Strawberry Trifle with Cheesecake Filling

Strawberry Trifle just screams summer, doesn’t it? With layers of fresh berries, pound cake, and a luscious cheesecake filling, this trifle dessert will be a hit anytime you serve it! 

I love serving trifle, because it has an amazing wow factor, but it is actually ridiculously easy to make. Not to mention that it is one of the most delicious desserts on the planet. A win all around!

 

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE TRIFLE:

• Macerated berries! Slicing the strawberries and mixing them with sugar pulls out the juice from the berries. This juice soaks into the cake and makes it so, so yummy!
• The pound cake is dense enough to hold up to the strawberry juice and the creamy filling. It’s moist, but doesn’t get soggy like yellow or white cake.
• Cheesecake filling. Guys, this stuff is seriously incredible. Sweetened cream cheese and fresh whipped cream are great on their own, but a splash of orange juice concentrate adds a burst of fresh flavor. You will be tempted to eat it by the spoonful!
• It only takes a few minutes of prep work, and it can be made ahead of time, so it’s perfect for just about any occasion. No last minute fussing.
• It’s gorgeous. I mean, just look at those beautiful layers. Definitely a show stopping dessert!
• And last but not least, you will be the hit of any party if you bring this dish. Everyone raves over it!

 

 

What are the layers of a trifle?

Traditionally, trifle has layers of cake, some type of fruit, and a creamy filling. The cake can be pound cake, sponge cake, angel food cake, or even brownies or chocolate cake. 

You can use just about any fruit you like in trifle. Berries are our favorite, and they seem to be the most common, but we’ve also used pineapple and bananas. I’ve seen apple trifle, mango trifle, peach trifle, and many more delicious flavors.

For the creamy filling, custard is the most common. I like to make it from scratch, but you can also use a box of instant pudding. Whipped cream is often folded into the custard. I love cream cheese, so I like to incorporate it in my trifle recipes. 

Some recipes for trifle call for alcohol, fruit juice, or even fruit gelatin (jello). The great thing with trifle is that you can use your imagination! Any combination of flavors that you like is worth a try. 

Strawberry  Trifle with Cheesecake Filling

If you’ve wondered how to make trifle, or put off making it because you thought it was too tricky, you are in for a surprise. It is one of the easiest desserts you can make!

As trifles go, this recipe is pretty simple. Layers of juicy berries, layers of creamy cheesecake filling, and layers of tender cake. But don’t let the simpleness fool you, this stuff is amazing! I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love strawberry cheesecake trifle!

HOW TO LAYER POUND CAKE TRIFLE

You always want to start your bottom layer with your cake; it makes the foundation of the trifle. Use a third of your cake. You want to pack your cake cubes in pretty tightly.

I think it’s prettier without any of the cake crust showing, so I do my outside ring first, then fill in the middle with the pieces that have darker edges.

Spread a third of the cream cheese filling over the cake cubes. On top of that, arrange half of the sweetened strawberries with their juice. 

Repeat the layers, then end with another layer of cake cubes and filling. 

When you are finished, garnish with additional strawberries. I just sliced a berry and placed it on top, but it is also pretty to arrange berries with stems around the edges of the trifle. You can even use extra cake cubes as garnish if you want!

SERVING STRAWBERRY TRIFLE 

For presentation, it is best to use a clear container for this strawberry trifle recipe. You want everyone to be able to see all those beautiful layers!

I have an older version of this trifle bowl, but you can also use a large clear glass bowl. If it isn’t as tall and narrow as a trifle bowl, you may have to do two layers instead of three, but that’s fine.

Of course if you don’t have a large clear container, you can make individual servings instead. Mini trifles are fun in small mason jars, clear dessert containers, or even wine glasses. Mini desserts are a fun way to serve a crowd!

STRAWBERRY TRIFLE VARIATIONS:

• We like this strawberry trifle with pound cake, but you can substitute angel food cake. I don’t recommend using a yellow or white cake made from a cake mix, it gets soggy.
• In place of the orange juice concentrate, you can use lemonade concentrate instead.
• For extra citrus flavor, add orange or lemon zest to the filling.
• I am not a fan of Cool Whip, but if you have someone with dairy issues, you can substitute a 16 ounce tub of Cool Whip for the heavy cream and powdered sugar.

Can a strawberry trifle be made the night before?

Yes, it can! I prefer my trifle after it has been refrigerated for 4-8 hours, but some of my family members prefer it the next day. It’s up to you!

MORE FRUIT DESSERTS:

• Banana Pudding Brownies
• White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
• Strawberries and Cream Cake
• Blueberry Dump Cake
• Pina Colada Trifle
• Peaches and Cream Recipe
• Fruit Ice Cream
• 4th of July Trifle
• Blueberry Ice Cream
• Strawberry Banana Crepes

STRAWBERRY TRIFLE DESSERT

(originally published 8/22/2013, post updated April 2021)

If you need a summer recipe that will impress your guests but doesn’t take a lot of time to make, this strawberry trifle recipe with cream cheese is just the ticket!