If you are looking for a roundup with the very best trifle recipes, it’s here. I’m a HUGE trifle fan, and I’ve done my research. You won’t find any better out there. These are perfect for a crowd as well as individual trifle recipes. Come see the yummy goodness. Light options, summer options, classic strawberry options, out-of-the-box options… everything you need, right here.
Trifle Recipes: Truly the BEST Desserts
If you’ve ever had a trifle, you do not need me to explain the title. In my opinion, a trifle is the EASIEST and the MOST DELICIOUS dessert. Trifles are my absolute go-to when I need to bring a dish somewhere to a party or pot-luck, or I’m the host. They are amazing on every level, and honestly, the possibilities and flavor combinations are truly endless.
What is a Trifle?
If you are unfamiliar with this other-worldly dessert, it really is a pretty simple pattern that you can change up to your tastes, and you can experiment with flavors:
Base Layer:
This will be your cake, brownie, broken-up cookie, etc. Think of it as your ‘foundation’
Creamy Layer:
This is usually your gooey goodness: pudding, custard, a cream cheese mixture, or even Cool Whip added to any of the previous ingredients. You can also use yogurt or Greek yogurt.
Whipped Cream Layer:
This can be Cool Whip, heavy cream, flavored whipped cream, coconut cream – even marshmallows. It’s usually the yummy white topping on top.
Mix Ins:
These are the ingredients that can be added on top, on the sides or even thrown in in-between the layers: chopped cookies or candy bites, fruit, caramel or chocolate sauce, sprinkles, nuts… this definitely adds to the flavor and, for sure, the aesthetics.
Then, you just keep layering them up until you fill up the bowl. Sooooo easy.
Tips for Making YOUR Best Trifle
Keep Your Trifle as Simple as You Need to
This really is the easiest recipe you’ll ever make. You can make it more complicated or fancy if you want, but it doesn’t need to be. You really can really use all store-bought ingredients, like cake mix and pudding. And you can even just buy pre-made cake and pudding if you really need a last-minute dessert.
Nothing needs to be made from scratch if you don’t want to.
Give Your Trifle Time to Settle
A trifle truly tastes better after it sits for a bit, so the ingredients can really ‘settle’ with each other. If you’re able to set it ‘marinate’ for a few hours in the refrigerator, that is best. And your trifle truly is at its best the next day as leftovers. Speaking of leftovers…
Try Not to Keep Leftovers
This stuff is like crack. You truly can eat it out of the bowl all by yourself. As much as I want leftovers, I try to give it away or I’ll be eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day.
Healthy Substitutions are Allowed
A lot of these recipes can be adapted to lighter versions without a huge effect on the taste: light Cool Whip or whipped cream, paleo cake recipes, light cream cheese, Greek yogurt. They all look pretty decadent, but you can certainly feel free to make modifications to make a trifle that suits your health needs, whether that’s dairy-free, gluten-free, or a skinny version.
As long as you have the main elements – a cake-like base, a pudding or custardy layer, and a creamy topping you’re good!
Customizing Your Trifle is Always OK
You’ll see as you scroll through these recipes that really, all trifles are just a variation on a theme. Go ahead and mix-and-match recipes if you aren’t crazy about a flavor combination but want to adjust it to your personal likes. Add in an extra flavor or ingredient if you want.
You can change vanilla pudding to chocolate. Chocolate cake to vanilla. Or really, whatever makes your heart smile as you stroll through the baking aisle.
Trust me, you will not damage the recipe at all.
For Portion Control, Make Parfaits Instead
If you or your family and friends are trying to control their eating through measured-out portions, you can make any of these recipes as parfaits. You just need some individual glasses or jars (matching is optional!), and you can create these same trifle recipes as single servings.
They also look super-pretty on a dessert table that way, too!
Fancy to Fun: Trifles for Every Occasion
You’ll see that some of these recipes are a little more ‘fancy’ than others? Some may have an ‘adult beverage’ mixed in? First, you can always omit an ingredient if it doesn’t suit your people.
In this roundup, you’ll find recipes that are more adult-gathering-oriented – like a bridal shower or couples date night – all the way down to kid-party-friendly, and everything in between.
I’d say a majority of these recipes are fine for every single occasion.
Trifles are perfect for Easter or Mother’s Day brunches, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, summer BBQs, 4th of July parties, graduation parties, bridal and baby showers, kid birthday parties… just a regular night at home. Any. Time.
So let’s get to it!
{Roundup Pro Tip: Be sure to write down the numbers of the ones you want to go back to and check out! It’s soooo easy to get lost in all the yummy goodness, and many recipes are similar with just a few variations.}
60+ of the Most Perfect Dessert Trifle Recipes
Easy Death By Chocolate Trifle
Death by Chocolate is your classic trifle, and you will never, ever go wrong with making this one.
