Experience the taste of summer with this heavenly raspberry trifle! It’s my go-to when I want to impress without breaking a sweat in the kitchen.
Featuring layers of buttery pound cake, velvety cream cheese, and sweet raspberries- every bite is deliciously harmonized.
Plus, its stunning presentation makes it a showstopper at any gathering.
So grab a spoon and dive into this creamy and refreshing raspberry trifle. Your taste buds will thank you!
Why You’ll Love This Raspberry Trifle
Simple & Elegant: This dessert is a feast for the eyes, with its layers of vibrant red raspberries, creamy white filling, and golden pound cake. It’s beyond Instagram-worthy.
Light & Refreshing: The perfect balance of tart raspberries, sweet jam, and creamy filling make a dessert that isn’t too heavy.
No-Bake Wonder: This no-bake trifle is easy to assemble, making it a go-to recipe for all bakers looking to create a sophisticated dessert without the fuss.
Customizable & Versatile: The recipe offers flexibility in layering, allowing you to get creative with the presentation. Plus, you can swap in your favorite fruits, jams, creams, or cake flavors to suit your preferences or seasonal availability.
Ingredients
- Pound Cake: Provides a rich, moist, buttery base for the trifle. Feel free to make it yourself, but any brand from the store will do.
- Raspberry Jam: Adds a sweet and tangy layer, enhancing the fruity taste with every bite.
- Cream Cheese: Gives the filling a smooth and creamy texture, balancing the sweetness with a subtle tang.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Brightens the cream cheese mixture with a hint of citrus.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese mixture, ensuring a silky, well-balanced filling.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Adds lightness and airiness to the cream cheese mixture.
- Fresh Raspberries: Bursting with juiciness, they provide a refreshing and vibrant contrast to the creamy layers.
How to Make Raspberry Trifle
This classic dessert is a symphony of flavors and textures that will transport you to a sun-drenched garden party.
Whether you’re hosting an elegant soirée or simply treating yourself, this trifle is sure to impress.
And yet, it’s a breeze to recreate!
1. BEAT the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
2. BLEND in the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla until combined.
3. WHIP the heavy cream in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold it gently into the cream cheese mixture.
4. LAYER half the raspberry jam in a trifle dish, followed by one-third of the berries and half the pound cake cubes.
5. SPOON or pipe half the whipped cream over the cake. Repeat the layers, finishing with whipped cream on top.
6. GARNISH with the remaining raspberries and chocolate curls, if desired.
7. CHILL for at least an hour before serving. Enjoy!
Tips For the Best Raspberry Trifle
My favorite thing about trifles is their versatility. There are no wrong answers when making swaps or changing up the layers.
So, feel free to make those layers thinner and add more of them to make this extra impressive!
Need some more tips? I’ve got you covered:
- Cake selection. Use a high-quality pound cake or substitute it with angel food cake for a lighter, fluffier texture. You can also use another flavor, such as chocolate if you prefer!
- Distribute the jam evenly. If it’s very thick, nuke it for 10-20 seconds so it’s pourable. You want it in every bite, after all!
- Don’t skip the chill time. Allow the trifle to refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to overnight) to allow the flavors to meld and the cake to absorb the jam and cream.
- Make it boozy. For an enhanced raspberry flavor, consider adding a raspberry liqueur, such as Chambord, to the jam or cream mixture.
- Variations. For a lighter, sweeter filling, try instant pudding mix instead of cream cheese. Experiment with different types of fruit preserves for unique flavor combinations. Or try it with other cake flavors like chocolate or lemon.
How to Store
It won’t come as a surprise to hear that this won’t freeze well.
The cream cheese will turn grainy and how would you fit the dish in the freezer anyway?!
But you can keep leftovers in the fridge:
To Store: Cover leftovers tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-3 days. For best taste and texture, consume within 24-48 hours of preparation.
More Showstopping Desserts to Try
Gingerbread Bundt Cake
Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
Lemon Blueberry Trifle
Tiramisu Cups
Raspberry Trifle
10
servings20
minutes20
minutes608
kcalThis raspberry trifle recipe will impress your guests with its stunning presentation and irresistible flavors. It’s the perfect dessert for any occasion.
Ingredients
2 (8 ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups raspberry jam
3 cups fresh raspberries, divided (three 6-ounce containers)
1 pound loaf pound cake, cut into 1-inch cubes
chocolate curls, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
- Reduce the speed to low and slowly blend in the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.
- Spread about half of the raspberry jam into a trifle dish (or a 3-quart glass bowl). Sprinkle one third of the fresh berries evenly over the top, followed by half of the pound cake cubes.
- Spoon or pipe half of the whipped cream over the cake, then repeat the layers, ending with the whipped cream on top. (If desired, you can make three layers of each instead.)
- Garnish with the remaining raspberries and chocolate curls. Chill for at least an hour before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Distribute the jam evenly. If it’s very thick, nuke it for 10-20 seconds so it’s pourable. You want it in every bite, after all!
- Don’t skip the chill time. Allow the trifle to refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to overnight) to allow the flavors to meld and the cake to absorb the jam and cream.
