Sharing a trifle recipe perfect for summer entertaining! This fruity and delicious Very Berry Vanilla Cake Trifle is simple to prepare and so delicious! Your family and friends will love the colorful fruit and yellow cake layers.
Very Berry Vanilla Cake Trifle Recipe
If you haven’t made a trifle recipe before, you are in for such a treat with my Very Berry Vanilla Cake Trifle! Summer is such a great time to entertain. You’ll generally find us around the pool with friends daily enjoying great meals together. I put together a beautiful summer trifle that’s super easy to make. Gorgeous berries layered with sweet whipped cream and soft vanilla cake pieces make for a delicious dessert to serve all summer long.
Try my Homemade Peach Cobbler recipe too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.
What Is A Trifle?
The definition of a trifle is a cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, jelly, and cream.
What You’ll Need For This Trifle
- yellow cake mix– Use your favorite brand of yellow cake mix. Duncan Hines or Pillsbury work great.
- large eggs– For consistency, I use large eggs in my baking and cooking.
- sour cream- Use full fat sour cream for the recipe.
- vegetable or canola oil– The oil is added to the cake mix to prepare the cake.
- instant vanilla pudding mix– This pudding mix is added to the cake mix to prepare the cake.
- milk– 2% or higher works great here.
- whipped cream– Be sure to properly thaw your whipped cream before using. Follow instructions on Cool Whip packaging.
- strawberries– Wash and slice your strawberries before layering in trifle.
- raspberries– Also wash and gently dry your raspberries before layering.
- blueberries– Wash and gently dry your blueberries before layering in trifle. I wouldn’t recommend frozen berries for the trifle. Fresh works best.
How To Make Strawberry Trifle
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray two 8-inch cake pans generously with cooking spray.
- Wash and dry strawberries, raspberries and blueberries then place into separate bowls. Place whipped cream into a large bowl and set aside.
- Place cake mix, eggs, milk, oil, sour cream and vanilla pudding mix into a large mixing bowl. Stir slowly to combine, then vigorously until batter is well combined. Transfer evenly to prepared cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until baked through. Remove and let cool completely.
- Flip cakes over onto parchment paper and cut into 1-1 1/2 inch cubes. Place a layer of cake cubes into a trifle bowl then top with a thick layer of whipped cream. Arrange a layer of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries over cream. Repeat another layer of cake, whipped cream and berries filling to the top of your trifle bowl. Place Trifle into refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. Remove from oven and let cool. As a time saving tip, bake your cakes up to 2 days in advance. Cover tightly and store in refrigerator until ready to bake.
Always Wash Your Fruit
Make sure your strawberries are washed and dry. Remove stems and slice.
How to Assemble Your Very Berry Vanilla Cake Trifle
Once your cakes are cool, cut into cubes and layer the first layer into the bottom of your trifle bowl.
Layer some berries over your whipped cream then another layer of cake.
Top with more whipped cream and berries for the top layer. Get creative and decorate the berries however you’d like. Such a beautiful dessert!
How To Serve
Serve your trifle chilled for any occasion where a dessert is needed.
How To Store Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Tips For Very Berry Vanilla Cake Trifle
- Cut fruit ahead of time. Slice it nicely as this is a very visual dessert.
- You can bake your cake 2 days ahead of time to save time day of serving.
- Use a clear, clean trifle dish to serve. Makes dessert look gorgeous.
- Play around with other fruit and even other sweet toppings. With a trifle dessert, any of your favorites work great!
- Chill dessert until ready to serve.
Very Berry Vanilla Cake Trifle
Equipment
- Oven
- Bowl
- Trifle Dish
- stand mixer
- cake pans
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
- 2 cups fresh raspberries
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 6 cups sweetened whipped cream
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup sour cream
- 3.4 ounce box vanilla pudding mix
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray two 8-inch cake pans generously with cooking spray.
- Wash and dry strawberries, raspberries and blueberries then place into separate bowls. Place whipped cream into a large bowl and set aside.
- Place cake mix, eggs, milk, oil, sour cream and vanilla pudding mix into a large mixing bowl. Stir slowly to combine, then vigorously until batter is well combined. Transfer evenly to prepared cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until baked through. Remove and let cool completely.
- Flip cakes over onto parchment paper and cut into 1-1 1/2 inch cubes. Place a layer of cake cubes into a trifle bowl then top with a thick layer of whipped cream. Arrange a layer of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries over cream. Repeat another layer of cake, whipped cream and berries filling to the top of your trifle bowl. Place Trifle into refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.
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Will VANILLA CAKE GET SOGGY IF USED IN THIS RECIPE AND UT TOGETHER 1 DAY PRIOR TO EATING?
Yes, arrange right before serving for best results.
You were the first and only that gave not only the full variety of info and options. But what especially delighted me is that you actually made it not only printer-friendly, but made the printer section separate, and only two pages, even with a full picture! Many thanks, this is exactly the strawberry one I wanted.
This looks so incredible! It is an ideal dessert for summer and perfect for this weekend!
I love a trifle — a beautiful presentation but without any fussiness to get it to look just right. A win in my book! This looks amazing and love that it’s loaded with berries!
Is the pudding mix the cooked version or instant?
Instant
Do you use instant pudding or the kind u cook?
Instant
This cake is perfect for the upcoming holiday weekend! Delish!
So nice and easy and so good! Love all of the berries!
Oh my gosh, those wall ovens, I must have them. Those are gorgeous. A friend of mine has their products and I love cooking at her house.
This trifle is making me want to run into my kitchen and whip one up immediately. So pretty, and let’s face it, pretty food just tastes better.
Totally making this trifle cake for the 4th!
What a stunning dessert. Perfect for the 4th of July!
Looks delicious!
I just LOVE a trifle!! this is gorgeous!
So many yummy layers!
I love your new kitchen too!!! <3
This looks like the perfect dessert for summer!!! Love it, Jenny!
Simply beautiful! Perfect for the holiday weekend!
LOVE the adjustable shelves in the fridge! Totally comes in handy for trifles like this!!
This is so pretty and perfect for summer. I do wish I had a wall oven, a double one like this. I am always putting my one big oven to the test, I bake so much!