Red, White and Blueberry Trifle is a festive, no-bake dessert that’s perfect for patriotic holidays and summer gatherings. It layers soft cake cubes, creamy filling, and fresh berries for a stunning, crowd-pleasing treat that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Visually stunning: Patriotic layers of red strawberries, white cream, and blue blueberries make this a showstopper.
- No baking required: Uses store-bought cake and instant pudding for easy assembly.
- Perfect for entertaining: Serves a crowd and can be made in advance.
ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Angel food cake or pound cake, cut into cubes
- Fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- Fresh blueberries
- Instant white chocolate or vanilla pudding mix
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Cold water
- Whipped topping (e.g., Cool Whip), thawed
- Optional: cream cheese, for richer filling; lemon zest for brightness
directions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk and water until smooth. Add pudding mix and whisk until thickened. Chill for 5 minutes.
- Fold in the whipped topping to create a creamy layer.
- In a trifle dish or clear bowl, layer half the cake cubes, followed by a layer of blueberries, then a layer of the cream mixture, and finally a layer of strawberries.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients.
- Top with additional berries and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Servings and timing
- Servings: 8–16
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Chill time: At least 1 hour
- Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Variations
- Berry mix: Swap strawberries or blueberries with raspberries or blackberries.
- Cream cheese blend: Mix softened cream cheese into the filling for a richer taste.
- Cake swap: Use pound cake for denser texture or ladyfingers for a tiramisu-style twist.
- Mini trifles: Assemble in individual glasses or jars for personal servings.
storage/reheating
- Storage: Refrigerate covered for up to 24 hours.
- Reheating: Not applicable—best served cold.
- Make-ahead tip: Assemble layers a day in advance; top with berries just before serving to preserve freshness.
FAQs
Can I make this trifle the night before?
Yes, it’s a perfect make-ahead dessert. Just cover and chill until serving.
Can I use frozen berries?
Fresh berries are best for presentation and texture, but thawed frozen berries can work in a pinch.
What’s the best cake to use?
Angel food cake is light and airy, while pound cake is more substantial—both work well.
Is this gluten-free?
Only if you use gluten-free cake. Always check the labels of pudding mix and whipped topping.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Use dairy-free whipped topping and pudding alternatives if needed.
How long will leftovers last?
Best enjoyed within 24 hours. Beyond that, the cake may become soggy.
Can I add lemon flavor?
Yes, lemon zest or a splash of lemon juice adds brightness to the filling.
Do I need a trifle dish?
No, any clear glass bowl will work to show off the layers.
Can I use homemade whipped cream?
Yes, substitute whipped topping with freshly whipped cream for a richer dessert.
How do I prevent soggy cake?
Assemble shortly before serving or keep cake and filling separate until closer to serving time.
Conclusion
Red, White and Blueberry Trifle is a light, flavorful dessert that’s as easy to make as it is beautiful to serve. With its patriotic colors and fresh ingredients, it’s a hit at summer parties, potlucks, and Fourth of July celebrations. Enjoy this stunning trifle as the centerpiece of your dessert table!
Print
Red, White and Blueberry Trifle
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins + chilling
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A festive layered dessert made with cubes of cake, creamy vanilla pudding, fluffy whipped cream, and fresh berries—ideal for patriotic holidays and summer gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cake or angel food cake, cubed
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- 2 (3.4 oz) boxes instant vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk pudding mix with cold milk until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
- Fold half of the whipped cream into the prepared pudding for a lighter texture.
- In a trifle dish or large glass bowl, layer 1/3 of the cake cubes, 1/3 of the pudding mixture, and a mix of berries.
- Repeat layers twice more, ending with a layer of berries on top.
- Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
- Garnish with extra berries or mint leaves if desired.
Notes
- Use day-old cake for better structure and flavor absorption.
- Can substitute store-bought whipped topping for homemade whipped cream.
- Assemble in individual cups for easy serving.
- Let chill overnight for best flavor integration.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of trifle
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 60mg