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Introduction & Inspiration

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I’m always drawn to desserts that are both visually stunning and relatively easy to assemble, and this Strawberry Trifle fits that description perfectly! With its layers of angel food cake, creamy vanilla pudding, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream, it seemed like the ideal dessert for a special occasion, a potluck, or simply a delightful treat to enjoy with family and friends.

My inspiration came from a love of layered desserts and a desire to create something that was both elegant and approachable. I envisioned a trifle that would be light, refreshing, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor. The use of angel food cake as a base was particularly appealing, promising a light and airy texture.

My goal was to find a recipe that combined homemade elements with some convenience items (like instant pudding mix) to create a dessert that was both impressive and easy to make. This Strawberry Trifle seemed to achieve that balance beautifully, offering a step-by-step guide to creating a truly special and satisfying dessert.

It is a perfect dessert for sharing.

Nostalgic Appeal

Trifles, in general, hold a strong nostalgic appeal. They’re often associated with family gatherings, holiday celebrations, and classic desserts that have been enjoyed for generations. The layers of cake, fruit, custard or pudding, and whipped cream create a visually appealing and texturally diverse dessert that’s both comforting and familiar.

The use of angel food cake in this particular trifle adds another layer of nostalgia, evoking memories of light, airy cakes often served with fresh fruit and whipped cream.

The fresh strawberries contribute a classic and beloved flavor, reminiscent of summer desserts, strawberry shortcake, and other strawberry-themed treats.

And the overall presentation of the trifle, with its layers of colorful ingredients showcased in a clear glass bowl, is reminiscent of traditional trifle presentations, evoking a sense of elegance and homemade goodness.

Homemade Focus

This Strawberry Trifle recipe strikes a nice balance between homemade and semi-homemade elements. While it utilizes instant pudding mix for convenience, you’re still making whipped cream from scratch, and assembling the trifle with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The angel food cake can be homemade or store-bought, adding flexibility.

I appreciate recipes that allow for some shortcuts without sacrificing the overall flavor and freshness of the dessert, and this one does that perfectly. You’re saving time by using instant pudding, but you’re still creating a beautiful and delicious dessert with your own hands.

The homemade whipped cream, made with heavy whipping cream, is a key element that elevates this trifle and adds a light, airy texture and a fresh, creamy flavor.

And the act of layering the components – cake, whipped cream, strawberries, and pudding – in a glass bowl is a hands-on process that allows for creativity and personalization.

Flavor Goal

The primary flavor goal of this Strawberry Trifle is a delightful combination of light, airy angel food cake, sweet and creamy vanilla pudding, fresh, juicy strawberries, and a hint of citrus from the orange zest. It’s a dessert that’s designed to be both refreshing and satisfying, with a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

The angel food cake provides a light, airy, and subtly sweet base that absorbs some of the pudding and cream, creating a soft and moist texture.

The vanilla pudding mixture, made with milk, sour cream, instant vanilla pudding mix, and orange zest, adds a creamy, sweet, and slightly tangy element with a hint of citrus.

The whipped cream, made with heavy whipping cream (and presumably a touch of sweetener like powdered sugar or vanilla – this is implied in the recipe, but could be explicitly stated), provides a light, airy, and subtly sweet topping that complements the other flavors.

The fresh strawberries contribute bursts of natural sweetness and juiciness, adding a refreshing and vibrant element to the trifle.

The overall effect is a dessert that’s both light and flavorful, with a perfect balance of textures and a beautiful presentation.

Ingredient Insights

Let’s examine the ingredients:

Angel food cake, cubed: This provides the light, airy base. You can use a store-bought angel food cake or make your own from scratch.
2% milk: This is used to make the pudding mixture.
Sour cream: This adds tanginess and creaminess to the pudding mixture.
Instant vanilla pudding mix:
Orange zest: This adds a subtle citrus flavor to the pudding mixture, complementing the strawberries and lemon cake.
Heavy whipping cream, whipped:
Fresh strawberries, sliced:

These ingredients are easy to find!

