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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Summer Fruit Trifle Recipe with Fresh Berries

    Published: May 8, 2023 · Modified: Jul 3, 2025 by Amanda Mason · 34 Comments

    Yield 12 people
    Prep 20 minutes minutes
    Jump to Recipe
    Trifle bowl containing strawberries, blueberries and cheesecake filling sitting on an white table, scattered berries.
    Strawberries and blueberries topping a trifle dish.
    Berry trifle made with cream, 2 parfait dishes filled with trifle
    Trifle dish filled with strawberries and blueberries in a custard like mixture.
    Trifle bowl containing strawberries, blueberries and cheesecake filling sitting on an white table, scattered berries.
    Trifle bowl containing layers of angel food cake, cheesecake filling, strawberries and blueberries.
    Trifle bowl containing cheesecake filling, angel food cake with strawberries and blueberries, 2 parfait cups will with trifle on counter.
    Parfait cup containing angel food cake, cheesecake filling, strawberries and blueberries with a silver spoon.
    Trifle bowl containing strawberries, blueberries and cheesecake filling sitting on an white table, scattered berries.

    Layer upon layer of angel food cake, fresh summer berries, and a custard-like filling, this summer fruit trifle recipe is a cold dessert that is perfect for any hot summer day!

    Strawberries, Blueberries and angel food cake with a whipped cream cheesecake filling in a trifle bowl.

    A berry trifle is one of those summer desserts everyone loves and is perfect for BBQs, cookouts, and get-togethers. And this one is so festive! I make it every year for our Memorial Day BBQ, the 4th of July, and Labor Day. Along with my Summer Corn Salad and favorite Juicy Lucy Burgers, it's a summertime favorite!

    If you're looking for an easy dessert recipe, this is the one you want. It can be made ahead, requires no baking (perfect for hot summer days!), and is ready in less than 30 minutes!

    Jump to:
    • ❓What is English Trifle?
    • ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
    • 🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
    • 📋 Variations
    • 🔪 Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions
    • 🙋 Recipe FAQs
    • 💭 Expert Tips
    • 🍓 Other Fruit Desserts
    • Summer Fruit Trifle with Fresh Berries

    ❓What is English Trifle?

    If you hear this trifle dessert referred to as "English Trifle," it's because it originated in Scotland in the 1500s when they were still united with England.

    The ingredients in a classic trifle recipe include sponge cake soaked in alcohol (such as sherry), an English custard mixed with whipped cream, and a combination of strawberries and raspberries. You'll also see jelly in many traditional trifle recipes.

    While I enjoy a traditional English trifle, my version is way easier to make. With premade angel food cake, cheesecake-flavored instant pudding mix, cool whip, and fresh berries, you'll have a party-worthy dessert ready in less than 30 minutes.


    ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works

    1. You only need 6 ingredients and 20 minutes to whip this entire dessert together.

    2. It's festive with red, white, and blue for any patriotic holiday, such as July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Veteran's Day.

    3. This recipe is customizable to feature your favorite flavors and fruit. You can make a different variation for any party or holiday using the same simple recipe and technique!


    Trifle bowl topped with strawberries and blueberries sitting on a white table, berries scattered.

    🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

    angel food cake, pudding mix, blueberries, strawberries, and cool whip on a counter.
    • Angel food cake - Use store-bought angel food cake that can be diced into small squares.
    • Instant pudding - Cheesecake-flavored instant pudding mix adds the perfect custard-like texture and sweet flavor.
    • Sweetened condensed milk - Adds concentrated sweetness and keeps the texture of the pudding mix creamy instead of watered-down.
    • Cool Whip - Use cool whip from the tubs, not aerosol whipped cream. Cool Whip adds volume and a light and airy texture to the pudding mixture.
    • Berries - Use fresh summer berries for this trifle. Don't use frozen berries, as they'll add too much moisture as they thaw, making the cake layer soggy. Strawberries and blueberries are my favorite!

    Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!

    📋 Variations

    • Cake - Store-bought angel food cake is my go-to, but you can make homemade angel food cake if you'd like. You can also substitute angel food cake with pound cake or sponge cake. These options are a little richer and more dense but equally delicious.
    • Pudding - If you can't find cheesecake-flavored instant pudding, you can use white chocolate instant pudding. You can substitute another flavor, such as chocolate, French vanilla, or banana cream, to give this fruit trifle a whole new spin.
    • Fruit - Mixing the fruit in trifle recipes is always fun and can create a new flavor and look. I've added in fresh raspberries, blackberries, and bananas, which are all amazing. Kiwi, pineapple, cherries, mango, or peaches could also be used.

    🔪 Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions

    Step 1: Cut the angel food cake into bite-sized cubes and set it aside.

    Cubed pieces of angel food cake on a plate.

    Step 2: Whisk the sweetened condensed milk and water in a large bowl until combined.

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    Step 3: Add the pudding mix to the liquid and beat slowly for one minute using an electric mixer. The mixture will be thick.

    Collage of whisked pudding and milk.

