March 15, 2023
Review RecipeStrawberry Trifle

Table of Contents
This strawberry trifle is a spectacular, decadent-looking layered dessert that you won’t be able to resist. Layers of cake, juicy ripe strawberries, and a creamy cheesecake pudding mixture will make this fantastic dessert the highlight of your meal.
Can’t get enough of tasty trifles? Our vanilla trifle is a classic, and our chocolate trifle is a chocolate lover’s dream.

Strawberry Trifle Ingredients

You’ll need:
- 1 strawberry cake (use a cake mix and bake in a 9×13-inch baking dish for ease), cooled completely
- 8-ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 (3.4-ounce) package of instant cheesecake pudding mix (unprepared)
- 3½ cups heavy whipping cream, divided
- ¾ cup powdered sugar, divided
- 2 pounds fresh strawberries, stems removed and sliced
PRO TIP:
I do not recommend using frozen fruit for this recipe. It will soak into the cake as it thaws, turning it into mush. Fresh fruit is best for this simple strawberry trifle.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
CREAM: You can substitute milk for a portion (up to half) of the heavy cream in the cream cheese/pudding mixture. This will make a slightly lighter cream, and it will also be a bit thinner.
PUDDING: Substitute vanilla pudding mix or white chocolate pudding mix for the cheesecake pudding in this delicious recipe. Be sure to use instant pudding mix.
FRUIT: You could use any combination of your favorite fruit for your trifle dessert.
CAKE: If you can’t find strawberry cake, you can substitute white cake or vanilla cake in your trifle.
How to Make This Strawberry Trifle Recipe
STEP ONE: Remove cooled cake from the baking dish and slice into ¾ to 1-inch cubes. Set aside.

STEP TWO: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the softened cream cheese and vanilla extract until smooth.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature when you add it.

STEP THREE: Beat in the pudding mix until thoroughly combined. The mixture will be thick and lumpy.

STEP FOUR: Slowly drizzle in 1½ cups of the heavy cream, beating on low speed constantly and fully incorporating each drizzle of cream (about ⅛ cup at a time) before adding the next drizzle.
PRO TIP:
If you do not drizzle the cream in while mixing, it will be really difficult to get all of the lumps out of the creamy mixture.

STEP FIVE: When the cream cheese/pudding mixture is smooth and creamy, add ½ cup of powdered sugar and beat until combined.

STEP SIX: Add fresh strawberries to the mixture, reserving about 1 cup of the strawberries for the top of the trifle.
PRO TIP:
You can also layer the cream and strawberries separately, but it’s easy just to mix them all together.

STEP SEVEN: In a large bowl or trifle dish, build the trifle by layering ⅓ of the cake cubes, then about ½ of the strawberries and cream mixture, another layer of cake cubes, the remaining strawberry mixture, and then the final cake pieces.

STEP EIGHT: In the bowl of a stand mixer (or you can use a hand mixer), use the whisk attachment to beat the remaining two cups of heavy cream until soft peaks begin to form. Add remaining ¼ cup of powdered sugar and continue beating until the whipped cream forms stiff peaks.
STEP NINE: Mound or pipe big dollops of the whipped cream around the top of the trifle. Pile the reserved strawberry slices in the center. Pipe one more dollop of whipped cream in the center and top with a halved strawberry with the stem still attached (or decorate as desired).

How To Serve
This strawberry dessert would be a beautiful centerpiece for a special occasion. Serve it when the strawberries are plentiful and juicy, and you will have an out-of-this-world dessert. Add an extra dollop of whipped topping before serving it to your guests.
MORE STRAWBERRY RECIPES
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Cover the strawberry shortcake trifle with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing leftover strawberry cheesecake trifle as the cake will end up soggy once thawed.

Light and refreshing, your family will devour this strawberry trifle. Sweet strawberries, moist cake, and custardy pudding make this a creamy treat for a special occasion.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The classic choice for this delicious dessert is a trifle bowl which is a large glass bowl that is usually on a pedestal. It displays all of the beautiful layers of this dessert through the clear glass. If you don’t have one, you can also just use any large glass bowl.
Trifle can be made a day ahead, and, in fact, it should be made ahead of time so that the flavors can blend together and soak into the cake.
Any soft sponge cake would work well for this strawberry shortcake trifle. Ladyfingers are also a popular choice for this fluffy dessert.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Strawberry Brownies
- Strawberry Cake
- Strawberry Delight
- Strawberry Poke Cake
- Booty Dip Recipe
- Caramel Brownies
- Strawberry Angel Food Cake
- Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake
- Strawberry Truffles
- Chocolate Cheesecake Trifle
- Pineapple Angel Food Cake
- Banana Cream Cheesecake

Strawberry Trifle
Ingredients
- 1 strawberry cake, use a cake mix and bake in a 9×13 baking dish for ease, cooled completely
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3.4 ounces cheesecake pudding mix (unprepared)
- 3½ cups heavy whipping cream, divided
- ¾ cup powdered sugar, divided
- 2 pounds fresh strawberries, stems removed and sliced
Instructions
- Remove cooled cake from baking dish and slice into ¾ to 1-inch cubes. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the cream cheese and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Beat in the pudding mix until fully combined. The mixture will be thick and lumpy.
- Slowly drizzle in 1½ cups of the heavy cream, beating on low constantly and fully incorporating each drizzle of cream (about ⅛ cup at a time) before adding the next drizzle.
- When the cream cheese/pudding mixture is smooth and creamy, add ½ cup of powdered sugar and beat until combined.
- Add fresh strawberries to the mixture, reserving about 1 cup of the strawberries for the top of the trifle.
- Build the trifle by layering ⅓ of the cake cubes, then about ½ of the strawberries and cream mixture, another layer of cake pieces, the remaining strawberry mixture, and then the final cake pieces.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer (or you can use a hand mixer), use the whisk attachment to beat the remaining two cups of heavy cream until soft peaks begin to form. Add remaining ¼ cup of powdered sugar and continue beating until the whipped cream forms stiff peaks.
- Mound or pipe big dollops of the whipped cream around the top of the trifle. Pile the reserved strawberry slices in the center. Pipe one more dollop of whipped cream in the center and top with a halved strawberry with the stem still attached (or decorate as desired).
Notes
- I do not recommend using frozen fruit for this recipe. It will soak into the cake as it thaws, turning it into mush. Fresh fruit is best for this simple strawberry trifle.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature when you add it.
- If you do not drizzle the cream in while mixing, it will be really difficult to get all of the lumps out of the creamy mixture.
- You can also layer the cream and strawberries separately, but it’s easy just to mix them all together.
Comments
Jill says
This is so perfect for spring!