Easy Layered Berry Trifle Recipe

Delicious layers of shortcake, fresh fruit, and creamy filling make this Berry Trifle Recipe perfect for any occasion. Bonus: It comes together quickly!

More fresh recipes: Spring Sweet Pea Soup  –  Raw Raspberry Cream Pie: Vegan and Gluten Free  –  Watermelon, Lime, and Hibiscus Ice Pops

Trifle Recipe From Remodelaholic

Trifle Recipe

adapted from Brown Eyed Baker’s Red, White and Blue Trifle recipe

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Create your layered delight in a Trifle Bowl to share all its beauty. Or if you’d prefer something needing less space, check out this flat-bottomed glass bowl. Either one would showcase this Trifle Recipe’s luscious layers! Trifle bowls are also available in individual serving sizes and with patterned sides.

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What’s in Berry Trifle?

Whats In Trifle From Remodelaholic

The ingredients for Trifle are superbly basic and will form three layers:

  • Cream Layer: Vanilla Pudding, Cream cheese, powdered sugar, and whipped topping combine to make a sweet, smooth, and creamy layer. (Cream cheese needs to be room-temp and whipped topping thawed, not frozen)
  • Cake Layer: We love Costco’s Shortcake loaves cut into cubes. A homemade version would work just as well! Angel Food Cake is also a good option.
  • Fresh Fruit Layer: This trifle recipe calls for raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, but customize it to what you have and what your family loves.

How to Make Trifle – 3 Layers

Berry Trifle Recipe, 3 Layers, From Remodelaholic

1. Berry Layer for Trifle Recipe

I like to start with the berries so they have time to completely dry.

  • Wash all berries very well.
  • Remove tops of strawberries, cut large strawberries into manageable bite-size pieces.
  • Spread all berries out in a single layer to dry completely. Spinning the fruit in a salad spinner can speed the process along. Inspect the middles of the raspberries and gently shake any water out of them.

2. Cream Layer for Trifle Recipe:

Note: This makes just enough for a thin cream layer. If you prefer thicker cream layers, double the recipe.

  • Pudding and Milk: Whisk together a 3.4 oz box (4-serving, small size) of vanilla pudding mix and 2 cups cold milk for about 2 minutes until it’s smooth and there are no lumps. Set aside.

Trifle Recipe With Vanilla Pudding, From Remodelaholic

  • Cream Cheese and Powdered Sugar: Cream Cheese needs to be room temperature, so set it out several hours before. Whip it until smooth, then add in 1 cup powdered sugar and whip until smooth again.

Trifle Recipe With Cream Cheese, From Remodelaholic

  • Fold the pudding and cream cheese mixture together until well combined.

Trifle Recipe With Vanilla Pudding And Cream Cheese, From Remodelaholic

  • Whipped Topping: The whipped topping needs to be thawed, so keep it in the fridge for 24 hours before using. Fold in the 8 oz of whipped topping until there are no lumps or white streaks.

Berry Trifle Recipe With Cream Cheese, Vanilla Pudding And Whipped Topping, From Remodelaholic

3. Cake Layer for Trifle Recipe:

Premade shortcakes make this recipe so easy, but if you’re making your own cake, be sure to use a recipe for a firm, moist cake that will hold up when cut into small cubes. You want it to be a cake layer, not a crumb layer. 🙂

  • Cut 2 loaves of shortcake into cubes 1″ or less.

Berry Trifle Recipe With Costco Shortcake, From Remodelaholic

How to make Trifle – Assembly

How To Assemble A Berry Trifle, Recipe From Remodelaholic

Tip: Spin the trifle bowl after each layer to inspect how the trifle looks from the outside. Adjust as needed by pressing the layers into each other, propping ingerdients against the side of the bowl, gently shaking the bowl, or tapping the bowl on the counter. 

First layer: Cream. Spread about 1/3 of the cream mixture on the bottom of your trifle bowl, taking care not to smear any where the subsequent layers of trifle will go. Use a good silicone scraper or wet paper towel to remove any misplaced cream.