    Step 4: Using a spatula, fold the thawed Cool Whip into the pudding mixture until it's well combined and set aside.

    Step 5: Start layering your fruit trifle by placing half of the cubed cake pieces in the bottom of a trifle dish.

    Collage of pudding, whipped cream being layered in trifle dish.

    Step 6: Add 1.5 cups of fresh blueberries over top of the angel food cake cubes.

    Step 7: Spread half the pudding mixture on top of the blueberries, covering them completely.

    Fresh blueberries on top of angel food cake, pudding on top of berries.

    Step 8: Layer 2 cups of fresh sliced strawberries on top of the pudding mixture.

    Step 9: Repeat steps 5-8 until your dish is filled to the top. Save a few blueberries and strawberries for a garnish on top of the fruit trifle. Place a piece of saran wrap on top and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours before serving.

    Strawberries and pudding being layered in a trifle dish.

    On a hot day, nothing can beat a cold and refreshing summer berry trifle. Just look at those layers!

    Trifle with cheesecake filling, strawberries and blueberries in a trifle bowl, read and white gingham napkin on table.

    I love serving this in cute little parfait glasses. My kids love this fruit trifle recipe but when the presentation is attractive and appetizing, they're much more excited to dive in! Throw in a little cocktail spoon, and you are all set.

    Parfait glass filled with strawberry, blueberry and angel foodmcake trifle with a spoon, green napkin in background.

    🙋 Recipe FAQs

    Can I use frozen fruits instead of fresh ones?

    Fresh fruit is preferred for berry trifle since frozen fruit releases a lot of liquid as it thaws, making the cake soggy instead of spongy. If you must use frozen fruit, completely thaw, drain, and pat the fruit as dry as possible before adding it to the dish.

    Can I use a different type of glass dish for the trifle?

    You can use any dish you'd like for trifle, but ideally, one that lets you admire the beautiful layers! I like using a tall clear glass dish to see each layer. If preparing for individual servings, layer everything in parfait cups or choose a tall, pretty dish.

    How do you store fruit trifle?

    Once you've added your last layer of the pudding mixture to the dish, cover it tightly with saran wrap and store the trifle in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours before serving. Garnish with fruit before serving. Leftovers can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    💭 Expert Tips

    • Make it healthier - I use Kraft's Jello - cheesecake instant pudding, but for less added sugar, use no-sugar-added pudding mix.
    • Don't skip the chill time - Once you've prepared the fruit trifle, let the dessert sit in the refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours. This gives the flavors enough meld and all the layers to chill together so each bite is cold and refreshing. For best results, let it chill for 24 hours before serving.
    • Make it extra sweet - Fresh berries can have a little bite of tartness, so for additional sweetness, add a tablespoon or two of sugar to the berries before adding to the trifle.
    • Make it in advance - To save time, make the instant pudding mixture up to 3 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can make the entire summer fruit trifle up to 24 hours in advance. If storing for longer than a few hours, wait until just before serving to garnish the top with fresh fruit.
    Strawberry and blueberry trifle sitting on a white table, 2 parfait glasses containing trifle topped with strawberries and blueberries.

    🍓 Other Fruit Desserts

    • Three glass parfait glass containing apple snickers salad topped with snickers and caramel.
      Apple Snickers Salad
    • Cherry Apple Pie
    • Strawberry popsicles in a tray of ice with mint and fresh strawberries.
      Strawberry Popsicles
    • Parfait glass filled with Pineapple Pistachio Marshmallow Dessert topped with a cherry, spoon in parfait glass.
      Pineapple Pistachio Marshmallow Dessert

    If you tried this summer fruit trifle or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love hearing from you! And, please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!

    📧 Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter, so that you don’t miss out on any of my delicious recipes!

    Trifle bowl containing strawberries, blueberries and cheesecake filling sitting on an white table, scattered berries.

    Summer Fruit Trifle with Fresh Berries

    Layer upon layer of angel food cake, summer berries, and a custard like filling, this fruit trifle recipe is a cold dessert that is perfect for hot summer days!
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 people
    Calories: 246kcal
    Author: Amanda Mason

    Equipment

    • Trifle Dish

    Ingredients

    • 10 ounces angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes
    • 4 cups strawberries, sliced
    • 3 cups blueberries
    • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
    • 1½ cups cold water
    • 1 3.4 ounce boxes of cheesecake instant pudding mix
    • 12 ounces cool whip, thawed

    Instructions

    • Whisk 1 can of condensed milk and 1½ cups of water in a bowl. Add all 3 of the 1 ounce boxes of pudding mix into the bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Let it stand for 1-2 minutes or until soft-set; then fold in the tub of whipped topping.
    • Cut the angel food cake into cubes. Arrange half the cubes in the bottom of a 14-cup trifle bowl. 
    • Take 1 ½ cup of blueberries and layer them on top of the angel food cake. 
    • Gently spread half of the cream filling over the blueberries, until the blueberries and cake are covered.
    • Next, layer on 2 cups of the fresh sliced strawberries.
    • Layer the remaining cake cubes on top of the strawberries, add the remaining 1½ cup of blueberries. Top with the remaining cream mixture. Finish with the remaining 2 cups of strawberries and a handful of blueberries, arranging them in a pretty pattern.
    • Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

