Fresh berries, lightly whipped cream, thick homemade pudding, moist cake – this fruit trifle dessert is filled with some of our favorite things. It’s an impressive dish to bring along to your next barbecue. Warm weather and fresh berries just go together so well, don’t they? When you add in a bit of homemade whipped cream and vanilla pudding you can’t go wrong. Your guests will be in awe at how gorgeous and delicious this trifle dessert is. It’s also very simple to put together after you’ve done a bit of prep work! The hardest part will be having the patience to let it chill before you can dig in. It’s a relatively light dessert, so it’s perfect for a picnic or outdoor party.
Frozen vs Fresh Berries:
While frozen berries generally work well in baking, you’re going to want to opt for fresh in our berry trifle recipe. Now, traditional recipes involve warming the berries in a saucepan with jam and a bit of lemon juice. If you want to make an English fruit trifle, you could substitute frozen berries for fresh. As a rule of thumb, if you’re working from a no-bake recipe like this one, fresh is always better.
Store-Bought vs Homemade Whipped Cream and Pudding:
We go crazy over our homemade whipped cream and vanilla pudding that is included in this recipe. There’s something so satisfying about knowing exactly which ingredients you put into your food, and we’re here for it! That said, in a pinch, you can absolutely use store-bought whipped cream and pudding in your trifle dessert.
Can I Use Store-Bought Cake?
Again, store-bought is always fine if you’re short on time. This fruit trifle recipe uses Rachel’s perfect angel food cake recipe. If you have the time, we encourage you to try your hand at baking it yourself!
Is There Alcohol in Trifle?
Traditional English recipes sometimes include alcohol. The cake is soaked in sherry to add even more flavor. If you want to make this cake kid-friendly, or simply don’t like the idea of adding in alcohol, you can definitely skip it. Our berry trifle recipe is booze-free.
Serving Bowl Options:
No trifle dish at home? No problem! There’s no need to run out to the store and pick one up. Unless you plan on becoming a fruit trifle aficionado, there’s no pressure to serve yours in a special dish. You can easily use a deep, glass bowl. Always try to go with a clear bowl – admiring the different layers of your trifle dessert is one of the best parts of making (and eating) this dish!
Easy-to-Make Variations:
This is a berry trifle recipe, but there are tons of variations out there! Here are some of our favorites to try now:
Use a different flavor of pudding: Chocolate, lemon, or cheesecake come to mind!Use a different type of cake: You can use pound cake, sponge cake, or even chocolate cake for a decadent double-chocolate trifle.Add in more fruit: Peaches, nectarines, or even mangoes would pair wonderfully with the berries.
Troubleshooting: Am I Supposed to Add Beef to Creamy Berry Trifle?
No. Even if your friends (including the entire Geller family) pretend to like it, it does not taste good. If you happen to be friends with Joey, he will inevitably eat it. We kid, but seriously…beef in a fruit trifle is a big no-no!
Make-Ahead Instructions:
You can definitely make your dessert the day before you plan on serving it. In fact, some chefs swear by making this dessert ahead of time! It gives the flavors ample time to come together for even more yummy results. We recommend that you serve yours anywhere between 2 and 24 hours after you make it. Hold off on adding the top layer of whipped cream and berries until just before eating for the best results.
Storage Instructions:
This berry trifle recipe is best eaten fresh, or at least within 24-hours of making it. If you do end up with some leftovers (which is unlikely – people gobble this stuff up!), wrap the serving bowl tightly in plastic wrap before placing it in the fridge. It will keep for up to 3 days. If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious dessert recipes:
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Watch the video below where Caytlin will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes. Δ Δ
