Quick and Easy Christmas Trifle
Christmas dessert just got a whole lot easier with this simple but festive Christmas Trifle. This delicious dessert takes only minutes to prep and adds a beautiful pop of color to your holiday table.
Have you ever put so much effort and thought into a holiday event that you find yourself not even enjoying it when it comes around? All the planning, the prepping, the catering to different tastes can be exhausting this time of year!
So my friends, if that is how you are feeling, trust me, the last thing you need is to take on a complicated dessert. Why go through the stress when this beautiful Christmas trifle exists?
This trifle comes together in minutes and the only thing it requires is just a few moments away from your guests to compile. Simply place the ingredients with layers of custard and layers of cake and serve this perfect berry trifle.
While the preparation is simple (just like with this Crockpot Christmas Crack!), the taste and texture feel expensive. The creamy vanilla pudding and light and fluffy angel food cake soak up all the flavor of the strawberries and bright pomegranate seeds. The pops of color in the fruit bring a cheery touch to the dessert, making this easy trifle recipe perfect for just about any holiday gathering.
So if you are looking for ways to simplify this holiday season, pick up these items and give this easy Christmas trifle recipe a try. Your guests are sure to love it!
Why Make This Recipe
- Easy: It cannot be overstated how simple this easy dessert recipe is. There is literally nothing that could go wrong! Just put it all together and let the ingredients speak for themselves.
- Light and Fresh: Even those who have filled up on too many Christmas desserts lately can enjoy a cup of this Christmas trifle. It is full of fresh fruit and delicious flavors that feel light and fresh, rather than rich and heavy.
- Looks Festive: The strawberries and pomegranate seeds in this recipe give it the perfect pop of color for your holiday table. While it may be simple to put together, it looks elegant and festive with any Christmas dinner.
What Do You Need to Make This Recipe?
Ingredients
- Angel Food Cake: I purchased an Angel Food Cake from the bakery section of my local grocery store. You can also make homemade angel food cake for more of a personal touch.
- Vanilla Pudding Snack Packs: I used the snack packs with 3.25 ounce cups each. You could also use one box of vanilla or white chocolate instant pudding mix, prepared. Feel free to substitute other pudding flavors if you’d prefer.
- Chopped Fresh Strawberries: Substitute or add other berries for even more flavor!
- Whipped Cream: For topping
- Pomegranate Seeds: You can buy the seeds already ready at the grocery store, or remove them from your own pomegranate!
Tools
- 8 Glasses: You want glasses that hold about 1 1⁄2 cups of contents, each. You could also use one large trifle dish or a large glass bowl in a pinch.
How to Make This Recipe
Step One: Cut the Cake
Take ⅛ of the angel food cake and cut it up into small, bite sized pieces. Place half of those pieces in the bottom of the serving glass (this should be 1/16 of the entire cake, or ½ of the chunk that you are working with) to create your first layer.
Step Two: Create Layers
Layer in ½ of the vanilla pudding snack pack and then ¼ cup of strawberries.
Next, place the second half of the cut up angel food cake into the serving glass (again, 1/16 of the entire cake).
Layer with the remainder of the pudding cup and another ¼ cup of strawberries.
Step Three: Top and Serve
Add whipped cream and pomegranate seeds to the top of the trifle to serve.
Repeat for the remaining serving glasses. Enjoy!
For Individual Servings
I love the look of serving this holiday dessert as individual trifles in smaller glasses. It keeps the look of neat layers for each guest.
In total, each individual glass should be made up of:
- ⅛ of the angel food cake
- 1 Vanilla Pudding Snack cups
- ½ cup chopped strawberries
- Whipped Cream
- Pomegranate Seeds
You could definitely spread all of these ingredients into one large trifle bowl and allow your guests to serve themselves.
Expert Tips
- It may be helpful to slice your angel food cake into eight large pieces first to ensure each cup gets an equal amount, rather than trying to eyeball it for each cup.
- Try not to make this too far in advance. You don’t want your strawberries or your cream to wilt if you serve it the next day. This recipe is simple enough to put together just before serving.
- Feel free to whip your own heavy cream into soft peaks for the whipped cream on top, but store bought cool whip works just fine for this festive trifle!
- If you are not a fan of angel food cake, feel free to replace it with sponge cake, lady fingers or amaretti biscuits for your cake layers.
Variations
This recipe is so simple, which makes it easy to customize. If you are having trouble finding fresh strawberries, you could use other fresh berries for your layers of fruit (raspberries or blueberries would be delicious!). You could also add some strawberry jam to your layers for even more flavor or serve this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
There are many different festive desserts and trifle recipes out there, but the simplicity of this recipe is what makes it so fantastic!
Can You Save This Christmas Trifle?
This recipe does not save well. The strawberries and cake may become soft overnight and the whipped cream may sag. It’s best to keep the ingredients separate and layer them only when you are ready to serve to your guests.
The individual cups may stay good for a few hours in the refrigerator if you want to compile them just before guests arrive for the evening but make sure to still only add the whipped cream right before serving.
For a great make-ahead Christmas dessert, try this Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie!
Christmas Trifle
Equipment
- 8 Glasses (That hold about 1½ cups of contents, each)
Ingredients
- 1 14 oz Angel Food Cake, cut into 8ths
- 8 Vanilla Pudding Snack Packs, 3.25 oz each
- 4 cups chopped strawberries
- Whipped Cream, for topping
- Pomegranate Seeds, for topping
Instructions
- Take ⅛ of the angel food cake and cut it up into small, bite sized pieces. Place half of those pieces in the bottom of the serving glass (this should be 1/16 of the entire cake, or ½ of the chunk that you are working with).
- Layer in ½ of the vanilla pudding snack pack and then ¼ cup of strawberries.
- Next, place the second half of the cut up angel food cake into the serving glass (again, 1/16 of the entire cake).
- Layer with the remainder of the pudding cup and another ¼ cup of strawberries.
- Top with whipped cream and pomegranate seeds to serve.
- Repeat for the remaining serving glasses. Enjoy!
Notes
- Angel Food Cake: I purchased an Angel Food Cake from the bakery section of my local grocery store. You can also make homemade angel food cake for more of a personal touch.
- Vanilla Pudding Snack Packs: I used the snack packs with 3.25 ounce cups each. You could also use one box of vanilla or white chocolate instant pudding mix, prepared. Feel free to substitute other pudding flavors if you’d prefer.
- Chopped Fresh Strawberries: Substitute or add other berries for even more flavor!
- Whipped Cream: For topping
- Pomegranate Seeds: You can buy the seeds already ready at the grocery store, or remove them from your own pomegranate!
- It may be helpful to slice your angel food cake into eight large pieces first to ensure each cup gets an equal amount, rather than trying to eyeball it for each cup.
- Try not to make this too far in advance. You don’t want your strawberries or your cream to wilt if you serve it the next day. This recipe is simple enough to put together just before serving.
- Feel free to whip your own heavy cream into soft peaks for the whipped cream on top, but store bought cool whip works just fine for this festive trifle!
- If you are not a fan of angel food cake, feel free to replace it with sponge cake, lady fingers or amaretti biscuits for your cake layers.
