This elegant dessert has been around for ages and anyone who has ever had a cake disaster, like when it stuck to the pan or broke in half, should be familiar. In every trifle, layers of something cakey, something creamy and something fruity come together to make a delicious treat. Here’s everything you need to know about trifles.
By the way, these are some of our best trifle recipes.
What Is a Trifle?
The traditional version of trifle that originated in England in the 18th century (with less similar dishes being made even earlier) consisted of three or four layers, including some sort of fruit, alcohol-soaked sponge cake and custard. The fruit and cake were often layered with homemade jelly. This classic interpretation was always served in a round bowl.
American trifles are similar but fortunately, a bit less complicated. They consist of multiple layers of crumbled or cubed cake, pudding and fruit. The flavors can vary widely, from raspberries, peach yogurt and angel food cake to brownies, white chocolate pudding and candy bar bits. They’re topped with whipped cream and some sort of crumbs or nuts to add texture. Trifle should be served in a deep, round dish—ideally one that’s clear so diners can see all of the layers.
Strawberry Trifle
I won first prize in a dairy recipe contest with this tasty trifle. You can double the recipe and make two for large groups. —Norma Steiner, Monroe, Wisconsin
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Have you ever wondered "what is a trifle'? We'll tell you.
Peach & Blueberry TrifleThis crowd-pleasing summer trifle recipe can be made the night before. I love that you can be flexible with the ingredients. Add any in-season fruit you like! —Raymonde Bourgeois, Swastika, Ontario
Brownie Mocha TrifleBy using instant pudding and a convenient box of brownie mix, there's nothing to the preparation. The result is moist and chewy. And the layers look so pretty spooned into a glass trifle bowl. —Louise Fauth, Foremost, Alberta
Red, White and Blue DessertI changed a recipe I found and ended up with this rich, fresh-tasting dessert. Decorated to resemble a flag, it's perfect for the Fourth of July or any other patriotic occasion. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Chocolate Strawberry Punch Bowl TrifleI threw this dessert together when I needed something quick to take to my in-laws’. Because it’s beautiful, everyone thinks it requires a lot of effort. It’s easy. And the recipe makes a lot, making this perfect for potlucks and large gatherings. —Kristi Judkins, Morrison, Tennessee
Key Lime TrifleWhen I saw a recipe for banana cream pie trifle I was inspired to invent a version than spun off my favorite pie, Key lime. My family loved it! Some friends got to try it, too, and they enjoyed immensely as well. —Rebecah Lytle, Ocala, Florida
Berry, Lemon and Doughnut Hole TrifleAfter my son called and said he was bringing home his college roommates, I was able to whip up this quick yet impressive dessert in only a few minutes. It's been a family favorite ever since. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Peach Melba TrifleThis dream of a dessert tastes extra good on a busy day, because you can make it ahead of time! If you don't have fresh peaches handy, subbing three cups of the canned ones works, too. —Christina Moore, Casar, North Carolina
Toffee Brownie TrifleThis decadent combination of pantry items is a terrific way to dress up a brownie mix. Try this trifle with other flavors of pudding or substitute your favorite candy bar. It tastes great with low-fat and sugar-free products, too. —Wendy Bennett, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Grandma's English TrifleThis scrumptious trifle recipe is a family heirloom. My grandmother would make an enormous dish of it for Saturday night dinners when they often had guests. If there were leftovers, they'd eat that English trifle dessert every night that week until it was gone! —Ruth Verratti, Gasport, New York
Angel Strawberry DessertThis angel dessert is a wonderful treat when fresh strawberries are readily available. Every time I make this pretty strawberry angel food cake, someone asks for the recipe. —Theresa Mathis, Tucker, Georgia
Blueberry Lemon TrifleA refreshing lemon filling and fresh blueberries give this sunny dessert sensation plenty of color. Don't worry about heating up the oven—this trifle doesn't require baking. —Ellen Peden, Houston, Texas
Chocolate Swirl DelightI made a few updates to a great recipe and ended up with an impressive dessert. Everyone loves its light texture and chocolaty flavor. —Lynne Bargar, Saegertown, Pennyslvania
Strawberry Angel TrifleI always get compliments when I bring this attractive and tasty trifle out of the refrigerator. Not only does it serve a big group nicely, I can make it ahead of time, too. —Lucille Belsham, Fort Fraser, British Columbia
