Check out these 30 trifle dessert recipes that are some of the best you will ever find. Easy to make, light, and versatile, trifle desserts are perfect as show stoppers on the table for any celebration, from Christmas to New Year's Eve, to Easter, or even for a Sunday family gathering.
What is a trifle dessert:
A trifle is a wonderfully decadent dessert. It is a layered dessert made out of sponge cake, ladyfingers, cake, custard, whipped cream, fruits, and sometimes some alcohol to spice things up.
This dessert originated in England, but many countries around the world adopted the recipe and made it their own.
Trifles are great for serving a light dessert after a copious meal, especially during the holidays.
They can be made with various fruits, including berries, peaches, mangoes, and more.
Some recipes call for soaking the cake or sponge fingers in alcohol, such as sherry or brandy, before layering them in the trifle. Others may include jelly or jam for added sweetness.
Why do people like trifles so much
Easy to make.
One of the great things about a trifle is that it's easy to make. I love easy desserts with lots of flavors.
Trifles can be made successfully by even the most inexperienced cook. They keep well and can be made ahead of time, leaving you free to concentrate on the more demanding parts of the meal you will serve.
Versatile.
This dessert is highly versatile, and you can make it with ingredients you might already have in your kitchen.
For example, instead of using sponge cake, you can use ladyfingers, angel food cake, muffin slices, waffles, shortbread cookies, or even chocolate cake.
If you want to add some alcohol, you can use a liqueur like Cointreau, Amaretto, Kahlua, or anything else you like that fits with the other ingredients you are using.
The creamy part of this dessert could be either whipped cream, custard, mousse, or jello.
Show stopper.
This dessert looks gorgeous if you place it in a suitable bowl. Trifles are show stoppers, and a big bowl will beautifully show the fruits of your labor. Go for a deep, clear glass bowl(affiliate link), and your trifle will look spectacular.
So, if you are looking for an impressive dessert that will be a crowd-pleaser, check out these 30 trifle recipes. I am sure you will be able to find something for your guests.
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30 Best Trifle Dessert Recipes
Some of the best triffle dessert recipes are in this article. I hope each one of you finds a recipe that suits your needs.
How To Make An Easy Trifle Dessert
Learn how to make an easy trifle dessert. It is a wonderfully indulgent combination, sweet and creamy, and with the added textures of fruit, sponge, or ladyfingers, this can be an excellent finish to a meal.
Easy Lemon Trifle Dessert Recipe
This Lemon Trifle recipe is sweet, tart, light, and wonderful. Layers of homemade angel food cake, lemon curd, pudding, blueberries, shortbread cookies, and whipped cream result in a stunning presentation, but it’s so easy to make! Perfect dessert for a Sunday brunch, Easter, or any holiday!
Easy Death By Chocolate Trifle
This Death By Chocolate Trifle recipe is rich, decadent, and crazy delicious. Layers of chocolate cake, fudge sauce, pudding, whipped cream, and Oreo cookies result in a stunning presentation, but it’s so easy to make! Perfect dessert for a crowd or holiday!
Easy Vegan Pumpkin Trifle
This trifle has layers of pumpkin cake, pumpkin custard pudding, whipped cream, butterscotch sauce, and ginger cookies. It's packed with pumpkin, warm spices, and lots of delicious textures!
Delicious Chocolate Trifle
This easy Chocolate Trifle recipe is rich and decadent with layers of fudgy brownie, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream. It’s a chocolate lover’s dream, and it’s perfect for feeding a crowd! It’s often called a chocolate brownie trifle.
Strawberry Shortcake & Lemon Curd Parfaits
An easy recipe for individual strawberry shortcake parfaits (also known as trifles) layered with bright lemon curd, macerated strawberries, buttery scone, and pillowy whipped cream. This dessert is absolute BLISS in every bite and it's beautiful, as well!
Mint Chocolate Trifle
A luscious dessert with mint filling, chocolate mint cookies, and rich fudgy chocolate cake.
Red White and Blue Trifle Recipe
You have to make this Red, White and Blue Trifle for a special party or brunch! This trifles recipe uses three types of healthy berries – blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
English Christmas Trifle
Trifle is a classic English dessert with layers of pound cake, Creme Anglaise, fresh fruit, and whipped cream. This holiday trifle uses raspberries and poached pears, making it as delicious as it is beautiful.
Strawberry Fool
Strawberry fool is a deliciously light dessert, with layers of whipped cream and strawberry puree. It makes a beautiful presentation for any occasion.
Mini Trifles
The Christmas table isn’t quite complete without a Christmas Trifle. These layered, individual Mini Trifles can be made a day ahead and are always a huge hit. And the best thing about a Mini Christmas Trifle is that you can have it all to yourself. No battling with the family member who takes too much of the jelly!
