Easy Strawberry Shortcake Trifle: The Ultimate Layered Dessert Recipe
Prepare to impress with this stunning Strawberry Shortcake Trifle! This delightful dessert is a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, featuring layers of luscious homemade strawberry sauce, a light and airy whipped cream cheese filling, and delicate angel food cake. It’s the perfect sweet treat for any occasion, combining classic strawberry shortcake charm with the elegant presentation of a trifle.
Why This Strawberry Trifle Recipe Is a Must-Try
This magnificent strawberry shortcake trifle perfectly captures the essence of traditional strawberry shortcake but elevates it into a show-stopping, crowd-pleasing dessert. It’s constructed with layers of a vibrant macerated strawberry sauce, bursting with fresh berry flavor, combined with a rich yet fluffy whipped cream cheese layer. These delectable components are then beautifully stacked in a transparent trifle bowl alongside airy, sweet angel food cake. The result is a dessert that’s incredibly light, wonderfully creamy, and utterly irresistible – truly worthy of a 5-star rating!
Summertime heralds a generous bounty of sweet, perfectly ripe strawberries, making this strawberry trifle the ideal large-format dessert for entertaining. While its red and white layers make it a fantastic fit for patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July, this versatile dish is truly a year-round delight. It graces any gathering, from casual barbecues to elegant dinner parties, with its effortless charm. There’s never an inappropriate moment to enjoy a generous scoop of this delightful strawberry shortcake trifle – its refreshing taste and beautiful presentation are always a welcome addition.
Essential Ingredients for Your Strawberry Trifle
All precise measurements, detailed ingredients, and step-by-step instructions can be found in the printable recipe card at the conclusion of this article. However, here’s a deeper dive into the key components that make this strawberry trifle so special.
Ingredient Spotlight & Smart Substitutions
CAKE – While crafting a homemade angel food cake from scratch is always an option, for convenience, a store-bought angel food cake works beautifully and saves a significant amount of time. When selecting your cake, look for one that is noticeably light and airy, typically weighing around 19 ounces. Some varieties can be denser and shorter, which won’t achieve the same fluffy texture we desire for this trifle. The delicate nature of angel food cake is perfect for soaking up the strawberry sauce, becoming incredibly moist without turning heavy.
STRAWBERRIES – You’ll need two full quarts of vibrant, ripe, but still firm strawberries to achieve the perfect balance of cooked sauce and fresh berry bursts. Dedicate one quart to creating the rich, cooked strawberry sauce, and reserve the second quart for folding into the cooled sauce, ensuring fresh, juicy chunks in every bite. This separation is key to maximizing both cooked depth and fresh brightness in your trifle.
WHIPPED TOPPING – A readily available tub of Cool Whip (any variety – original, fat-free, or sugar-free) is a fantastic, fuss-free choice for this recipe, providing consistent fluffiness. However, if you prefer the luxurious taste of fresh whipped cream, you can certainly make your own. Simply beat 1 cup of heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Both options yield a wonderfully light and creamy layer that complements the strawberries beautifully.
CREAM CHEESE – For the luscious cream cheese layer, any variety of cream cheese (full-fat, low-fat, or Neufchâtel) will perform well. The most crucial tip here is to ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature. Remove it from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes, or even an hour, before you plan to use it. Softened cream cheese blends smoothly with sugar and whipped topping, preventing unsightly lumps and ensuring a perfectly velvety texture in your trifle filling.
Crafting Your Dream Strawberry Shortcake Trifle: Step-by-Step Guide
These step-by-step photos and instructions are designed to help you visualize the creation of this delightful dessert. For a printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and full instructions, feel free to Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this post.
Creating the Perfect Strawberry Sauce
- Begin by combining one-quart of your sliced strawberries with granulated sugar, cornstarch, and a hint of fresh lime juice in a large saucepan. The lime juice adds a lovely brightness that cuts through the sweetness, enhancing the overall strawberry flavor.