Cheesecake Strawberry TrifleThe only drawback to this lovely dessert is that there are never any leftovers. For a patriotic look, replace one of the layers of strawberry pie filling with blueberry—or use whatever filling you prefer. —Lori Thorp, Frazee, Minnesota
Peanut Butter Brownie TrifleThis rich, tempting, peanut butter brownie trifle feeds a crowd and features the ever-popular combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Try this dessert for your next get-together. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
Blueberry Graham DessertWhen you're short on time but long for cheesecake, try this fruity dessert. Ricotta and cream cheeses give every bit as much flavor as cheesecake without the effort. Instead of making individual servings, you could layer the ingredients in a glass serving bowl. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Red, White & Blue Berry TrifleThis luscious trifle tastes best if made the day before serving. Keep additional berries on hand for decoration. —Kaia McShane, Munster, Indiana
Caramel Chocolate TrifleA highlight of our annual family reunion is the dessert competition. The judges take their jobs very seriously! Last year's first-place winner was this tempting trifle.—Barb Hausey, Independence, Missouri
Strawberry Cheesecake TrifleFor a dessert that looks as great as it tastes, this one can't be beat! Layers of rich pound cake, luscious cream and sweet strawberries make this treat very inviting. —Marnie Stoughton, Glenburnie, Ontario
Berries & Cream TriflesLayers of cubed cake, berries and creamy ricotta mixture make pretty trifles that taste as rich as cheesecake. —Joan Duckworth, Lee's Summit, Missouri
Why Is It Called a Trifle?
According to FoodTimeline, the name trifle comes from “the Old French trufe (or truffle), meaning something of little importance.” For us, this means that dessert trifles should be easy to assemble, serve and eat. Take a look at these other easy dessert recipes that also come together in a snap.
Making a Trifle
Since trifles are relatively quick and easy to make, there aren’t a ton of steps or specific measurements required. That said, we put together a how-to make a trifle guide that will take you through the ingredients, tools and method you’ll need to make a delectable trifle.
What Is the Best Way To Layer a Trifle?
Your trifle layers will depend a bit on which recipe you’re following or what ingredients you’re using. But, in general, the best way to layer a trifle is, from bottom to top: cake, custard then fruit, repeating these layers until you reach the top of your dish. Typically, these layers will then be topped with whipped cream and a crunch topping, like nuts or crushed cookies. Additionally, your trifle recipe might call for a liquid layer of simple syrup, liquor or fruit juice, which would go between the cake and custard layers.
Can I Make a Trifle the Day Before?
Absolutely! In fact, letting your trifle rest overnight allows the flavors to meld, making it taste even better. If you have a top layer of fresh whipped cream, though, wait to add it until just before serving. Here are some more overnight dessert recipes that get better with time.
How To Store Trifles
To properly store a trifle overnight, or store a leftover trifle, cover the trifle dish tightly with plastic or beeswax wrap. Then, place the dish in your refrigerator where it can be kept for up to four days.
Will a Trifle Get Soggy Overnight?
Overnight, the liquids in the trifle will start to soften the cake layers, but they shouldn’t get soggy. It won’t be until about three days after being assembled that the cake layers will disintegrate and be soggy. That said, the level of sogginess will depend on what sort of cake and custard you’re using.
Can You Freeze Trifles?
We wouldn’t recommend freezing a trifle. This is because custard, which is dairy-based, does not freeze well and will likely separate. If you do freeze a trifle, expect that the texture to be drastically affected.
How Long Does a Trifle Last?
When stored properly, a trifle will last you three to four days in the refrigerator. After that, your trifle will start to get a bit gloopy, but will still be safe to eat.
Whether you happen to have a busted cake or not, a trifle is a great option for a crowd-pleasing dessert. Keep it in mind the next time you need a showstopper to take to dinner!
More Crazy-Good Trifle Recipes
Strawberry Trifle
I won first prize in a dairy recipe contest with this tasty trifle. You can double the recipe and make two for large groups. —Norma Steiner, Monroe, Wisconsin
Get Recipe
Have you ever wondered "what is a trifle'? We'll tell you.
