Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Artfully layered sliced ripe strawberries, cubed angel food cake, and creamy whipped vanilla pudding make this strawberry trifle a dessert to be remembered. A trifle is easy, surprisingly light, and stunningly beautiful.
How long it takes: 15 minutes plus 2 hours to chill
Equipment you’ll need: trifle bowl, mixing bowl, electric mixer, measuring utensils
Servings: 10
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:
- angel food cake
- strawberries
- whipped cream + pudding
What makes it look so stunning is:
- seven easy layers
- 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!
Ingredient Notes
- 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.
Inexpensive Trifle Bowl
A trifle bowl is indispensable to display this beautifully layered dessert. A regular bowl won’t have the same “Wow!” effect. Need a bowl for your trifle? This is the one in the photos and it’s very affordable!
How to put a trifle together
Cube the 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.
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.
Make the creamy layer. 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.
Cooking Tip
Make sure you gently fold in the whipped cream! If you stir, stir, stir, the whipped cream will deflate and the mixture will be soupy instead of fluffy.
Layer the trifle. 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!
Chill. 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.
Serve. 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!
Recipe Variations
- 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.
- Strawberry banana trifle: Substitute a couple of sliced bananas for 2 cups of the strawberries. Ideally, the bananas should be ripe but still firm.
- Cream cheese 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. I’ve done this several times and the creamy layer in the cheesecakes works perfectly in a trifle.
- Custard trifle: Try this simple custard from All Recipes, or my vanilla pudding.
- Chocolate strawberry trifle: Instead of angel food cake, use brownies. If you want a double chocolate trifle, homemade chocolate pudding can be folded in with the whipped cream.
Get a head start: Make your angel food cake up to a day in advance or simply purchase an angel food cake. Cut the cake into cubes and place in a covered bowl or plastic bag.
Make it a few hours ahead of time. You can assemble the entire trifle in the morning, cover it tightly and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve it.
Refrigerate: 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.
Creamy, dreamy, yummy! Aren’t those desserts the best kind?
Creamy Dessert Recipes
Strawberry Trifle
Ingredients
- 2 cups (16 oz.) heavy cream, chilled
- 1 cup cold 2% milk (or whole milk)
- 1 cup plain unflavored yogurt
- 1 package (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 8 cups cubed (1-inch cubes) angel food cake
- 4 cups sliced strawberries (about 1 pound)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat heavy cream with a hand mixer (or stand mixer) at medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Set aside.2 cups (16 oz.) heavy cream, chilled
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat milk, yogurt, and pudding mix, until thickened, about 2 minutes.1 cup cold 2% milk, 1 cup plain unflavored yogurt, 1 package (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding
- Fold in orange zest and whipped cream (step 1) until just combined. Do not overmix.1 teaspoon orange zest
- Place half the angel food cake cubes in 3 quart trifle bowl. Arrange one third of the strawberries around sides of bowl and over cake. Spoon half of pudding mixture over strawberries.
- Repeat layers once, and top with remaining berries.
- For best taste and texture, refrigerate for two hours before serving.
Notes
- Fruit Variations: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, bananas. Try a combination of fruits, if you like.
- Top trifle with toasted sliced almonds, if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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