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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I couldn’t find the right type of lady fingers so I bought sliced pound cake and cut it into strips. Do I still need to make this the night before? Worried about it getting soggy. If I make it the day of the party, it will have about 5-6 hours to chill. Thanks for any advice!
Hi KC, it should still be fine to make it the night before. Enjoy!
Hi Jenn,
Should I cover the trifle with saran wrap when I refrigerate it over night? I just finished making it and am ready to stick it in the fridge. To cover or not to cover….that is the question.
I love your recipes, especially the buttermilk fried chicken tenders. I make them for my grandkids!
Thanks,
Mary
So glad you like the recipes, Mary! Yes, I’d cover the trifle. 🙂
Hi Jen,
I don’t care for ladyfingers. Could I use pound cake instead? Or even vanilla cake as a substitute? Thank you!
Hi Roxanne, pound cake will work well as a substitute. Enjoy!
This is a showstopper! Everyone is impressed and thinks you spent all day in the kitchen (that you didn’t, is your dirty little secret…) I use mascarpone cheese instead of cream cheese because it’s lighter and a little creamier, also a little sweet (I use less added sugar). The filling actually came from the tiramisu recipe I make, but started using it for trifles, with good success. An awesome summer dessert! (I buy my mascarpone from Trader Joe’s; it’s less expensive than other sources and is of great quality. It is soft and does not need to be brought to room temperature, just use as is.)
Thanks for the tip!
Hi Jen,
Love this recipe. Can I use this cream mixture with berries on your flag cake instead of the cream cheese frosting? Thanks
Glad you like it! And while the texture is a little different than the frosting, it should work.
This is our favourite summer dessert. Its so delicious and so easy to make. I add a little lemon juice to the fruit jam mixture and some lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture. Yum!
Will be a go to summer dessert. Delicious, beautiful and wonderfully easy to make.
I have made this twice in a week! It is beautiful, easy to make, MAKE AHEAD, and everyone loves it. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. This will be a go to for me when I need a tasty and lovely dessert.
I made this today with fresh strawberries. It’s an easy recipe. My husband says it’s his favorite trifle recipe. The use of strawberry jam is genius and the cream cheese keeps it from being too sweet. Tastes like a strawberry shortcake cheesecake!
Amazing!!!
Perfectly delicious!