This Angel Berry Trifle is so easy and perfect for Easter. This berry trifle is made with angel food cake and an out of this world vanilla pudding cream cheese custard.
Angel Berry Trifle
If a berry trifle made with angel food cake is not going to get you thinking of summer, I don’t know what will. This trifle is sunshine, it’s a glimpse of the summer we wish so desperately to come. This is the perfect trifle for an Easter brunch, especially when you’re in charge of dessert. The great thing about trifles is that they really are super simple to prepare and assemble.
What Is a Trifle?
If you’ve never had a trifle before, I very strongly urge you to make this. A trifle is usually a layered dessert made with berries or fruits, a cake of some sort, and whipped or custard layer. I, for one, simply adore trifles.
The best thing about them is that they’re not as unhealthy as one may think. You can use fat free cream cheese, fat free yogurt and sour cream and sugar free pudding. Totally up to you! I find using low-fat/ low-sugar substitutes makes no difference in taste.
Ingredients in Angel Berry Trifle
Keep scrolling for the full recipe and ingredient amounts. For this recipe you will need:
- Instant vanilla pudding – You can use any brand of pudding, just make sure that the package is 1 oz/ 28 g.
- 1 1/2 cups milk – I used less milk than what was called for on the pudding package. I wanted it to come out a little thicker to really help the custard layer hold together with all those fruits layered on top.
- Vanilla yogurt – I wanted this layer to turn out white to create beautiful contrast in the trifle. You can also use berry flavored yogurt if you don’t mind the color, it will taste awesome!
- Cream cheese – I used whipped cream cheese but regular cream cheese will work.
- Sour cream – Trust me here! I know it seems odd to put sour cream in a dessert, but it adds such a nice, smooth, rich consistency to the custard layer with a little bit of tang.
- Whipped topping – I used a container of cool whip, but you can whip up some fresh whipped cream if you prefer. Don’t use any whipped cream that comes from a can as it will liquify.
- Angel food cake – You can, of course, use homemade angel food cake, but I’m going for a fast and easy dessert here which is why I used store-bought.
- Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries – You can use any berries you like. Blueberries would also be awesome here.
How To Make Angle Berry Trifle
- Make the pudding layer – Using either a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, hand mixer, or whisk, combine the pudding mix with the milk until it thickens. Set aside. Add the yogurt, cream cheese, and sour cream to the bowl of your mixer and combine until smooth. Fold in the pudding and 1 cup of whipped topping.
- Assemble the trifle – Cube the angel food cake and place 1/3 of the cubes at the bottom of a 4 qt trifle bowl. Top with 1/3 of the pudding mixture, then 1/3 of the berries. Repeat, then arrange the final layer of berries as per the photo if you’d like.
- Serve – You can serve this trifle right away, or store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Can I Use Frozen Berries?
The beauty of this trifle is that it’s pretty quick to put together, and you could easily use frozen berries as well. I used strawberries, blackberries and raspberries, but really you can use whatever you have or like.
The only difference with using frozen berries is that they can be a little more liquidy, but don’t worry! Those pieces of cake will soak up all that amazing fruit juice.
Can I Make Angel Berry Trifle in Advance?
Yes, absolutely! Trifle has to be the best dessert to make ahead of time. The cake has an opportunity to soak up all those amazing flavors, and I think it actually gets better when it has a chance to sit and hang out.
You can make this trifle up to 3 days in advance. Store covered in the fridge. If you make this in advance, I would suggest leaving the final layer of berries off until right before you serve it to avoid the juices bleeding.
Can I Freeze Trifle?
This is not a very freezer friendly dessert. Since there is a lot of moisture both in the berries and the pudding layer, there will be a lot of liquid coming out and making your trifle soggy as it thaws.
Looking for More Spring Time Sweets? Try These Recipes!
- Lemon Bars
- Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls
- Sex in a Pan
- Hot Cross Buns
- Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing
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Angel Berry Trifle
Ingredients
- 1 ounce instant sugar free vanilla pudding (1 package)
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup vanilla yogurt
- 6 ounce cream cheese I used whipped cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 12 ounce whipped cream I used cool whip
- 1 angel food cake prepared and cut into cubes
- 2 cups strawberries chopped
- 2 cups raspberries
- 2 cups blackberries
Instructions
- In your mixer whisk the milk and pudding mix together for a couple minutes or until firm. Pour into another bowl and set aside.
- In the bowl of your mixer add yogurt, cream cheese and sour cream and beat until smooth. Fold in pudding and 1 cup of the whipped topping.
- Place a third of the angel food cake cubes in a 4 quart trifle bowl. Top with a third of the pudding mixture, half of the remaining whipped topping and a third of the berries. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining cake, pudding and berries.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information:
Originally posted April 2014. Updated with new photos, process photos and video.
I made this gluten free using a gluten free angel food cake mix. My son said it was lethal, it was that good! Highly recommend this recipe.
Awesome dessert
I loved this recipe. Made it for the first time for a women’s brunch luncheon. Everyone loved it. Will definitely make this a must have on the menu.
Family loved this recipe, no leftovers!!
Made this recipe for the first time tonight for my husband. He absolutely loves Angel food cake so I figured he would like it. Boy what a reaction, he loved it!
I can see this is going to be a dessert that must be made every time fresh fruit is in the house.
Very simple to make as well.
That’s so great to hear! We’re glad you both love the trifle 🙂
Seasonal fruit always the best!Everybody loved this recipe, even my brother-in-law who doe not usually eat desserts! Had mine earlier due to my work schedule and made again for Easter, it was a hit to all I shared recipes with! It stayed good several days after too, not soggy one bit with the fruit.
Love hearing this, so happy you enjoyed it!
What a fabulous recipe! Made it for Easter and someone who normally does not eat dessert had 2 helpings! It was so good I made 2 for a birthday party 4 days later! Super quick and easy!
Wow that’s wonderful to hear, thank’s Virginia! We’re glad it was such a hit.
My sister past away Sat night. She did not want a funeral. She wanted loved ones and friends to come to her house and eat and fellowship. I saw this receipt and though she would have loved it. Thanks I will be making this for her.
I’m so sorry to hear about your sister. 🙁
Amazing dessert!! I brought it to a party and everyone raved about it. Fresh berries and delicious “custard”. This recipe is a keeper 🙂
That’s great to hear, we’re glad it was such a hit!
Beautiful and delicious!
YUM
In the past, I have made a different adaption of this and it was very good! I will try making this now that I know of a new version.
I made this for Easter dinner with family. Was easy for me and a huge hit with the family. Leftovers 2 days later still yummy, not soggy. Great recipe.
So happy you like it!
Delicioso!
This states that it’s great for making ahead. My concern though is the angel food cake will get all mushy. Anybody notice the angel food cake mushy from sitting overnight??