The Ultimate Easy Berry Trifle: Your Perfect No-Bake Summer & Holiday Dessert

Prepare to impress with this stunning yet incredibly simple Berry Trifle recipe! It’s a delightful, no-bake layered dessert that effortlessly combines fluffy angel food cake, a creamy pudding mixture, an abundance of fresh, vibrant berries, and decadent whipped cream. This visually appealing treat is a true summer delight, making it an ideal choice for the 4th of July, Memorial Day gatherings, BBQs, and any occasion where you desire a crowd-pleasing dessert with minimal effort.

Trifles are renowned for their elegant presentation and the sheer ease with which they come together. They are perfect for parties and holidays because they require no baking, allowing you more time to enjoy your guests. Everyone adores creamy, fruity berry desserts, and this trifle stands out as a vibrant, refreshing option. If you appreciate the simplicity and fresh flavors of dishes like an Easy No-Bake Berry Cheesecake Delight Dessert or a classic No Bake Berry Cheesecake, then this Berry Trifle is guaranteed to become a new favorite in your recipe collection.

This dessert embodies lightness and freshness, making it perfectly suited for the warmer months of spring and summer. When you need something quick and easy to assemble for a gathering, but still want to deliver big on flavor and visual appeal, a trifle is your go-to. Its layered structure and vibrant colors make it a centerpiece worthy of any table, much like other beloved no-bake treats such as an Easy No-Bake Lemon Pie Dessert or a celebratory Strawberry Earthquake White Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake. The simplicity of layering fruit, a rich pudding mixture, and luscious whipped cream into your favorite trifle dish is all it takes to create a masterpiece. The result is a spectacular summer trifle recipe that promises bursts of berry flavor in every single bite. Pure yum!

What You’ll Need for Our Easy Berry Trifle Recipe

Creating this stunning red, white, and blue trifle is surprisingly straightforward. The magic lies in its simple yet delicious layers of fruit, light angel food cake, a creamy cheesecake-flavored pudding, and airy whipped cream. The most involved step is simply mixing the pudding with cream cheese and whipped cream, assuming you have your angel food cake ready to go. Here’s a detailed look at the ingredients you’ll need to assemble this magnificent dessert:

• 1 Angel Food Cake, Cut into Cubes: The foundation of our trifle. Its light and airy texture perfectly complements the creamy layers and fresh fruit. You can opt for a homemade angel food cake, such as this Best Angel Food Cake recipe, for an extra touch of homemade goodness. Alternatively, a store-bought angel food cake works wonderfully for ultimate convenience. If angel food cake isn’t available or you prefer a different base, pound cake, ladyfingers, or even a regular vanilla cake can be excellent substitutes, each offering a slightly different texture and richness to your trifle.
• 1 (3.4 ounce) Box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix: This provides the creamy, sweet layer that binds the trifle together. While the recipe suggests vanilla, a cheesecake-flavored pudding mix (like this Jell-O Cheesecake Artificially Flavored Instant Pudding) will give it that extra rich, tangy depth, making it truly irresistible.
• Cold Milk: Essential for preparing the instant pudding, ensuring it sets properly and achieves a smooth, creamy consistency.
• 8 ounces Cream Cheese, Softened: When blended with the pudding, softened cream cheese creates an incredibly rich, thick, and luxurious cream cheese pudding layer that’s smooth and tangy, contrasting beautifully with the other sweet components.
• 1 cup Powdered Sugar: To sweeten the cream cheese mixture and ensure it blends seamlessly into a silky-smooth texture, preventing any graininess.
• 12 to 16 ounces Cool Whip (Divided): This convenient whipped topping adds a light, airy finish to the trifle. You’ll use a portion of it to fold into the pudding mixture for added fluffiness and the remaining for decorating the top. If you prefer, feel free to make your own fresh whipped cream. You’ll need a total of about 4 cups of whipped cream (from 2 cups heavy cream, whipped with sugar) for the entire recipe.
• 2 cups Blueberries, Rinsed: These jewel-toned berries bring a lovely tartness and vibrant blue color, perfect for patriotic themes.
• 2 cups Strawberries, Rinsed, Hulled, and Sliced: Sweet, juicy strawberries add a beautiful red hue and classic berry flavor. You can also add raspberries or substitute them entirely with raspberries for a different flavor profile.

