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 ideal finish to a meal.
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What is a trifle?
A trifle is a wonderfully indulgent dessert. Sweet, and creamy, with the added textures of fruit, sponge, or ladyfingers, is an ideal finish to a meal.
If you like a little extra zing in your dessert, trifles will happily accommodate a dash of sherry or your favorite liqueur.
The trifles are great for serving a light dessert after a copious meal, especially during the holidays.
Christmas is a perfect occasion for enjoying this fabulous dessert, but Thanksgiving is great too, especially if you are not into the pumpkin or apple pie tradition.
And how about summer? There are so many fruits in season that could be used for a quick dessert on a hot day when nobody is in the mood to bake.
What is it about a trifle that everyone likes?
Simplicity
One of the great things about a trifle is that it's easy to make. I love easy desserts with lots of flavors.
Trifles are a sturdy dessert that 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 elements of your meal.
Serving
Trifles are usually served in glass bowls to display the colorful layers that make up this dessert. While there are many different trifle recipes, most trifles are built on layers of sponge or ladyfingers, fruit, custard, whipped cream, and, optionally, some form of alcohol.
Variation among trifles comes most often in the choice of fruit, the flavor profile, and the type of alcohol used.
Trifle Alternatives
If you are feeling adventurous, you can consider some alternatives. For example, instead of a sponge layer, you can use angel food cake, muffin slices, ladyfingers, waffles, or a chocolate cake.
Instead of using sherry, try an aromatic liqueur like Kahlua, Amaretto, Cointreau, or anything else you like.
Use any sort of creamy mousse instead of custard or pudding.
How To Make An Easy Trifle Dessert
My version of trifle involves that zing I was telling you about. I used raspberry liqueur and ladyfingers. I also used fresh raspberries.
If you do not have fresh raspberries, use frozen or even preserves. They would work perfectly well. Instead of using custard, mousse, or pudding, I just used sweetened heavy whipping cream.
Five minutes dessert, right?
I made individual trifles because we were a small group of people. So, I placed ladyfingers on the bottom of each trifle glass. I drizzled a modest amount of liqueur over them. I added a layer of whipped cream and a layer of raspberries.
Finally, I topped the fruits with another layer of whipped cream and more fruit. Optional, you could decorate with slivered almonds. It looks like a fancy dessert, but it is so easy to make! Also tasty and light, it is perfect as a grand finale dessert.
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Enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Easy Trifle Dessert
Ingredients
- 6 ounces lady fingers
- 3-4 tablespoons brandy or rum or any favorite liqueur
- 2 cups sweetened heavy whipping cream
- 16 ounces fresh or frozen raspberries
- Optional: almonds slivered or sliced
Instructions
- Line the bottom of an attractive glass bowl with ladyfingers or thinly sliced pound cake.
- Drizzle a modest amount of brandy/rum or any favorite liqueur over the ladyfingers.
- Add a layer of whipped cream.
- Add a layer of fresh or frozen fruit.
- Top with whipped cream, almonds, and more fruit.
- Chill and refrigerate.
- Keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- A fancy trifle. Looks gorgeous, tastes heavenly.
Andrew Webster says
Absolutely delicious