Second Layer: Cake cubes. Spread 1/2 of the cake cubes on top of the cream mixture, about 1 cube deep. Press the cubes into the cream mixture, but not all the way to the bottom of the bowl. Remember to spin your bowl to see if you like how it looks.

Third Layer: Berries. Place about 1/3 of the berries on top of the cake layer. You can be really methodical with this, patterning the berries in a certain order, or more haphazard. Just keep checking the bowl from the outside to ensure you like the look.

Repeat: Continue with another 1/3 of the cream, the other 1/2 of the cake cubes, then another 1/3 of the berries (again, keeping an eye on how it looks from the outside of the bowl). Your goal is to finish just about even with the top of the bowl or slightly above.

One More Cream Layer: Cover the top layer of berries with the remaining cream.

How To Make Berry Trifle From Remodelaholic

Top with Berries: Arrange the remaining berries on top of the cream.

Recipe For Berry Trifle, From Remodelaholic

Serve the Trifle immediately or cover with a layer of aluminum foil or plastic wrap and serve within a few hours. Within 24 hours is best.

Tips for Making the Best Berry Trifle

  • Make sure to place the berries in an even layer when building the trifle.
  • When making the pudding, be sure to use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to incorporate all ingredients.

Why You’ll Love this Mixed Berry Trifle

  • Easy – This easy berry trifle is a super simple way to create an impressive dessert that everyone will love.
  • Versatile – You can make this trifle for any casual cookout or gathering but it’s also the perfect summer dessert for special occasions and patriotic holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and July 4th.
  • Customizable – One of the best things about this trifle is that it is so customizable. You can switch up the berries and swap ingredients to make your own signature trifle.

Variations

This is a delicious dessert just the way it is but you can switch things up in the recipe, too.

  • Citrus – Toss the berries in lemon juice or lime juice for a touch of tart flavor. You can also create another layer using lemon curd or sprinkle lemon zest over each of the layers of fruit if you want more citrus flavor.
  • Small version – Instead of make a large trifle, make this into individual mini trifles by layering the ingredients in mason jars.
  • Whipped topping – Instead of using Cool Whip or a similar store-bought topping, make your own whipped cream using heavy whipping cream and sugar.
  • Cake – Instead of purchased shortcake you can use homemade pound cake (or store-bought pound cake).
  • Extract – For more vanilla flavor, add vanilla extract to the pudding or whipped topping. You can also use another extract if you want to infuse another flavor.
  • Cookies – If you want to add texture to the trifle, you can add layers of lady fingers.
  • Berries – Skip the other berries and use only strawberries for a trifle version of strawberry shortcake. Or, make an all blue dessert by leaving out the strawberries.

Berry Trifle

Print Recipe
How To Make Berry Trifle From Remodelaholic
Prep Time:30 minutes
Cook Time:0 minutes
Total Time:30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 small loaves of shortcake
  • 3.4 oz box vanilla pudding mix (4-serving, small box)
  • 2 cups cold milk
  • 8 oz cream cheese room-temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 8 oz whipped topping thawed
  • 16 oz package fresh strawberries
  • 12 oz package fresh raspberries
  • 16 oz package fresh blueberries
  • 18 oz package fresh blackberries

Instructions

  • Wash and dry berries.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together vanilla pudding powder and cold milk for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
  • Beat cream cheese on medium until smooth in a large bowl. Slowly add the powdered sugar, beating at a low speed. Beat until all powdered sugar has been added and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  • Fold the pudding into the cream cheese mixture and mix until fully combined. Add the whipped topping and again mix until smooth and there are no lumps or white streaks.
  • Cut shortcake into cubes.
  • Start the trifle with a layer of the pudding mixture, then a layer of shortcake cubes, then a mixture of berries. Repeat until you reach the top of the bowl. Top with one last pudding layer and arrange berries on top. Enjoy!

Notes

*Pudding recipe makes a bit of a lean amount. Consider doubling pudding mixture if you want each serving to have a fair amount of pudding.
*Serve immediately or top with tin foil and stick in the fridge until ready to serve (best within 24 hours).
*Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker's Red White and Blue Trifle recipe
Servings: 10

More delicious berry recipes:

Please pin this for later!

Trifle Recipe With Berries From Remodelaholic

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