Summer Berry Trifle
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This berry trifle is perfect for a summer party — it’s refreshing, gorgeous, and make-ahead.
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski (Chronicle Books, 2018)
Berry trifles make wonderful (and patriotic) summer party desserts. Not only are they gorgeous, they feed a crowd and are made in advance. The only drawback is that, with all their layers, they can be time-consuming to make from scratch. I save time by using store-bought Savoiardi biscuits (a.k.a. crisp ladyfingers), cream cheese, and raspberry jam. The result is a dazzling, delicious berry trifle that can be made in 30 minutes. Use a deep, clear glass bowl or a footed glass trifle dish so the pretty layers can be seen. And don’t worry if the layers look slightly uneven or if the layers mix a bit — that’s the beauty of a trifle. You can also make the trifle in small glasses as individual parfaits.
“Oh my! This is so easy, beautiful and absolutely delicious!! Made for a party and everyone raved.”
What You’ll Need For Summer Berry Trifle
Step-By-Step Instructions
To begin, warm the raspberry jam in the microwave.
Toss it with the berries and let it sit while you prepare the rest of the trifle.
Beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form, then set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and Confectioners’ sugar.
Beat until smooth and creamy, then beat in the vanilla.
Add a third of the whipped cream.
Beat until smooth and then add the remaining cream.
Fold with a rubber spatula until evenly combined.
To assemble, begin by layering the lady fingers in the bottom of the dish. Top with a third of the berry mixture, followed by a third of the cream. Continue alternating the lady fingers, berries, and cream.
End with the cream cheese mixture on top; for the last layer of cream, leave a 1-inch border around the edge showing the fruit beneath. Sprinkle some berries and a fresh mint on top.
Let the trifle chill for at least 8 hours, then top with some fresh berries and a spring of fresh mint, if desired.
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Video Tutorial
Summer Berry Trifle
This berry trifle is perfect for a summer party — it’s refreshing, gorgeous, and make-ahead.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (8 oz) seedless raspberry jam
- 1 quart (1½ pounds) strawberries, hulled and cut into ¼-inch slices
- 1 pint (12 oz) raspberries
- 1 pint (12 oz) blueberries
- 1½ cups heavy whipping cream, cold
- 16 ounces cream cheese (preferably Philadelphia brand), at room temperature
- 1¾ cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (7 oz) package crisp lady fingers (also called savoiardi biscuits)
- Fresh mint spring, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Set aside a few berries for topping the trifle.
- Heat the raspberry jam in a large bowl in the microwave for about 1 minute, or until hot and liquidy. Add the fresh berries and toss to coat. Let sit while you prepare the rest of the recipe, stirring occasionally.
- In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla, then beat in a third of the whipped cream. Using a large rubber spatula, fold in the rest of the whipped cream until well combined.
- Cover the bottom of a 9-inch (14-cup capacity) trifle dish or glass bowl with a layer of lady fingers (break into pieces as necessary). Follow with ⅓ of the berry-jam mixture (including ⅓ of the juices), then ⅓ of the cream. Alternate, ending with the cream cheese mixture on top; for the last layer of cream, leave a 1-inch border around the edge showing the fruit beneath. Garnish with the reserved whole berries and a fresh mint spring if using. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight, before serving.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Calories: 554
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Sugar: 41g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 7g
- Sodium: 197mg
- Cholesterol: 143mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Delicious trifle recipe — my friends loved it! The combination of the cream cheese & whipped cream for the third layer made the trifle extra special.
I had never made nor tried trifle ever before making this and although i had my reservations I must admit it has converted me to a Trifle lover! This recipe is awesome and definitely proved to create a perfect outcome. the only tweak i did was add strawberry jelly in addition to the jam and it was truly sensational. I highly recommend this recipe!
I made this for the 4th of July. It was a big hit, looked just like the picture except for little flags all around. It was the perfect dessert.
I followed the recipe exactly and was very impressed. Great 4th of July choice! All my friends said this was the best trifle they had ever had. Thanks so much, I will be using this again!
Hi Jen!
I’ve made your Summer Berry Trifle for the last 2 July 4ths, and this past Memorial Day. It’s wonderful and always a hit. Thanks for the recipe. Its perfect for a summer dessert and patriotic holiday!!
Absolutely wonderful, and quite simple to make. My first, but not last recipe of yours I tried.
Gluten free alternatives to ladyfingers?
You could make a gluten-free cake to use instead of the ladyfingers. Also, I saw that there is a brand of gluten-free ladyfingers that may work. Please let me know how it turns out!
I make my beloved, traditional English trifle every Christmas, but wanted something lighter for a July 4th family party. This recipe was just the ticket! I am not a huge fan of cream cheese so was a little skeptical at first, but it was so light in combination with the whipped cream! The crispier lady fingers were just the right texture, too. I had a little leftover fruit and used it to make Jenn’s Raspberry Lemonade – delicious and so pretty on our outdoor table!
Glad you enjoyed it, Mary! Would love your beloved English trifle recipe if you’d like to share. 🙂
Sure, Jenn, happy to share it. I’ll email it to you.
Stella D’oro brand Margherite cookies and Roman Egg Biscuit cookies are all I could find for the “lady fingers”. Which would be more suitable?
Hi Nicole, I’d go with the Margherite cookies. Hope you enjoy!
I followed this recipe exactly as written and it was amazing! My trifle dish was only 12 cups so I added the cream on the top just before serving. I was hoping for leftovers, but it went quick!