EXPERT TIP – To ensure uniform slices for your sauce, after coring the strawberries, hold each berry top-down on your cutting board between your thumb and forefinger. This simple technique makes slicing them into consistent pieces a breeze, allowing them to cook evenly.
- Cook this mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Bring it to a gentle boil, allowing it to bubble softly for about 3 minutes. Then, reduce the heat to low and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. During this time, the strawberries will soften beautifully, and the sauce will thicken to a rich, glossy consistency – thick but never pasty. The cornstarch is key here for achieving that perfect texture.
- Once the sauce has reached the desired consistency, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely. This cooling step is crucial as it prevents the warm sauce from melting the cream cheese layer or making the cake soggy prematurely.
EXPERT TIP – If you’re short on time, expedite the cooling process by spreading the hot strawberry mixture into a shallow pan or baking dish. The increased surface area will help it cool down much faster. For even quicker chilling, place the shallow pan into the refrigerator.
- After the sauce has cooled entirely, gently fold in the second quart of freshly sliced strawberries. This addition ensures bursts of fresh, juicy strawberry flavor and a delightful textural contrast against the cooked sauce. Stir gently until well combined, then set aside.
Prepping the Angel Food Cake
- Using a long, serrated bread knife, carefully slice your angel food cake horizontally into three even layers. The slices will resemble large rings or “donuts” due to the cake’s characteristic hole. A serrated knife is essential here to saw through the delicate cake without compressing or tearing it.
- Next, take each of those layers and cut them into uniformly sized 1.5-inch cubes. These bite-sized pieces are perfect for layering in the trifle bowl, ensuring each spoonful offers a harmonious combination of ingredients. Set the cake cubes aside, ready for assembly.
Whipping Up the Cream Cheese Layer
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until the mixture becomes wonderfully light, fluffy, and completely smooth. This step ensures there are no lumps and the sugar is fully incorporated, creating a rich base for your creamy filling.
- Set aside about 1/4 cup of the Cool Whip (or fresh whipped cream) in the refrigerator. This small portion will be used later for garnishing the top of your assembled trifle, adding a final touch of elegance.
- Gently fold the remaining Cool Whip into the cream cheese mixture using a rubber spatula. Use a light hand to maintain the airiness of both components, creating a fluffy and delightful cream cheese layer that’s not too dense. Continue folding until no streaks of Cool Whip remain and the mixture is uniformly combined.
Assembling Your Show-Stopping Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
- This recipe is perfectly designed to fit into a 13-cup (liquid measure) trifle bowl. Don’t worry if you have a little bit of cake or strawberry sauce leftover – it’s a generous recipe!
EXPERT TIP – Don’t let any extra cake or sauce go to waste! The leftover cake cubes can be topped with a dollop of whipped cream for a quick snack, or the extra strawberry sauce makes a fantastic topping for vanilla ice cream, pancakes, or yogurt.
- Start by creating a single, generous layer of angel food cake cubes at the bottom of your trifle bowl. For an aesthetically pleasing presentation, arrange the cake pieces along the edge of the bowl so that their pristine white sides are visible through the glass. This creates a beautiful visual contrast.
- Using a rubber spatula, carefully add dollops of the creamy whipped cream cheese mixture over the cake cubes. Begin spreading gently along the glass edge and then fill in the center. Use your spatula to carefully spread the mixture evenly and lightly tap it down, ensuring it fills the gaps between the cake pieces. This creates a smooth, continuous layer.
- Generously spoon half of your prepared strawberry sauce evenly over the cream cheese layer. Ensure the sauce covers the white cream cheese completely, creating a vibrant red middle layer that promises juicy flavor.
- Add another single layer of cake cubes over the strawberry sauce. For the best visual appeal and to maintain the delicate structure, place each piece individually rather than simply dumping them on. This allows for a more even distribution and prevents displacement of the layers below.