Essential Equipment

Here’s a list of what you will need:

A 3-qt. glass bowl: This is essential for showcasing the beautiful layers of the trifle. A trifle bowl with straight sides is ideal, but any large, clear glass bowl will work.
Mixing bowls (at least two):
An electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer): For whipping the cream.
A whisk:

Measuring cups and measuring spoons.

A knife.

This is a simple list.

List of Ingredients with Measurements

Here’s the complete list of ingredients, with precise measurements:

1 cup 2% milk
1 cup sour cream
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped
8 cups cubed angel food cake
4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
Additional sweetened whipped cream, optional

These quantities are perfect.

Make sure you have all the ingredients before starting.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Let’s break down the process into easy-to-follow steps.

Step 1: Prepare Pudding Mixture. In a large bowl, beat the milk, sour cream, instant vanilla pudding mix, and orange zest on low speed until thickened.

Step 2: Fold in Whipped Cream. Fold in the whipped cream (that you’ve whipped separately) into the pudding mixture. This creates a light and airy filling.

Step 3: Assemble First Layer. Place half of the cubed angel food cake in the bottom of a 3-qt. glass bowl.

Step 4: Add Strawberries and Pudding. Arrange a third of the strawberries around the side of the bowl and over the cake. Top with half of the pudding mixture.

Step 5: Repeat Layers. Repeat the layers once more: cake, then pudding.

Step 6: Top with Remaining Berries. Top with the remaining strawberries.

Step 7: Chill. Refrigerate for 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the trifle to set up slightly.

Step 8: Serve. If desired, top with additional sweetened whipped cream just before serving.

These are easy to follow instructions.

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Troubleshooting

Let’s address potential issues.

Problem: My pudding mixture is too runny. Solution: Make sure you used instant pudding mix, not cook-and-serve. Also, make sure you beat it with the milk and sour cream until it thickened properly.

Problem: My whipped cream isn’t whipping up. Solution: Make sure your heavy cream is very cold. You can also chill the bowl and beaters for a few minutes before whipping.

Problem: My cake is dry. Solution: If you made homemade angel food, don’t overbake.

These tips are helpful!

Tips and Variations

Here are some tips.

Tip: For the best flavor, use fresh, ripe strawberries.

Variation: Add other fruits to the trifle, such as raspberries, blueberries, or sliced peaches.

Tip: If you don’t have a large trifle bowl, you can make individual trifles in smaller glasses or jars.

Variation: Add a layer of crushed shortbread cookies or graham crackers to the trifle for added texture.

Tip: For a more intense orange flavor, add a few drops of orange extract to the pudding mixture.

Variation: Drizzle the finished trifle with a little bit of melted white chocolate or a strawberry sauce.

This is an easy recipe to adapt.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

This Strawberry Trifle is a beautiful and refreshing dessert that’s perfect for many occasions.

Serving: Serve the trifle chilled.

Pairing: * It’s perfect for spring and summer gatherings, potlucks, picnics, or as a light and elegant dessert any time of year.

Serve it in a large trifle bowl or in individual glasses for a beautiful presentation.
Pair it with a cup of coffee, tea, or a glass of sparkling wine.

It is perfect for a buffet.

Nutritional Information

Nutritional information is approximate due to variations in specific ingredients and serving sizes. A serving (assuming the trifle makes about 8-10 servings) may contain:

Calories: 300-400 (depending on the cake used and amount of whipped cream)
Fat: 15-25 grams
Saturated Fat: 8-15 grams
Cholesterol: 50-100mg
Sodium: 150-250mg
Total Carbs: 35-45 grams
Dietary Fiber: 1-3 grams
Sugars: 25-35 grams
Protein: 4-6 grams

This Strawberry Trifle is a dessert and should be enjoyed in moderation. Using a homemade angel food cake and homemade whipped cream will give you more control over the ingredients and nutritional content.

Strawberry Trifle

Create a stunning Strawberry Trifle with layers of angel food cake, creamy vanilla pudding, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. Get the easy recipe!

Author: Evelyn

Ingredients

Scale

Here’s the complete list of ingredients, with precise measurements:

1 cup 2% milk
1 cup sour cream
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped
8 cups cubed angel food cake
4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
Additional sweetened whipped cream, optional

These quantities are perfect.

Make sure you have all the ingredients before starting.

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Instructions