    Notes

    • I use Kraft's Jello - cheesecake instant pudding, but for less added sugar, use no-sugar-added pudding mix.
    • Fresh berries can have a little bite of tartness, so for additional sweetness, add a tablespoon or two of sugar to the berries before adding to the trifle.
    • Once you've prepared the fruit trifle, let the dessert sit in the refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours. This gives the flavors enough meld and all the layers to chill together so each bite is cold and refreshing.
    • To save time, make the instant pudding mixture up to 3 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can make the entire summer fruit trifle up to 24 hours in advance. If storing for longer than a few hours, wait until just before serving to garnish the top with fresh fruit.
    • It's always fun to mix up the fruit in trifle recipes. I've added in fresh raspberries and bananas and they taste amazing!

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    Enter your email to receive this recipe, along with weekly food inspiration!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 194mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 163IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @RecipesWorthRep or tag #RecipesWorthRepeating!

    Recipe source: inspired by Skinny Taste

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    1.5K shares

    About Amanda Mason

    Hi! I'm Amanda, the founder and creator behind Recipes Worth Repeating! Simply put, I focus on creating delicious recipes for everyone. I offer variety. I offer convenience. I offer yumminess! And that's why people keep coming back. The recipes I create are absolutely worth repeating.

    Founded in 2012, Recipes Worth Repeating grew from people routinely asking me to email them the recipe for my latest dish. Recipe development comes naturally to me and I find cooking relaxing. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, I developed a passion for cooking at an early age and I love to showcase a variety of recipes on my blog.Creating delicious new recipes, still photography, and video for Recipes Worth Repeating is the driving force behind what engages my readers to keep coming back for more recipes they will love.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 18 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




       

    1. Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens

      June 10, 2018 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      What a simple, easy and yet totally showstopper dessert for summer! Really pretty (gorgeous pics!) ... and sure to be the hit of any picnic or potluck! Terrific tips about finding gluten-free products, too - so helpful!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 11, 2018 at 2:11 pm

        Yes - this one is big so definately perfect for a potluck during the summer!

        Reply
    2. Julie

      June 10, 2018 at 9:19 am

      I love love love summer berry trifles! It's such a perfect combination of cake, creamy whipped cream, and all those delicious berries that finally start showing up at the market. One of my favorite desserts!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 11, 2018 at 2:11 pm

        Yeah! I hope you enjoy!!

        Reply
    3. Leslie

      June 10, 2018 at 8:50 am

      I think I'm going to give this a shot for my Fourth of July party, but because it's going to be a smaller group and I have enough jars, I'm going to do them as individual servings in mason jars. So cute!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 11, 2018 at 2:12 pm

        What a perfect idea!!

        Reply
    4. lauren

      June 10, 2018 at 5:56 am

      5 stars
      Now THIS is a summer dessert! Light fresh berries and cake, cool and refreshing. And the fact that it looks pretty simple is a total win!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 11, 2018 at 2:12 pm

        Super pretty dessert right here!! I hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Marisa Franca

      June 09, 2018 at 8:56 am

      5 stars
      It's not just the easiness of this dessert that's appealing but the beauty of the presentation. I love the red, white, and blue motif and it is so versatile by just changing what fruit you use. A great dessert recipe.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 11, 2018 at 2:13 pm

        Super versatile...that's for sure! It's easy to make this one your own to enjoy year round...regardless of the time of year!

        Reply
    6. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices

      June 09, 2018 at 7:18 am

      5 stars
      This dessert is delightful to look at and pretty amazing to eat! Gorgeous layers of goodness, freshness, and flavor!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 11, 2018 at 2:13 pm

        Thank you! I hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Jenni LeBaron

      June 08, 2018 at 9:21 am

      5 stars
      I think trifles are such pretty desserts to serve a group. I love that this one takes advantage of all the beautiful summer fruit that's available right now!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 08, 2018 at 1:19 pm

        Enjoy!

        Reply
    8. Gloria

      June 05, 2018 at 7:39 am

      5 stars
      This is such an easy dessert....and perfect for all the BBQ parties this summer. I would be happy to eat this all summer long. Love the easy of making this....and true crowd pleaser.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 05, 2018 at 5:37 pm

        Yes- it is SO easy and perfect for these warm days! Enjoy!!

        Reply
    9. Elaine @ Dishes Delish

      June 05, 2018 at 7:07 am

      5 stars
      I simply adore this! I love that you used angel food cake as the cake layer. Your trifle is festive and beautiful. I want to bring this to my sister's 4th of July party!!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        June 05, 2018 at 5:37 pm

        Definately a good one to take to the 4th of July party!!

        Reply
    10. G. Mason

      September 05, 2017 at 8:55 pm

      5 stars
      Fresh, light and delicious!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        September 05, 2017 at 9:09 pm

        Yes- that's a perfect description of this trifle!!

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

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