4th of July Trifle (Easy Patriotic Recipe)

Add a burst of patriotism to your Independence Day celebration with this irresistible 4th of July trifle!

It’s a fluffy angel food cake dessert made with layers of decadent whipped cream cheese frosting and juicy strawberries and blueberries.

This trifle is the perfect red, white, and blue 4th of July dessert. 

Not only is it delicious, but it’s also visually stunning and sure to impress all of your guests. 

So, whether you’re hosting a BBQ or attending a potluck, bring the party to life with our festive 4th of July trifle!

4th of July Berry Trifle

This patriotic 4th of July berry trifle is the ultimate summer treat. And it’s the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day. 

The colors are on point and the flavor is out of this world. Rich, creamy, sweet, and fruity, it really does have it all.

Oh, and by the way, this berry trifle recipe doesn’t require any baking at all! 

It’s simply a matter of arranging layers of store-bought cake, an easy 1-minute frosting, and berries in a glass jar.

Just 30 minutes, and you’re done.

Ingredients

While this red blue and white trifle looks stunning, it only calls for basic ingredients.

Cake & Cream Cheese Frosting

Store-Bought Angel Food Cake  – The secret to why this trifle recipe requires no baking! But of course, I won’t stop you from baking the cake yourself. 

You can use either angel food cake, pound cake, white cake, any cake you like. You can even use ladyfingers.

Cream Cheese – It adds a rich and tangy element to the frosting that pairs wonderfully with cake and berries.

Use a full-fat block of softened cream cheese for a smooth and creamy frosting.

Powdered Sugar – To sweeten the frosting. Don’t swap this out for granulated sugar, as that will make your frosting grainy.

Sour Cream – It gives the frosting another layer of rich and tangy goodness.

Vanilla Extract & Almond Flavoring – For flavor enhancement. Feel free to skip the almond flavoring if you’re not a fan.

Whipped Cream – For a rich and fluffy frosting. You can make your own whipped cream or just use Cool Whip for a more effortless dessert.

Berries

Strawberries and Blueberries – These two make up the red and blue layers of the patriotic 4th of July trifle.

Granulated Sugar – To sweeten the berries. Adjust the measurement according to your liking.

How to Make 4th of July Berry Trifle

This 4th of July trifle requires no baking, making it an ideal recipe for beginners and busy bees.

1. Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat together softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in the sour cream, vanilla, and almond flavoring.

In a separate bowl, whip the whipping cream until it doubles in volume. Or, just skip this step and use Cool Whip instead.

Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.

2. Mix in the angel food cake.

Slice the cake into 1-thick-inch cubes. Gently mix it in with the cream cheese frosting.

Note: You can also add the cake layer separately, but I like to combine them already so the cake absorbs the flavor of the frosting.

3. Make the berry layer.

Combine the strawberries, blueberries, and granulated sugar.

Note: You can also add the strawberries and blueberries separately to make the patriotic red blue and white layers more distinct.

4. Assemble the trifle.

Arrange the layers alternatingly in the following order: cake, cream cheese frosting, and berries.

The final layer should be the berries. Feel free to arrange the berries to create whatever patriotic pattern you desire, star, U.S. flag, you name it.

5. Refrigerate before serving.

This patriotic berry trifle should be eaten within the same day it was made.

But you still have to chill it in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Stick to fresh berries. Frozen berries won’t taste as good, and they also tend to bleed, affecting the colors of your trifle layers.

• Use a different kind of cake. Aside from angel food cake, you can also use white cake, pound cake, or ladyfingers.

• Use Cool Whip for quicker prep. Just be sure to thaw it before you start.

• Layer in the same order all the way up. Start with the cake, then add the cream cheese mixture and the berries.

• For individual servings, make berry trifles in a jar. Use a cookie cutter to make round-shaped cakes that’ll fit neatly into the jars. This recipe makes 10-12 single-serve trifles. 

To store: Keep the trifle refrigerated at all times. It’s best served the day it was made, but you can store it for up to 2 days.

More Sweet Desserts for The Summer

Shoney’s Strawberry Pie
Blueberry Cheesecake
Mary Berry’s Lemon Cupcakes
Lemon Blueberry Bread