- Once more, use your rubber spatula to carefully add the remaining cream cheese mixture over the cake layer. Gently press the mixture along the edges, encouraging it to nestle down into the cake pieces. This ensures every bite will have a perfect balance of cake and creamy goodness.
- For your final cake layer, strategically place the remaining angel food cake cubes on top of the cream cheese mixture. Position them meticulously so that the clean white sides of the cake cubes face outward, creating an attractive border around the eventual strawberry topping.
- Pile the remaining strawberry sauce generously into the middle of this top layer. Make sure to leave the outer ring of cake pieces visible, enhancing the layered look of your trifle. This creates a vibrant red crown for your dessert.
- Finally, take the reserved whipped topping and dollop it into the very center of the strawberry sauce. Garnish this pristine white dollop with a single, perfectly sliced, sauced strawberry. This adds a beautiful finishing touch and a clear indication of the delicious flavors within.
EXPERT TIP – Once your trifle is fully assembled, the most important step is patience! Allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, though longer is truly better. Making it in the morning for an afternoon or evening gathering ensures maximum flavor and texture. This chilling time allows the angel food cake cubes to absorb the incredible strawberry sauce, transforming them into wonderfully moist and flavorful bites. It’s absolutely worth the wait!
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Trifle Success
Absolutely, yes! In fact, I highly recommend preparing this elegant dessert ahead of time. Trifles, particularly those with cake layers, are at their absolute best when they’ve had ample time to chill and allow the flavors to meld and the cake to soak up the delicious strawberry sauce. Plan on making it the day before or early in the morning you intend to serve it. This allows the angel food cake cubes to become wonderfully moist and infused with the sweet berry goodness, resulting in an even more flavorful and harmonious dessert.
To maintain its freshness and flavor, store your strawberry shortcake trifle tightly covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. It will keep beautifully for up to 3 days. While still delicious, be aware that the longer the trifle sits, the more the cake will continue to absorb the liquid from the surrounding ingredients. This might cause it to become a bit soggier in texture after the third day, though it will still be perfectly edible.
Yes, absolutely! Many of our readers have achieved fantastic results using a boxed angel food cake mix. This is a great shortcut to save time without compromising on flavor. Simply prepare the cake mix according to the package directions, allow it to cool completely, and then proceed with slicing it into cubes as you would with a store-bought angel food cake.
While this recipe focuses on pure strawberry bliss, you can certainly experiment with other fruits! Blueberries, raspberries, or sliced peaches would be wonderful additions, especially if you want to create a mixed berry trifle. If adding other fruits, consider how their juices might affect the sauce consistency and adjust cornstarch if needed, or simply fold them in fresh during the final assembly stage.
Strategic Planning for Your Perfect Strawberry Trifle
Creating this irresistible Strawberry Shortcake Trifle is remarkably straightforward, but a little bit of foresight in your preparation will ensure the best possible results. Follow these planning tips for a smooth and enjoyable dessert-making experience:
- The homemade strawberry sauce needs to be prepared first, well in advance, as it requires sufficient time to cool down completely before being layered with the other ingredients. A warm sauce will compromise the integrity of your cream cheese layer.
- Ensure your cream cheese is properly softened to room temperature before you begin beating it with the sugar. This typically means taking it out of the refrigerator approximately 30-60 minutes before you start the cream cheese layer. This critical step ensures a smooth, lump-free, and airy filling.
- When cutting your angel food cake, always opt for a serrated bread knife and use a gentle sawing motion. A straight-edged knife tends to compress the delicate cake, altering its texture, while the serrated blade glides through cleanly, preserving its light and fluffy structure.
- As mentioned, chilling is paramount for trifles. This dessert is significantly better after it’s had a chance to meld and soak up flavors in the refrigerator. Aim to make it the day before your event or early in the morning. This extended chill time allows the angel food cake cubes to fully absorb the delightful strawberry sauce, making every bite incredibly moist and flavorful.
