This Easy Summer Berry Trifle is a simple dessert with all the summer vibes! Layers of cake, fresh summer berries, and a homemade whipped cream pudding mix combine for a beautiful trifle that’s as perfect for patriotic holidays like Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July as it is for summer parties and weeknight sweet treats!
Table of Contents
What Is a Berry Trifle?
Now a popular American treat, a trifle is actually an English dessert that originated in the 18th Century. Traditionally, an English trifle consisted of 3-4 layers of fruit, sponge cake (usually soaked in alcohol), and custard.
Additionally, in many versions, there was a layer of jelly between the fruit and cake. However, no matter how the dessert was made, it was always served in a large glass bowl.
Meanwhile, the American version of the berry trifle, like we’re making today, is a little simpler. Existing in a wide variety of flavors, they are made with layers of fresh berries, cake, fruit, and pudding. In some instances, they’re topped off with whipped topping and a sprinkle of nuts, too.
No matter how you make your berry trifle, it’s always a delicious and super quick dessert to prepare! Especially if you go with the American version and skip soaking the cake.
The Best Bery Trifle Recipe
There are so many reasons to love this easy berry trifle, but we’ll just name a few!
- It looks beautiful on your table.
- One batch makes enough to feed a crowd.
- You can whip it up in a matter of minutes. Seriously!
- It’s the perfect combination of cool, creamy, and fluffy textures with sweet flavors.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Sweet and simple is the name of the game when it comes to this berry trifle, and the ingredient list is the same using items you can easily find at your local grocery store. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Fresh Fruit – You can’t have a berry trifle without fresh berries! We use strawberries and blueberries for this recipe because they tend to hold up better than other berries.
- Sugar – Regular granulated sugar helps enhance the natural sweetness of the fruit and helps pull out excess moisture. This is important to prevent your fruit trifle from becoming watery.
- Lemon Juice – This enhances the berries’ flavor and prevents them from becoming soggy or browning.
- Vanilla Pudding – – Use a boxed mix of vanilla pudding. Do not make it or swap it out for homemade pudding! Otherwise, your pudding layer won’t become light and fluffy.
- Milk – We recommend using whole milk for the creamiest texture and the sweetest, most indulgent whipped cream layer. However, any milk you have on hand will work.
- Whipped Topping (Cool Whip) – This is key to creating a light, fluffy filling.
- Cake – To save time, we use store-bought pound cake. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, feel free to make your own from scratch instead.
Whip, Layer, Eat: How to Make a Summer Berry Trifle
This summer berry trifle recipe is the perfect dessert to whip up for all your warm-weather needs.
- Prepare the Berries. In a large bowl, add the strawberries, a bit of sugar, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Repeat the process in a second bowl with the blueberries. Set the fruit aside until the berries begin to release their natural juices.
- Create the Whipped Cream Layer. Use an electric mixer or stand mixer to beat the pudding mix and milk in a large mixing bowl until smooth. Set the mixture aside to thicken. Then, add the whipped topping, and beat again until smooth.
- Assemble the Berry Trifle. Layer 1/3 of the cake in the bottom of a trifle dish. Arrange 1/3 of the strawberries on top followed by 1/3 of the blueberries. Smooth part of the pudding mixture on top. Repeat the process starting with a second cake layer, using all of the ingredients, and ending with a final layer of cake.
- Chill. Transfer the trifle to the fridge to chill for at least a few hours or up to overnight, and serve cold!
Variations
Mix and match different ingredients and flavor combinations to make this summer berry trifle recipe your own! For example, some of our favorite variations include:
- Use Different Fruit. A wide variety of fruit works great in trifle recipes. For instance, kiwi, pineapple, blackberries, peaches, and mangoes all taste amazing!
- Swap Out the Pound Cake. We love the sturdy texture that pound cake provides. However, if you want a super light and fluffy dessert, store-bought angel food cake or homemade angel food cake makes for a great substitution. We’ve also seen people use Lady fingers! We can’t guarantee how well they will hold up though.
- Include a Topping. Get a little fancy and top off your berry trifle with a little extra garnish like chopped nuts, coconut flakes, mint sprigs, or chocolate shavings.
Summer Berry Trifle Common Questions
A trifle is a layered dessert. Typically the layers consist of some sort of custard, cake, fruit, and whipped cream but there can be variations.
We love to make this trifle the night before so that all of the flavors can come together. Just be sure to store it in the fridge.
Jelly is not required in a trifle but it is certainly included in some trifle recipes.
A trifle will become soggy over time as the moisture from the fruit and other ingredients is absorbed by the cake. To prevent this, do not make the trifle too far ahead of serving it — a day or so is perfect.
More Tasty Summer Treats
Looking for more ways to satisfy your sweet tooth this summer? We’ve got you covered these warm-weather crowd-pleasers!
- Slow Cooker Summer Berry Cobbler
- Chocolate Brownie Pizza Tart
- Easy Fruit Salad
- Easy Peach Strawberry Cobbler
Summer Berry Trifle
Ingredients
- 16 ounces fresh strawberries sliced
- 2 Tablespoons sugar divided
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice divided
- 16 ounces fresh blueberries
- 1 (5.9 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups whole milk or milk of choice, cold
- 12 ounces whipped topping thawed
- 2 loaves pound cake cut into 1-inch squares
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the strawberries, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Repeat the process in a second bowl with the blueberries. Set the fruit aside for 30 minutes or until the berries begin to release their natural juices.16 ounces fresh strawberries, 2 Tablespoons sugar, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 16 ounces fresh blueberries
- Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, beat the pudding mix and milk until smooth. Let stand for 5 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Add the whipped topping, and beat again until smooth.1 (5.9 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix, 3 cups whole milk, 12 ounces whipped topping
- Assemble the berry trifle starting by placing ⅓ of the pound cake in the bottom of a large trifle bowl.2 loaves pound cake
- Layer ⅓ of the strawberries and ⅓ of the blueberries on top followed by ⅓ of the pudding mixture.
- Repeat until all of the ingredients have been used, ending with a layer of pudding.
- Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours or ideally overnight.
- Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We made this for VBS for our staff. It was a big hit.
We’re so happy to hear this, Joyce! Thank you for trying it out. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Made this for our 4th of July gathering. It was a HUGE hit!!!! I couldn’t find pound cake so I did sub in Angel food cake & it worked perfect. I also set aside some of the whipped cream & did that on the stop to give it a little more “red,white & blue” look. It has a great lite taste – not too heavy or overwhelming with just the right amount of sweetness to it. Will be making this again for sure.
Ohh love the substitution of angel food cake! So glad it was a hit! xo, Alia & Radwa