Instructions: How to Make Easy Berry Trifle

Assembling this magnificent Berry Trifle is a straightforward process that yields impressive results. Follow these simple steps to create a dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious:

1. Prepare the Pudding Base: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the instant vanilla pudding mix (or cheesecake pudding mix, if using) with the cold milk. Whisk vigorously for about two minutes until the mixture thickens slightly and is smooth. Set this aside to allow it to continue setting while you prepare the cream cheese layer. This step ensures your pudding layer will have the perfect consistency.
2. Create the Cream Cheese Mixture: In a separate, larger bowl, using either a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese on medium speed. Continue beating for 1 to 3 minutes until the cream cheese is completely smooth and creamy, with no lumps remaining. This is crucial for a silky pudding mixture. Next, add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese and beat for another minute, or until it’s thoroughly combined and the mixture is light and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well incorporated.
3. Combine Pudding and Whipped Topping: Gently add the prepared pudding mixture to the cream cheese mixture. Using a rubber spatula, carefully fold and stir until the two are completely combined, creating a uniform, creamy mixture. Now, add 4 to 8 ounces of the Cool Whip (or fresh whipped cream) to this mixture. Gently fold it in until no white streaks of Cool Whip remain. The amount of Cool Whip you add here depends on your preference for texture; use 8 ounces for a lighter, more whipped cream-textured pudding, or 4 ounces for a denser, richer pudding layer.
4. Assemble the Trifle Layers: Now comes the fun part – layering! Choose your favorite clear glass trifle dish to showcase the beautiful layers. Begin by placing a layer of cubed angel food cake at the bottom of the dish, ensuring an even base. Next, spoon a generous layer of the creamy pudding mixture over the cake. Then, arrange a layer of fresh blueberries and sliced strawberries over the pudding. Repeat this layering process: cake, pudding mixture, then berries, and so on. Continue alternating these layers until you reach the top of your trifle dish. For the final main layer, ensure it’s a layer of the pudding mixture.
5. Decorate and Finish: Once the layering is complete, arrange the remaining strawberries and blueberries in a decorative pattern on top of the final pudding layer. This adds a beautiful burst of color and makes the trifle visually appealing. For an extra touch of elegance, take the remaining 8 ounces of Cool Whip (or fresh whipped cream) and pipe it around the border of the trifle bowl using a piping bag with a decorative tip, or simply dollop spoonfuls artistically on top.
6. Chill and Serve: Serve your beautiful Berry Trifle immediately for the freshest experience, or cover it loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Chilling the trifle for at least 2-4 hours allows the flavors to meld together beautifully and the layers to set firmly, making it easier to serve. This dessert is best enjoyed within 24 hours of making it to ensure the freshest taste and texture of the berries and cake.

Storing Your Berry Trifle

To keep your Berry Trifle at its best, proper storage is key:

• Serve the trifle immediately after assembling for the freshest taste, especially if using homemade whipped cream. However, it can be covered and refrigerated for a few hours before serving, which actually helps the flavors meld and the layers set.
• This trifle is best served within 24 hours of preparation. The angel food cake will remain fluffy and the berries fresh.
• Leftovers, if any, can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Beyond that, the cake may become too soft and the berries might release too much liquid, affecting the overall texture. Ensure it’s tightly covered to prevent it from absorbing refrigerator odors.

The wonderful thing about spring and summer is the abundance of fresh berries! While strawberries and blueberries are fantastic for this trifle, especially for creating that festive red, white, and blue look, feel free to explore other fruit combinations. Peaches, mangoes, raspberries, or blackberries make equally delicious additions or substitutions. You can even mix and match to create your own unique flavor profile!

We absolutely adore this trifle with its light and fluffy angel food cake, but the beauty of a trifle lies in its versatility. If you’re looking for a richer cake base, consider using a Vanilla Greek Yogurt & Olive Oil Pound Cake or even a slice of my Super-Moist Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Buttercream. Each cake type will bring its own unique texture and flavor dimension to this already incredible dessert.

This berry dessert truly shines for all patriotic holidays, with its inherent red, white, and blue hues. It’s a guaranteed hit when you’re serving up this vibrant trifle with angel food cake. Who wouldn’t want to dig into our lush berry trifle, brimming with fresh berries and light angel food cake? It’s a celebration in every bite! Goooo USA!

Share this delightful recipe with friends and family! You can find more inspiration and share your creations on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook!

Discover More Irresistible Trifle Desserts!

If you’ve fallen in love with the ease and deliciousness of this Berry Trifle, you’re in for a treat! Trifles are wonderfully versatile, offering endless possibilities for flavor combinations. Explore some of our other fantastic trifle recipes, perfect for any craving or occasion:

• 4 Dreamy Chocolate Trifles
• Ultimate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Trifle
• Heavenly Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake Brownie Trifle
• “Better Than Sex” Trifle Dessert
• Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie Mousse Trifle
• Strawberry Brownie Trifle Delight
• OMG Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake Brownie Trifle
• Double Stuf Oreo Brownie Trifle
• Fluffy Angel Food Cake Delight with Berries
• Strawberry Explosion Cheesecake Trifle Desserts
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