Summer Berry Trifle
This summer berry trifle has layers of cake, pudding and berries. It tastes best when made ahead but can also be assembled at the last minute. And it makes a great option for your summertime gatherings! This easy-to-prepare trifle will delight your friends and family.
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What you’ll love about this recipe:
- CUSTOMIZABLE – Very easily customized with any cake or pudding flavors, and packed with your favorite or seasonal fruits. This trifle is easily assembled within minutes.
- HEALTHY – We love it because it combines a healthier take on a traditional dessert! We use healthier ingredients for this sweet treat.
- INEXPENSIVE – This recipe makes a budget friendly dessert that is perfect for your summer gatherings and potlucks.
Summer heat calls for light desserts and this one hits the spot. Using many in season berries, it’s a favorite for a simple dessert that will wow your guests!
This version is a little twist on the traditional English trifle, making this dessert easy to make and so fun.
It is just perfect for summertime! It’s light and perfectly flavored with the season’s best berries! You can customize it to incorporate your favorite fruits.
It makes a great dessert to take along for a Memorial Day or 4th of July gathering because it’s full of beautiful fresh berry color.
Ingredients
You can make a deliciously fresh dessert with a few basic ingredients. This recipe gives you options for healthier alternatives.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 box of vanilla cake mix (plus baking ingredients) — we love Annie’s or other options from Thrive Market
- 3.4-ounce instant vanilla pudding mix — Thrive Market has great healthier pudding mixes.
- whole milk
- 8-ounce tub of Truwhip — This is a great alternative to cool whip, but you can substitute for an even healthier alternative like homemade whipped cream. This can easily be done by whipping together heavy cream and a natural sweetener like maple syrup.
- fresh strawberries, chopped into small pieces
- fresh blueberries
Optional toppings:
- strawberries
- blueberries
- raspberries
Instructions
This simple trifle recipe is super easy to put together!
Prepare two 8-inch round cakes per the instructions on the box and allow them to cool completely. This can be done in advance.
If your cakes have a rounded top, you can flip them to cut them level, but it is not necessary. Set the cakes aside while you prepare the filling.
In a large bowl add instant pudding mix and milk and beat until it starts to thicken with a hand electric mixer.
Fold in half of the whipped cream to the pudding mixture and set aside.
Be sure to reserve the remaining whipped cream for later.
Trim edges of the cake off to fit into your dish if necessary. And begin layering the trifle dish.
Add 1 of the cakes to the trifle dish (if needed cut the edge of your cake off to fit into your dish).
Next, add half of the pudding & whipping mixture and layer smoothly. Then add the chopped strawberries.
Add the second cake on top of the strawberries. Then spread the remaining pudding mixture.
Layer the fresh blueberries on top of this whipped pudding mixture.
Next, top with the remaining whipped cream that was set aside.
Add any additional topping items, such as fresh fruit, as desired. Garnish with your favorite mixed berries and fresh mint according to taste.
Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
Favorite fresh berries:
- strawberries
- blueberries
- blackberries
- raspberries
- mulberries
How to store this Berry Trifle:
Store in the trifle dish inside the refrigerator with a cover until ready to serve. This recipe makes a great make ahead dessert that will save you time for your next summer gathering!
More favorite desserts
Here’s a few of our favorite dessert recipes that we think you’ll love too!
FAQ (frequently asked questions)
Yes, you absolutely could make the trifle a day ahead! I wouldn’t recommend making it ahead more more than a day for freshness. You may want to make the cake & pudding a day ahead and leave the super quick assembly for the day of your event! This will give it the best results.
I do not recommend using frozen fruit as it is a lot harder to decorate with. Frozen fruit tends to bleed and will color the pudding layers. Frozen fruit also doesn’t keep as long as fresh fruit. Your trifle would have to be enjoyed the same day.
This trifle recipe is very versatile. You could use really any other cake flavor. Angel food cake or pound cake are also great options.
want more recipes?
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Summer Berry Trifle Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 vanilla cake mix makes 2 8-inch cakes
- 3.4 ounce vanilla pudding mix instant
- 2 cups whole milk
- 8 ounce whipped cream such as Truwhip or homemade whipped cream
- 2 ½ cups strawberries chopped
- 1 ½ cups blueberries
Toppings (optional):
Instructions
- Prepare two 8-inch round cakes per the instructions on the box and allow them to cool completely. This can be done in advance. If your cakes have a rounded top, you can flip them to cut them level, but it is not necessary. Set aside.
- In a large bowl add instant pudding mix and milk and beat until it starts to thicken with a hand electric mixer.
- Fold in half of the whipped cream to the pudding mixture and set aside.
- Trim edges of the cake off to fit into your dish if necessary. And begin layering the trifle dish.
- Add one of the cakes to the trifle dish (if needed cut the edge of your cake off to fit into your dish).
- Next, add half of the pudding & whipping mixture and layer smoothly. Then add the chopped strawberries.
- Add the second cake on top of the strawberries. Then spread the remaining pudding mixture.
- Layer the fresh blueberries on top of this whipped pudding mixture.
- Next, top with the remaining whipped cream that was set aside.
- Add any additional topping items, such as fresh fruit, as desired.
