Easy Strawberry Trifle Recipe

Artfully layered, sliced ripe strawberries, cubed angel food cake, and creamy whipped vanilla pudding make this strawberry trifle a dessert to be remembered.

With its beautiful layers and bright red strawberries, a strawberry trifle looks like a work of art. Maybe you could call it a work of art although that would imply that it takes a lot of effort to create.

This trifle definitely does not take a ton of effort. It’s basically strawberry shortcake in a fancy bowl.

Once fresh strawberries hit the market, I start thinking about this trifle. It’s one of my sister’s favorites so we often make it for her birthday. It kind of looks like a fancy layer cake in a bowl so we stick a few candles in it and sing Happy Birthday!

Strawberries are so lovely but a trifle can made with other summer berries, like raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries. I love peach desserts in the summer like this peach crumble, and sliced peaches are fantastic in this trifle, too. Try combining fruits for your own stunning creation. Blueberries and strawberries make a stunning patriotic dessert. Try using bananas and banana pudding for a banana twist!

About this layered dessert

The three simple building blocks of this dessert are:

1. angel food cake
2. strawberries
3. whipped cream + pudding

What makes it look so stunning is:

1. seven easy layers
2. a clear glass trifle bowl that displays all seven layers so artfully.

You look like a dessert genius and it’s really all so simple. It’s a no-bake recipe, perfect for summer!

I’ll run you through the basics in the next few paragraphs, but as always, the full printable recipe can be found at the bottom of the post.

What you need

• Angel Food Cake: Bake your own from scratch, use a mix, or buy an angel food cake already made from the grocery store. It doesn’t really matter which one you choose.
• Strawberries: Red ripe strawberries add so much beauty and flavor to the trifle. Slice the strawberries thinly.
• Whipped Cream, Instant Vanilla Pudding, Milk, and Plain Yogurt: The homemade whipped cream is stabilized by the pudding mix so that this trifle can be made ahead.
• Orange Zest: Finely grated orange zest is stirred into the creamy whipped pudding mixture to add citrusy flavor. Lemon or lime zest is good, too.
• Trifle Bowl: A clear glass large straight-sided bowl is indispensable to display this beautifully layered dessert. A regular bowl won’t have the same “Wow!” effect but, you know what, the dessert will taste (and look) the same once it’s scooped out — absolutely delicious!

How to put a trifle together

First off, cube your cake. Cut it into one inch squares. Some people like a more rustic look so they tear the cake into pieces. That’s fine, too.

Next, prepare the strawberries. Rinse them off and hull them (remove the green cap). Slice them thinly, about 1/8 inch thick, from top to bottom.

For the next part, you’ll need a couple of large bowls and your mixer. Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.

In the other bowl, blend together milk, yogurt, and instant vanilla pudding mix.

Gently fold in the whipped cream and grated orange zest.

Time to layer! Start with half the angel food cake, then a third of the strawberries, then half the whipped cream/pudding mixture.

Repeat all three layers, and decorate the top with the remaining strawberries. You’re done! How beautiful is that!

Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve. The trifle is best if you give it a couple of hours in the fridge.

Remember, presentation is everything with a trifle. Set the bowl in the middle of the table and let everyone ooh and ahh.

Once that moment has passed, stick a big spoon into the trifle and give everyone a plate and a spoon. Dig in!

FAQs

How to make this trifle your own

• For a mixed berry trifle, combine raspberries, blueberries, black raspberries, and strawberries. Use all four or any combination of berries you like. Sliced peaches are great, too.
• Add sliced bananas to make a strawberry banana trifle.
• If you’d like to make your trifle with cream cheese, use the whipped cream and cream cheese filling from these No Bake Lemon Berry Cheesecakes. The creamy layer in the cheesecakes works perfectly in a trifle.
• Prefer custard? Try this simple custard from All Recipes, or my vanilla pudding.
• Instead of angel food cake, try brownies. These Raspberry & Brownie Mini Trifles are amazing.

Make Ahead Ideas

To get a head start on making this dessert, make your angel food cake up to a day in advance (if you’re making your own). Cut the cake into cubes and place in a covered bowl or plastic bag.

You can assemble the entire trifle in the morning, cover it tightly and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve it.

Storage Suggestions

Leftover trifle will keep in the fridge for up to twenty-four hours. It may deflate a bit, and the juice from the strawberries will run a little, but will still taste good.

More creamy dessert recipes

Creamy, dreamy, yummy! Aren’t those desserts the best kind? Try:

• Pink Lemonade No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes
• Chocolate Pudding Pie Recipe
• Pumpkin Poke Cake (with real pumpkin, not canned)
• Easy Crème Brûlée for Two (Slow Cooker!)
• Easy Grapefruit Cheesecake Bars with Mint
• Fruit Salad Parfaits with Shortbread Cookie Crumble
• Mini Fruit Tarts – EASY!
• Irish Coffee Ice Cream Pie with Whiskey Ganache
• Yogurt Tart with Oat Crust
• Cappuccino Mousse Cups