Peach & Blueberry TrifleThis crowd-pleasing summer trifle recipe can be made the night before. I love that you can be flexible with the ingredients. Add any in-season fruit you like! —Raymonde Bourgeois, Swastika, Ontario
Brownie Mocha TrifleBy using instant pudding and a convenient box of brownie mix, there's nothing to the preparation. The result is moist and chewy. And the layers look so pretty spooned into a glass trifle bowl. —Louise Fauth, Foremost, Alberta
Red, White and Blue DessertI changed a recipe I found and ended up with this rich, fresh-tasting dessert. Decorated to resemble a flag, it's perfect for the Fourth of July or any other patriotic occasion. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Chocolate Strawberry Punch Bowl TrifleI threw this dessert together when I needed something quick to take to my in-laws’. Because it’s beautiful, everyone thinks it requires a lot of effort. It’s easy. And the recipe makes a lot, making this perfect for potlucks and large gatherings. —Kristi Judkins, Morrison, Tennessee
Key Lime TrifleWhen I saw a recipe for banana cream pie trifle I was inspired to invent a version than spun off my favorite pie, Key lime. My family loved it! Some friends got to try it, too, and they enjoyed immensely as well. —Rebecah Lytle, Ocala, Florida
Berry, Lemon and Doughnut Hole TrifleAfter my son called and said he was bringing home his college roommates, I was able to whip up this quick yet impressive dessert in only a few minutes. It's been a family favorite ever since. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Peach Melba TrifleThis dream of a dessert tastes extra good on a busy day, because you can make it ahead of time! If you don't have fresh peaches handy, subbing three cups of the canned ones works, too. —Christina Moore, Casar, North Carolina
Toffee Brownie TrifleThis decadent combination of pantry items is a terrific way to dress up a brownie mix. Try this trifle with other flavors of pudding or substitute your favorite candy bar. It tastes great with low-fat and sugar-free products, too. —Wendy Bennett, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Grandma's English TrifleThis scrumptious trifle recipe is a family heirloom. My grandmother would make an enormous dish of it for Saturday night dinners when they often had guests. If there were leftovers, they'd eat that English trifle dessert every night that week until it was gone! —Ruth Verratti, Gasport, New York
Angel Strawberry DessertThis angel dessert is a wonderful treat when fresh strawberries are readily available. Every time I make this pretty strawberry angel food cake, someone asks for the recipe. —Theresa Mathis, Tucker, Georgia
Blueberry Lemon TrifleA refreshing lemon filling and fresh blueberries give this sunny dessert sensation plenty of color. Don't worry about heating up the oven—this trifle doesn't require baking. —Ellen Peden, Houston, Texas
Chocolate Swirl DelightI made a few updates to a great recipe and ended up with an impressive dessert. Everyone loves its light texture and chocolaty flavor. —Lynne Bargar, Saegertown, Pennyslvania
Strawberry Angel TrifleI always get compliments when I bring this attractive and tasty trifle out of the refrigerator. Not only does it serve a big group nicely, I can make it ahead of time, too. —Lucille Belsham, Fort Fraser, British Columbia
Cheesecake Strawberry TrifleThe only drawback to this lovely dessert is that there are never any leftovers. For a patriotic look, replace one of the layers of strawberry pie filling with blueberry—or use whatever filling you prefer. —Lori Thorp, Frazee, Minnesota
Peanut Butter Brownie TrifleThis rich, tempting, peanut butter brownie trifle feeds a crowd and features the ever-popular combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Try this dessert for your next get-together. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
Blueberry Graham DessertWhen you're short on time but long for cheesecake, try this fruity dessert. Ricotta and cream cheeses give every bit as much flavor as cheesecake without the effort. Instead of making individual servings, you could layer the ingredients in a glass serving bowl. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Red, White & Blue Berry TrifleThis luscious trifle tastes best if made the day before serving. Keep additional berries on hand for decoration. —Kaia McShane, Munster, Indiana
Caramel Chocolate TrifleA highlight of our annual family reunion is the dessert competition. The judges take their jobs very seriously! Last year's first-place winner was this tempting trifle.—Barb Hausey, Independence, Missouri
Strawberry Cheesecake TrifleFor a dessert that looks as great as it tastes, this one can't be beat! Layers of rich pound cake, luscious cream and sweet strawberries make this treat very inviting. —Marnie Stoughton, Glenburnie, Ontario
Berries & Cream TriflesLayers of cubed cake, berries and creamy ricotta mixture make pretty trifles that taste as rich as cheesecake. —Joan Duckworth, Lee's Summit, Missouri
