This Triple Berry Trifle recipe is a beautiful and delicious dessert made with layers of cake, creamy cheesecake pudding, a colorful berry layers comprised of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Not only is this Berry Trifle simple to make and ready in less than 20 minutes.
Trifle is such a classic dessert and one of my favorite desserts and for good reason. It is full of all the things that I love. The trifle is filled with a cake base, covered in a creamy pudding or whipped topping layer, and then layers are topped with fresh fruit.
It is also a very forgiving dessert. I like trifles because it doesn’t matter how your cake turns out. Have a cake that puffs up in the center? No worries, trifles hide all the mistakes. The cake is going to be torn or cut into bite-size pieces anyways!
A triple berry trifle recipe such as this one can be easily customized to suit your tastes. Just another reason to love this easy dessert. If you've never made berry trifle with cheesecake pudding, you have to give this recipe a try.
A berry trifle is an ideal summertime dessert that takes advantage of fruits while they are at their peak. It is a light dessert that lets the ingredients be the stars of the show.
Are you hosting a 4th of July party? This trifle would look very festive and patriotic on your dessert table at the party.
Looking for more layered desserts that will satisfy your sweet tooth? If so, take a look at our Espresso Granita With White Chocolate Cream. This yummy dessert will make your taste buds so happy.
Layers in Triple Berry Trifle
This Berry Trifle has four different layers. Each layer starts off with an angel food cake base, then gets topped with cheesecake pudding, whipped cream, and then lastly some colorful fresh berries.
I layered my dessert in the following order: cake, pudding, whipped topping, and fruit. Then repeated the layers three times. It doesn’t matter if you use pudding or whipped topping first, though I really like the way the pudding tastes on top of the angel food cake.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It takes little time and effort to make this stunning dessert.
- You can easily customize trifle to suit your tastes.
- Perfect for parties and special occasions.
- Trifle transports well, just be sure to keep it upright.
- The cheesecake layer is very creamy and delicious.
- The angel food cake and berries help keep this trifle a light dessert!
Ingredients in Triple Berry Trifle
- Prepared Angel Food Cake
- Instant Cheesecake Pudding Mix
- Milk
- Whipped Topping
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
How to Make Triple Berry Trifle
This beautiful trifle made with angel food cake, cream cheese pudding, and fresh berries comes together with very little effort.
Step One: Prepare Pudding Layer
In a medium bowl, whisk together the pudding and milk until smooth. Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble.
Step Two: Prepare Fruit Layer
Wash and drain all fruit. Remove the tops from the strawberries and cut them into pieces. Add all berries to a bowl and toss to combine.
Step Three: Prepare Cake Layer
Chop up the angel food cake into bite-size pieces. I cut mine into 2”x 2” cubes.
Step Four: Assemble Trifle
Place ⅓ of the cake pieces in a single layer on the bottom of a trifle dish. Top with ⅓ of the cheesecake pudding and smooth into an even layer.
Add ⅓ of the whipped topping on top of the pudding and smooth. Top with about ⅓ of your berries. Repeat for two more layers.
Top the cheesecake trifle with the remaining whipped topping and berries.
Refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving.
Substitutions
Don’t have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this triple berry trifle recipe.
- Switch out the cake: You can swap the angel food cake for pound cake or any other cake you prefer. It can be cut into cubes or simply torn into small bite-size pieces.
- Use different fruits: Choose whatever berries you like to eat. Blackberries and Boysenberries are terrific options.
- Use a different flavored pudding: Replace the cream cheese pudding with vanilla pudding, lemon pudding or any other flavor you prefer.
Variations
Want to personalize this triple berry trifle recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- If you have the extra time, whipping some heavy whipping cream makes this trifle extra special.
- Make a strawberry cheesecake trifle. During strawberry season, I sometimes make this strawberries as the only fruit. It's the perfect way to make strawberry shortcake for a crowd.
- Add some crunch by sprinkling something like candied walnuts over the top.
