• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Modern Honey
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Top 20
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Top 20
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Summer Berry Trifle

    Published: Jun 28, 2018 · Modified: Jul 3, 2019 by Melissa Stadler · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    4293 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Summer Berry Trifle made with homemade cream cheese pound cake, creamy custard filling, and sweet fruit. A gorgeous summer dessert! Perfect dessert for a potluck and party. Patriotic 4th of July dessert. www.modernhoney.com #trifle #4thofJuly #patrioticdessert #trifle

    Summer Berry Trifle

    The Best Berry Trifle made with Cream Cheese Pound Cake layered with Sweet Vanilla Pudding, Fresh Berries, and Whipped Cream 

    Years ago I went through a "trifle" stage. Every time I was asked to bring a dessert to a party or get together, it was some kind of trifle dessert. I received a trifle dish as a present and you better believe I got some serious use out of it! The beauty of a trifle is that it is rustic in nature so you can layer it anything your heart desires.

    Summer Berry Trifle made with homemade cream cheese pound cake, creamy custard filling, and sweet fruit. A gorgeous summer dessert! Perfect dessert for a potluck and party. Patriotic 4th of July dessert. www.modernhoney.com #trifle #4thofJuly #patrioticdessert #trifle

    What is a trifle?

    It is a chilled dessert of sponge cake layered with fruit, custard, and whipped cream

    This is such a beautiful patriotic 4th of July dessert. The strawberries are red, the blueberries are blue, and the whipped cream is white. It is perfect for a potluck as it can serve a lot of people and it is so easy to serve -- you just scoop desired serving amount into bowls.

    Let's talk about what goes into this Summer Berry Trifle. I wanted to create a trifle where every layer is perfection. It all starts with a sweet cream cheese pound cake recipe. I shared this recipe yesterday because it is hands down, my favorite pound cake recipe!

    Next, we are creating a custard filling by adding vanilla pudding, milk, sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, and whipped cream. On a scale of 1-10, it is a 12. I can sit and watch Southern Charm on Bravo with a big bowl of this homemade sweet custard and be one happy girl. It is silky smooth, creamy, and sweet.

    The strawberries and blueberries are tossed with some sugar to bring out their sweetness and create some natural juices.

    Summer Berry Trifle made with homemade cream cheese pound cake, creamy custard filling, and sweet fruit. A gorgeous summer dessert! Perfect dessert for a potluck and party. Patriotic 4th of July dessert. www.modernhoney.com #trifle #4thofJuly #patrioticdessert #trifle

    How to make the Perfect Berry Trifle:

    1.  Start with the Perfect Cake. I use my cream cheese pound cake recipe because it holds up beautifully in a trifle dessert. It is heavy enough to hold its own when the cream and fruit are layered. If you want to save a few steps, you can use a cake mix or buy an angel food cake at the store.
    2. Make your own sweet custard layer. This starts with vanilla pudding mix and milk. Sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, and heavy cream are whipped together until light and fluffy. The key is to make sure the cream cheese is softened so it is smooth and creamy when whipped with the sweetened condensed milk.
    3. Sprinkle Strawberries and Blueberries with Sugar. This is a key step as it helps to create natural juices which help to keep the cake extra moist.
    4. This Trifle Dessert can be showcased in a Glass Trifle Bowl. Here's a traditional glass trifle dish for about $17 bucks and here is an embossed glass trifle dish if you want something more unique.
    5. Chill and Refrigerate until ready to serve. This is a chilled dessert so it needs to be refrigerated until ready to serve. This helps the pudding to set up.

    Summer Berry Trifle made with homemade cream cheese pound cake, creamy custard filling, and sweet fruit. A gorgeous summer dessert! Perfect dessert for a potluck and party. Patriotic 4th of July dessert. www.modernhoney.com #trifle #4thofJuly #patrioticdessert #trifle

    Summer Berry Trifle made with homemade cream cheese pound cake, creamy custard filling, and sweet fruit. A gorgeous summer dessert! Perfect dessert for a potluck and party. Patriotic 4th of July dessert. www.modernhoney.com #trifle #4thofJuly #patrioticdessert #trifle

    Summer Berry Trifle

    Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey
    A patriotic summer 4th of July dessert made with cream cheese pound cake, sweet custard, and fresh fruit.
    4.50 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American

    Equipment

    • kitchenaid mixer
    • bundt cake pan

    Ingredients
      

    Cream Cheese Pound Cake:

    • 1 ½ cups Unsalted Butter 3 Sticks, softened
    • 6 ounces Cream Cheese softened
    • 3 cups Sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
    • 4 Eggs plus 2 Egg Yolks
    • ¼ cup Whole Milk or Buttermilk
    • 3 cups Cake Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Salt

    Custard Filing:

    • (1) 5-ounce pkg. Instant French Vanilla Pudding Mix
    • 1 ½ cups Whole Milk
    • 1 8-ounce pkg. Cream Cheese, softened
    • 1 14-ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk
    • 1 ½ cups Heavy Whipping Cream

    Fresh Fruit:

    • 2 lbs. Strawberries sliced
    • 1 12-ounce pkg. Blueberries
    • Raspberries optional
    • ⅓ cup Sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oven to 300 degrees. Spray 12-cup nonstick Bundt pan with baking spray with flour. Coat the pan well to prevent sticking.
    • In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, cream cheese, and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add vanilla, eggs, egg yolks, and whole milk. Mix for 1-2 minutes.
    • Stir in flour and salt and mix just until combined, avoid overmixing. Fold all ingredients together.
    • Pour into prepared bundt pan. Gently tap pan on the counter to release air bubbles. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes -- 1 hour 25 minutes, or until the cake tester comes out clean.
    • Let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes. Invert cake onto rack and let cool completely. Cut into cubes.

