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 am having trouble finding the crispy lady fingers. Can I substitute the regular ones I might use for Charlotte Russe?
Hi Patty, I wouldn’t recommend the regular lady fingers here. You’d be better off with pound cake but into pieces. Hope you enjoy!
I can’t find lady fingers. What cake recipe would you recommend?
Hi Natalie, you can just use store-bought pound cake here.
I don’t have enough time to order the Lady Fingers online. I found Walkers Pure Butter Shortbread they are crispy, would that be a substitute? or would pound cake be a better option?
Lisa, I think the pound cake would be a better option :).
Hi I could not find the lady fingers, can I use the Biscoff Europe’s,would that work?or not as good?
Hi Lisa, I haven’t tried Biscoff European cookies, but I suspect that the texture may be too hard. If you’re determined to make this, you can order the crisp lady fingers on Amazon. If you don’t want to bother with that, you could always use pound cake cut into pieces.
I haven’t made this yet but how could I make it lower in calories? Always watching my weight!
Hi Sherry, You could make a few tweaks: look for reduced sugar or sugar-free jam, cut back a little on the confectioner’s sugar and try the reduced-fat (not fat-free) cream cheese. I would love to know how it turns out if you prepare it with these tweaks!
This is delicious.
Jenn, I live in England (home of the trifle!) and served this at a dinner party last night. My English hubby and friends said it was THE BEST TRIFLE THEY HAD EVER TASTED! One of them has even requested it in lieu of cake for his birthday next weekend. I personally found the cream cheese and whipped cream topping a bit too sweet but everyone else thought it was perfect! Thank you. I am looking forward to trying out some of your other recipes.
That’s high praise, Jan — so glad everyone enjoyed it!
Hi Jenn, can you tell me I this trifle is dry seeing as the finger biscuits don’t get dipped in anything.
Hi Rita, the berries tossed with the jam makes for plenty of moisture, so I don’t think you’ll find this to be dry at all.
This is a wonderful party recipe. The instructions were clear, the recipe easy and a sure hit with everyone. There will be nothing left over
Hi Jen! Can I use soft lady fingers for this recipe instead?
Hi Erin, Yes but the texture won’t be as good — I definitely prefer the hard cookies.