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    Home » Desserts

    Berry Trifle

    By Jill Baird · Published June 29, 2022 · Updated August 20, 2022 · Leave a Comment

    best berry trifle recipe made with pound cake, easy 4th of july recipe.

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    Jump to Recipe
    Berry Trifle Recipe, easy dessert recipe
    red white and blue Berry Trifle Recipe
    best Berry Trifle Recipe
    4th of july Berry Trifle Recipe

    This Berry Trifle recipe is a refreshing summer dessert that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.  It's a super simple recipe made with layers of juicy fresh berries, pound cake and velvety smooth whipped cream cheese.

    Jump to:
    • Berry Trifle with Pound Cake
    • Ingredients in Our Berry Trifle Recipe
    • How to Make a Berry Trifle
    • Frequently Asked Question
    • Storing
    • Variations
    • Berry Trifle Recipe
    • More Easy Summer Desserts

    Berry Trifle with Pound Cake

    One of my favorite summer recipes is this Berry Trifle with pound cake and fresh berries.  Serve in a trifle bowl or individual glasses for a stunning and simple presentation that’s perfect for BBQs, potlucks, baby showers and more.

    For the cake layer, our Berry Trifle recipe calls for pound cake which can be homemade or store bought.  During the 4th of July I even like to cut out a few star shapes to line the sides of the bowl for a fun patriotic twist.  You’ll find that some trifle recipes use pudding mix for their cream layer, but I love this easy cream cheese filling.  It’s lightened with freshly whipped cream, sweetened with powdered sugar and flavored with just a hint of vanilla.  

    Feel free to use any type of berries that you’d like - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or even a combination of them all.  Top with even more fresh berries and a little sprig of mint and voila!

    berry trifle recipes in a large trifle dish decorated with star shaped pound cake, strawberries and blueberries, trifle with pound cake.

    Ingredients in Our Berry Trifle Recipe

    • Berries - we like to use strawberries and blueberries because they hold up well.  They also make for a great red, white, and blue trifle around the 4th of July!  You can also use raspberries, blackberries or even a mixture of them all.
    • Pound Cake - if you make your own pound cake, be sure and make it enough in advance that it has time to cool completely before you make your Berry Trifle.  Or, you could also make this Lemon Bundt Cake recipe and use about 1 pound, cut into cubes.  Store bought pound cake makes this recipe super simple, too. 
    • Whipping Cream - be sure to use heavy whipping cream and make sure it’s nice and cold before whipping.
    • Cream Cheese - full fat cream cheese tastes best and will give the best texture to the whipping topping.  You’ll need it to be at room temperature.  If you forget to pull it out ahead of time, just pop it into the microwave and warm for about 10 seconds at a time until soft.
    • Powdered Sugar - we like to use powdered sugar rather than granulated sugar because it’s gives sweetness with no grittiness.
    • Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract tastes best.
    • Fresh Mint - this makes a pretty garnish, but it is completely optional.  Fresh basil would look and taste great, too.
    Cake on a cutting board cut into star shapes using a cookie cutter, pound cake trifle.

    How to Make a Berry Trifle

    1. Prepare your berries.  Wash, hull and slice the strawberries.  Reserve about ¾ up for decorating the top.
    2. Whip the cream.  In a medium mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip the heavy cream on medium speed until stiff peaks form.  Set aside.
    3. Make the whipped cream filling.  In a separate large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip the cream cheese until light and fluffy - about 2-3 minutes.  Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then whip on low speed until combined.  Increase to medium and whip until light and fluffy.  Fold the reserved whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a rubber spatula and mix until combined.
    4. Assemble the trifle.  To assemble the trifle, layer ½ of the pound cake cubes over the bottom of a 12-13" trifle dish.  Add half of the berries evenly over the top of the pound cake and then spread ½ of the whipped topping using a spatula.  Continue with one more layer of the pound cake, one more layer of berries, and the rest of the whipped cream mixture.
    5. Garnish.  Use an offset spatula to smooth out the top, then line the edges and top with the reserved berries and garnish with fresh mint.
    6. Serve.  This Berry Trifle is best enjoyed the day it is prepared but will also keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours.  Enjoy!
    A large glass bowl filled with whipped cream and cream cheese mixture on a table.

    Frequently Asked Question

    Can I make a trifle the day before?

    While trifles are best eaten the day they are prepared, they will hold well for up to 1 day in advance.

    What’s the best cake to use for a trifle?

    Pound cake works great because it soaks up all of the juices from the berries, but is firm enough to hold its shape and structure.  You could also use a bundt cake, angel’s food cake or ladyfingers.  

    For an easy shortcut, don’t forget about store bought cakes.  They will save you loads of time and still taste great.

    Can you make a trifle without a trifle bowl?

    Absolutely!  If you don’t have a trifle dish, you can use any kind of decorative bowl, salad bowl or serving bowl.  It’s a bonus if it’s glass so you can see the layers, but not completely necessary.  Also, you can make these in individual glasses - either glass or even plastic disposable ones.

    The side view of a 4th of july Berry Trifle made with strawberries, blueberries, pound cake and decorated with a sprig of mint.

    Storing

    • Refrigerator: store any leftover Berry Trifle in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
    • Make-ahead: if you want to make this ahead of time, the best way is to prepare all of your berries, cake cubes and cream cheese filling the day before and then store them separately in the fridge.  It’s a good idea to add about 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to the berries to keep them nice and fresh.

    Variations

    • Substitute some Angel Food Cake or Lemon Pound Cake for a fun variation.
    • Add some lemon curd for a tart pop of flavor.
    • Top with some extra Whipped Cream or Macerated Berries.
    best berry trifle recipe made with pound cake, easy 4th of july recipe.
    Print

    Berry Trifle Recipe

    This Berry Trifle is a refreshing summer dessert that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.  It's a super simple recipe made with layers of juicy fresh berries, pound cake and velvety smooth whipped cream cheese.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Servings 12 people
    Calories 415kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups Strawberries sliced (reserve ¾ cup for garnish)
    • 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
    • 16 ounces Cream Cheese room temperature
    • 1 ½ cups Powdered Sugar
    • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
    • 1 lb Pound Cake cut into 1" cubes
    • 3 sprigs Mint for garnish on top

    Instructions

    • Wash, hull and slice the strawberries. Reserve about ¾ up for decorating the top.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip the heavy cream on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
    • In a separate large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip the cream cheese until light and fluffy - about 2-3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then whip on low speed until combined. Increase to medium and whip until light and fluffy. Fold the reserved whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a rubber spatula and mix until combined.
    • To assemble the trifle, layer ½ of the pound cake cubes over the bottom of a 12-13" trifle dish. Add half of the berries evenly over the top of the pound cake and then spread ½ of the whipped topping using a spatula.
    • Continue with one more layer of the pound cake, one more layer of berries, and the rest of the whipped cream mixture. Use an offset spatula to smooth out the top, then line the edges and top with the reserved berries and garnish with fresh mint.
    • This Berry Trifle is best enjoyed the day it is prepared but will also keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 286mg | Potassium: 188mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 1142IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1mg

    More Easy Summer Desserts

    • No-Bake Cheesecake Bars
    • Key Lime Pie
    • Rice Krispie Pops
    • Strawberry Pretzel Salad
    • Easy No Bake Cheesecake
    • Lemon Raspberry Parfait
    • No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Dip
    • No-Bake Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake
    • More No-Bake Desserts
    • More Dessert Recipes

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you. It helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    This easy Berry Trifle recipe is made with pound cake, fresh berries and a rich and smooth cream cheese filling. It's the perfect summer dessert to bring to potlucks, BBQs, birthday parties and more.

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