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34
Transfer to pastry bag fitted with star tip.
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35
Pipe cream in center of trifle.
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36
Pipe rosettes around edge; top rosettes with whole cherries.
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37
Sprinkle trifle with almonds.
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38
Cover; chill at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.