- While we utilize Cool Whip for convenience and consistent results, feel free to substitute it with an equal amount of freshly whipped cream. To make fresh whipped cream, beat 1 cup of heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
Delightful Serving Suggestions for Your Trifle
This beautiful strawberry shortcake trifle is designed to be the centerpiece of any dessert table. Serve it generously scooped into individual bowls or elegant dessert dishes. Its layered presentation makes it a truly impressive treat for potlucks, festive holiday gatherings, summer barbecues, or any kind of party where a delicious and visually appealing dessert is desired. Always enjoy this delightful creation chilled for the best flavor and texture experience.
Explore More Delicious Berry & Trifle Recipes
If you loved this strawberry shortcake trifle, be sure to check out these other fantastic recipes that celebrate fresh fruit and layered desserts:
- Classic English Trifle
- Refreshing Strawberry Icebox Cake
- Sweet & Salty Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- Irresistible Strawberry Lasagna Trifle
- Dreamy Strawberry Dream Dessert
I absolutely adore sharing my culinary adventures and kitchen wisdom with all of you! To make sure you never miss a new recipe, I offer a convenient newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every time a fresh dish is posted. Simply subscribe here and start receiving your free daily recipes!
Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
IMPORTANT – For additional insights and handy advice, be sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions and Expert Tips sections within the main blog post. Simply scroll back up to discover more valuable information!
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Ingredients
- 20 ounce angel food cake cut into 1.5-inch cubes
For the Homemade Strawberry Sauce
- 2 quarts fresh strawberries divided (1 quart for cooking, 1 quart for folding in fresh), cored and sliced
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
For the Cream Cheese Whipped Topping
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 8 ounces Cool Whip divided (1/4 cup reserved for garnish) – or substitute homemade whipped cream
Tools You’ll Need
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Trifle bowl (13-cup capacity)
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Medium Saucepan
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Electric Hand mixer or a stand mixer with paddle attachment
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Rubber spatula
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Serrated Bread Knife
Before You Begin: Important Notes for Success
- The strawberry sauce is the first component to prepare as it absolutely must cool completely before you assemble the trifle. This prevents any melting of the creamy layers and ensures optimal texture.
- For the freshest flavor, a simple squeeze from half of a medium lime will typically yield the necessary one tablespoon of lime juice required for the sauce.
- While a homemade angel food cake is always a wonderful option, using a store-bought cake significantly simplifies this recipe without sacrificing taste. When buying, choose a light and airy cake, usually around 19 ounces. Denser cakes will not absorb the sauce as effectively.
- Cool Whip provides a consistent and stable whipped topping. However, if you prefer, you can easily substitute fresh whipped cream. Simply beat 1 cup of heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Ensure your cream cheese is at true room temperature before mixing. This means removing it from the refrigerator about 30-60 minutes in advance. Cold cream cheese will result in a lumpy mixture, even after extensive beating, which will affect the smoothness of your trifle layer.
- This trifle is best when allowed to chill for at least 2-4 hours, or ideally overnight, for the cake to fully absorb the strawberry juices and for all the flavors to meld beautifully.
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Homemade Strawberry Sauce
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In a large saucepan, combine one quart of sliced strawberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and fresh lime juice. Stir well to coat all the strawberries evenly.
TIP – For perfectly uniform slices, core your strawberries and then hold each berry top-down between your thumb and forefinger on the cutting board. This technique makes it easy to create consistent, even slices.
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Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Bring it to a gentle boil and continue to simmer for approximately 3 minutes. Then, reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional 5 minutes. The strawberries should become soft, and the sauce will thicken to a lovely, rich consistency – it should be thick but never pasty.
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Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the strawberry sauce to cool completely to room temperature. This is crucial for successful trifle layering.
TIP – To speed up the cooling process, spread the hot strawberry mixture into a shallow pan or baking dish. For even quicker chilling, place the shallow pan into the refrigerator.