    • In a medium bowl, toss berries with sugar. Set aside and let juices form.

    To make Custard Filling:

    • In a large bowl, beat together pudding mix and whole milk. In another bowl, whip cream cheese, and sweetened condensed milk until smooth and creamy. Add heavy cream and beat until soft peaks for about 5 minutes. Fold in the pudding.
    • Layer cake, custard, and fresh fruit. Repeat.
    • Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.
    Keyword berry trifle
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Summer Berry Trifle made with homemade cream cheese pound cake, creamy custard filling, and sweet fruit. A gorgeous summer dessert! Perfect dessert for a potluck and party. Patriotic 4th of July dessert. www.modernhoney.com #trifle #4thofJuly #patrioticdessert #trifle

    I hope you love this patriotic 4th of July dessert! Happy Baking, my friends!

    More Dessert

    • Quick, easy, and perfectly sweet homemade sticky rice with fresh mango. How to make this famous Thai mango sticky rice dessert with simple ingredients.
      Mango Sticky Rice
    • Soft, chewy sugar cookies filled with sprinkles and white chocolate. This festive funfetti cookie recipe has the perfect chewy center with buttery crisp edges filled with rainbow sprinkles.
      Confetti Sprinkle Cookies
    • These are the Best Browned Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies that are perfectly soft and chewy with crisp edges and ooey gooey centers filled with chocolate and toffee chunks.
      Browned Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Soft, chewy thick Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Cookies made with rich caramel, sweet coconut flakes, and semisweet chocolate chips. This seasonal Levain Bakery cookie recipe is the perfect coconut caramel cookie.
      Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carrie Siebert

      July 05, 2020 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe that everyone raved about! The cake did take a lot longer to bake though......almost 2 hours for me.

      Reply
    2. Kayla K

      June 29, 2020 at 11:26 am

      Great recipe, thank you for sharing! I wanted a little lighter taste, so I subbed in homemade angel food cake in place of the cream cheese pound cake (though that sounds delicious too). Fantastic, and everyone loved it. My husband even said it's one of the best desserts he's ever had! =]

      Reply
    3. Julia Babb

      May 20, 2020 at 5:20 pm

      4 stars
      This is delicious!!! best pound cake ive ever had. but i did have to whip the custard in a kitchen aid for 30 minutes and still barley had a pudding ket alone stiff peaks.

      Reply
    4. Ann McD

      July 03, 2019 at 4:10 am

      This is a beautiful dessert! You don’t say how far ahead of time to assemble the trifle. Should it be hours? Or overnight? I’m looking forward to tasting the finished product.... I already have the cream cheese pound cake cooling!
      Thanks for recipe!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Melissa Stadler Modern Honey

    Hi, I'm Melissa Stadler! I am an Award-Winning Recipe Creator. Cover of Food Network Magazine. Two-Time Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist. I am passionate about sharing the best recipes so you have success in the kitchen!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Chinese Orange Chicken that is better than take-out. How to make ORANGE CHICKEN at home with a sweet orange sauce. www.modernhoney.com
      Chinese Orange Chicken
    • The Best Chicken Marinade Recipe makes chicken extra juicy and flavorful. This savory marinade makes grilled chicken mouthwatering! This Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe is made with extra virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper. The perfect chicken marinade recipe! www.modernhoney.com
      The Best Chicken Marinade Recipe
    • Levain Bakery Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies. The BEST Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie Recipe. The perfect chocolate chip walnut cookies. #levainbakery #chocolatechipwalnutcookies #chocolatechipcookies
      Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Crush Cookies
    • The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe. Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies. The popular cinnamon-sugar soft and chewy sugar cookie recipe. A recipe that has been in the family for over 30 years! #snickerdoodle #snickerdoodles #snickerdoodlecookies #snickerdoodlecookie #cookie #cookies #christmascookies #christmascookies www.modernhoney.com
      The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe

    Recent Recipes

    • This Caprese Tortellini is made with cheese Tortellini tossed with sauteed garlic and tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, and fresh mozzarella and spices. This fresh tortellini caprese pasta is perfect for summer!
      Caprese Tortellini
    • How to make the best pasta salad with Italian meats, cheese, pasta, and vegetables, all tossed with a homemade creamy red wine vinaigrette. This is such an easy, popular pasta salad recipe.
      Italian Pasta Salad
    • Creamy Homemade Chicken Salad made with tender chicken, crunchy celery, green onion, sweet grapes, and crunchy almonds in a mayonnaise dressing. This is a classic chicken salad recipe that everyone loves and is perfect for a quick lunch or potluck.
      Chicken Salad
    • This is the easiest baked chicken recipe that is so flavorful and juicy. This homemade spice rub is perfect for oven baked chicken and makes it perfectly spiced. I am sharing my tips for making the best baked chicken.
      Juicy Baked Chicken

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Info

    About

    Recipe Index

    Travel

    Privacy Policy

    Contact

    melissa@modernhoney.com

    Subscribe to my Recipes

    Follow

    Instagram

    Facebook

    Pinterest

    TikTok

    Copyright © 2023 Modern Honey