- Use glasses, canning jars, ice-cream sundae cups, or single-serve trifle dishes (yes, they make those!) to make individual trifle servings.
Equipment
You only need a handful of kitchen tools to make berry trifle.
- Mixing Bowl
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Cutting Board and Knife
- Trifle Bowl
I prefer to use a trifle bowl when making trifles. I like a trifle bowl that is not on a stand, but one on a stand will also work just fine. It's up to your personal preference.
If you do not have a trifle bowl, you could have a tall clear glass bowl. Look for a deep round dish that is made from clear glass. Here is a trifle bowl that is similar to mine if you are in the market for a trifle bowl.
You don't need to spend a lot of money unless you want to.
Storage
Refrigerator: Trifle that has been well-covered in plastic wrap can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Trifle doesn't freeze well, so I don't recommend it. No worries, there aren't likely to be any leftovers after 3 days.
Tips
- Prepare all the separate components of the trifle before assembling.
- Take extra care with placing the first layer, as this will be the first visible thing in the bowl.
- Ideally, allow enough time for the trifle to sit in the refrigerator 2-3 hours before serving. This gives the layers a chance to meld.
- Save time by purchasing angel food cake from the supermarket bakery department.
FAQ
Do you have questions about making triple berry trifle? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about easy trifle dessert.
Trifle originated in England in the 18th century. The first trifle consisted of three or four layers. The layers would often be alcohol-soaked cake, a layer of custard, and an additional layer of fresh fruit. If a fourth layer was used, it was a layer of fruit jam. Trifle is a simple dessert that tastes decadent.
No, unfortunately, frozen berries will not work well in a trifle. Frozen berries drain quite a bit as they thaw and will make the cake soggy. Fresh fruit should only be used when making a trifle for dessert.
Yes, this berry trifle recipe works well when it is made ahead. If you are planning for an event, you want to make your trifle at least two or three hours before your event. However, you could also make this dish up to 24 hours in advance. If you are making this dessert ahead of your event, be sure to keep your trifle cool and refrigerated.
Never allow your trifle to sit out of the fridge for more than two hours. After two hours, your pudding and whipped topping could start to separate if it is not cold.
More Delicious Dessert Recipes
- Berry Trifle with Angel Food Cake
- Banana Pudding Cheesecake Trifle
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle
- Caramel Brownie Trifle
- Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake
- Pistachio Fluff
Triple Berry Trifle with Cheesecake Layer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 prepared angel food
- 2 boxes (3.4 oz) instant cheesecake pudding mix
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tub (16 oz) whipped topping thawed
- 2 small packages fresh raspberries
- 1 package fresh blueberries
- 1 pound fresh strawberries tops removed and sliced
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the pudding and milk until smooth. Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble.
- Prepare your berries by washing generously and remove the tops of your strawberries and chop into small pieces. Add to a bowl and toss to mix.
- Chop up the angel good cake into bit size pieces. I cut mine into 2”x 2” cubes.
- Place ⅓ of the cake pieces in a single layer on the bottom of a trifle dish.
- Top with ⅓ of the cheesecake pudding and smooth into an even later.
- Add ⅓ of the whipped topping on top of the pudding and smooth.
- Top with about ⅓ of your berries.
- Repeat for two more layers. Top the trifle with the remaining whipped topping and berries.
- Refrigerate the trifle before serving for 2-3 hours, this makes serving easier, the layers hold together better and allows the flavors to combine nicely. Enjoy every bite!
Notes
- Prepare all the separate components of the trifle before assembling.
- Take extra care with placing the first layer, as this will be the first visible thing in the bowl.
- Ideally, allow enough time for the trifle to sit in the refrigerator 2-3 hours before serving. This gives the layers a chance to meld.
- Save time by purchasing angel food cake from the supermarket bakery department.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. After this time, the cake can get soggy
- Cut the cake with a serrated bread knife to get fewer crumbs.
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