Black Forest Brownie Trifle Recipe {NO BAKE}
Simple and perfect to make ahead! Easy Black Forest Brownie Trifle is my new go-to dessert recipe for holidays and parties. Layers of fudge brownie, whipped cream, chocolate pudding, and cherry pie filling combine into one luscious bite of heaven.
Easy Christmas Trifle Recipe
This easy Christmas trifle won't stress you out but will save your holiday entertainment. Layers of red velvet cake, pudding, and whipped cream come together quickly and make this gorgeous and delicious holiday treat.
Lemon Blueberry Trifle
Fresh, juicy blueberries and bright, tart lemon pudding combine in a stunning dessert that will wow your guests. This mouthwatering lemon blueberry trifle is impressive yet incredibly easy!
Chocolate Trifle with Toffee Bits
This easy chocolate trifle recipe is made with fudge brownies and heath bar toffee bits and is a one-of-a-kind trifle dessert! The easy recipe uses instant chocolate pudding, cool whip, and toffee bits. We love this layered cold dessert on spring and summer days. Put in an ice chest and take to cookouts, baseball games, and to the beach house.
The Best Oreo Dirt Cake Recipe (Dirt Pudding)
This Easy Dirt Cake Recipe (Oreo Dirt Pudding) is one of our favorite no-bake desserts! Crushed Oreos are layered between a French vanilla pudding mixture for a kid-friendly, make-ahead dessert recipe perfect for any potluck or BBQ! Add gummy worms for a whimsical touch!
Eton Mess Dessert
Eton Mess Dessert, a very easy, quick, no-bake fruity dessert! With a delicious mix of cream, strawberries, meringue, and strawberry sauce, no surprise why this classic British Dessert, is a favorite for so many.
15-Minute Pomegranate Parfaits with Pistachios
Beautiful and delicious Pomegranate Parfaits Recipe with Pistachios and Mascarpone Cream is a perfect Christmas dessert. These decadent, creamy, festive, and gorgeous-looking layered parfaits take just 15 minutes to make!
Easy Coconut Cream Trifle
This Easy Coconut Cream Trifle is SO much easier than pie and just as delicious. It’s one of the best desserts for a potluck, bbq, dinner parties, or any time you want to feed a crowd! It’s a delicious, cheap make-ahead dessert!
Double Chocolate Mousse with Raspberry sauce
This delicious Double Chocolate Mousse with Raspberry sauce is the best dessert that you can prepare in less than one hour! It is decadent and full of flavor: a fantastic treat for every chocolate lover!
Easy Pavlova Trifle Recipe
You'll love this Pavlova Trifle recipe! Crunchy meringue pieces, a tropical fruit that's slathered in velvety vanilla cream. Easy to make and looks amazing when serving dessert for your guests! This isn't your grandmothers boring trifle recipe!
Peppermint Crisp Tart in Glasses
Peppermint Crisp Tart is THE famous South African dessert that's delicious and very easy to make, even if you don't live in South Africa! Caramel, peppermint chocolate, cream, and a biscuit (cookies) are all that you need to make this recipe.
Mango Cranachan Dessert
Mango Cranachan is a delicious Scottish dessert recipe similar to a trifle. It's a no-cook, no-bake non-alcoholic recipe that is absolutely delicious!
Amarula Berry Trifle
What makes this recipe awesome is the addition of Amarula. Play with different berry combinations. You can even go and forage for elderberries. Cherries are an option too!
Easy Strawberry Mousse Dessert
You can make this delicious and easy strawberry mousse dessert with simple ingredients! Strawberry mousse and crushed shortbread cookies make a nice combination.
Lemon Curd Mousse Recipe
Lemon lovers will love this deliciously sweet and tangy lemon curd mousse recipe with crunchy crushed vanilla cookies!
Triple Chocolate Punch Bowl Cake
This rich, fudgy Chocolate Punch Bowl Cake combines layers of double chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, and homemade whipped cream for an impressive dessert.
Magnolia Banana Pudding
Magnolia Banana Pudding recipe is an old-fashioned banana pudding made from scratch. Thick, creamy, and easy vanilla pudding is made using sweetened condensed milk, and then folded into thick whipped cream, layered with Nilla wafers and sliced bananas for a truly old-fashioned banana pudding!
Easy Strawberry Mascarpone Dessert
This easy Strawberry Mascarpone Dessert is an easy German summer dessert with fresh strawberries, ricotta, mascarpone whipped cream, and cookie crumbs.
Gluten Free Trifle
Learn how to make The Best gluten free trifle! You can either make it completely from scratch with this homemade gluten free sponge cake and homemade custard, strawberries and jelly, or substitute store-bought components for a quick and easy dessert.
Kathleen Pope says
I’m drooling!! All of these trifles look amazing!!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
Thanks for including me! Pinned/tweeted and yummed!
Rebekah says
These are all so beautiful!
Kay says
Such an amazing selection of layered desserts will see if we can work our way through them all in 2022!