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Once the sauce is completely cool, gently fold in the second quart of freshly sliced strawberries. Stir just until combined, ensuring the fresh berries are evenly distributed throughout the cooked sauce. Set aside.
Step 2: Prepare the Angel Food Cake
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Using a serrated bread knife, carefully slice the angel food cake horizontally into three even layers. The slices will resemble rings due to the cake’s center hole.
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Cut these layers into uniform 1.5-inch cubes. Set the cake cubes aside, ready for layering.
Step 3: Create the Cream Cheese Layer
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In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and ¾ cup granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and completely smooth, with no lumps remaining.
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Reserve 1/4 cup of the Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream) for garnishing the top of the trifle later. Place it in the refrigerator until needed.
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Gently fold the remaining Cool Whip into the whipped cream cheese mixture using a rubber spatula. Fold carefully until no streaks remain and the mixture is uniformly light and airy.
Step 4: Assemble Your Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
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This recipe is designed to fit a 13-cup (liquid measure) trifle bowl perfectly. You might have a small amount of cake or strawberry sauce leftover, which you can enjoy separately!
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Add a generous single layer of the angel food cake cubes to the bottom of the trifle bowl. For a beautiful presentation, arrange the pieces along the edge of the bowl so that their white sides are visible through the glass.
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Using a rubber spatula, carefully add dollops of the cream cheese mixture over the cake cubes. Start along the glass edge and work towards the center. Gently spread the mixture evenly and lightly tap it down to fill any gaps.
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Top the cream cheese layer with half of the prepared strawberry sauce, spreading it evenly to cover the cream cheese.
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Add another single layer of cake cubes over the strawberry sauce. Carefully place each piece to ensure even distribution and avoid disturbing the layers below.
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Again, using a rubber spatula, carefully add the remaining cream cheese mixture over the cake layer. Gently press along the edge to ensure the cream cheese settles nicely into the cake.
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Place the remaining cake cubes onto the cream cheese mixture. Position them carefully so that the clean white sides of the cake face outward, creating a neat border.
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Pile the remaining strawberry sauce generously into the middle of this top cake layer, deliberately leaving the outer cake pieces visible to enhance the layered effect.
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Finally, add the reserved whipped topping to the center of the strawberry sauce as a garnish. For an elegant finish, top this with a single sauced strawberry slice.
IMPORTANT TIP – After assembly, it is crucial to let your trifle chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Longer chilling, ideally 2-4 hours or even overnight, is highly recommended. This allows the angel food cake to thoroughly soak up the delicious strawberry sauce, resulting in a supremely moist, flavorful, and perfectly cohesive dessert. The wait is truly worth it!
Pro Tips & FAQs
- I strongly recommend preparing this strawberry shortcake trifle ahead of time. The flavors deepen, and the textures become more harmonious as it chills in the refrigerator. Aim to make it the day before or early on the day of serving to allow the angel food cake cubes ample time to absorb the delicious strawberry sauce – resulting in a truly irresistible dessert!
- Storage Instructions: Store the trifle, fully covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Be mindful that while still tasty, the cake layers will continue to soak up moisture from the other ingredients, which might lead to a slightly soggier texture after the third day.
- For a striking presentation, try to keep your layers distinct and neat. When placing the cake cubes along the edge of the trifle bowl, orient them so the lighter sides face outwards for a beautiful contrast against the red strawberries.
- If you’re making your own whipped cream, ensure your heavy cream and mixing bowl are very cold. This helps the cream whip up faster and hold its volume better.
- Feeling adventurous? Add a splash of strawberry liqueur or Grand Marnier to the strawberry sauce after it has cooled for an adult twist.
Nutrition Information (Estimated)
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This post originally appeared here on Jul 19, 2018, and has since been extensively updated with new photos, enhanced instructions, and additional expert tips to bring you the best version of this beloved recipe. The image below is one of the original photos, ensuring you’ve found the cherished recipe you’re looking for!