Banana Pudding Trifle
Banana pudding is delicious any time. This combo of pound cake, bananas, and banana pudding is the trifecta.
Banana Nutella Trifle
If bananas by themselves aren't enough flavor for you, how about bananas and Nutella? Oh yes!
Coconut Banana Cream Pie Parfaits.
Or bananas with coconut and chocolate? With a Ritz Cracker crust?!? Why not?
Caramel Fluff & Toffee Trifle
Now this is a genius combination I never would have thought of... and it's actually very simple to make! Just 5 ingredients!
Gluten-free Brownie Pudding Toffee Trifle
This option with gluten-free brownies is just as delicious as using traditional brownies (which you are always free to do if GF isn't an issue for you!). The toffee just adds that extra something!
Irish Cream Brownie Trifles
That Irish Cream flavor is dreamy. Feel free to eat it with your morning coffee. No judgment.
Mini Baileys Chocolate Cheesecake Trifles
And if you want to step up your Irish cream game for something a little bit more luxurious, this is another adult trifle that's sure to please.
Strawberry Trifle With Cream Cheese
This trifle goes beyond just your traditional cake, pudding, Cool Whip layers. Go see how this one is done!
Berry Trifle
You can enjoy this one guilt-free with all the delicious, healthy berries thrown in. It's also a great choice for any patriotic celebration (Memorial Day, 4th of July). Go, red-white-and-blue!
No Bake Black Forest Trifle
If you love the pairing of chocolate and cherries, this is the one you want to try!
Pecan Pie Trifle Recipe
How about a pecan pie that you can scoop up with a spoon and eat from a bowl? Yes, please!
Blueberry Limoncello Trifle
This trifle takes it up a few notches with some fancy Italian combinations. This would be perfect for a more formal gathering, like a bridal shower!
Peach & Blueberry Trifle
This is another fruity spin on using blueberries... this time with peaches! Quintessential summer flavors, right here!
Triple Layer Coffee Caramel Chocolate Mousse Cakes
Did you say chocolate, caramel AND coffee? Yes, please!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Trifle
Chocolate and peanut butter... is there anything more classic than that? Oh, yum!!!
Chai Spiced Tea Trifle
I love that you can make a chai-flavored dessert! That subtle spicy flavor mixed with the sweetness - it's amazing.
Brownie Trifles
This delicious brownie trifle is just over the top with coconut whipped cream. A truly decadent treat!
Rocky Road Pudding Parfaits. - Half Baked Harvest
Oh wow - Rocky Road. Now that is serious, chocolately goodness!
Coconut Chia Berry Paleo Trifle
As someone who loves the paleo lifestyle (sometimes just theoretically if not in practice?), I am so excited to be able to make this healthy version of a trifle!
Key Lime Coconut Parfait and Trifle Dessert
If you attending or throwing any time of summer get-together, key lime coconut is a must-share.
Spring Themed Trifle
This trifle is originally made for spring and Easter, using pastel colors, but the idea is transferrable to any kind of colorful theme you'd like to use, by choosing some puddings and cakes with color (banana, pistachio, strawberry, lemon) or by adding food coloring, if you don't want to sacrifice flavor combinations for aesthetics!
Blackberry Cobbler Trifle
This treat has 4 mouth-watering layers to it - it definitely brings up the game of a classic trifle as well as a blackberry cobbler.
Peach Cobbler Trifle
If you want to try another cobbler-in-a-bowl, peach is always a fan favorite, especially if you live in the South!
No Bake Peaches and Cream Trifle
If cobbler isn't your thing but you love peaches, how about this dreamy peaches-and-cream cobbler? Soooo smooth and dreamy!
Easy Cookies & Cream Mini Trifles
Cookies and cream... a favorite for little and big kids alike. Who can resist Oreos, right!?
Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake Brownie Trifle
If you want to step up your Oreo game just a little, you can try them in this cheesecake brownie trifle.
Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Trifle
If Oreos aren't your thing (hard to believe, but OK! lol), you can try a similar recipe with peanut butter cups instead! Take a look at those flavors: brownie, peanut butter cup, cheesecake - a truly decadent treat.
Red Velvet Trifle
For another luscious choice, how about red velvet? Oh my gosh, so good. It's not just for Christmas or Valentine's Day. Trust me!
Cookie Trifle
Instead of using cake as a layer, this one has cookies! Just wow!
Birthday Cake Funfetti Trifle
Funfetti is not just for kids, y'all. You can make it just for the grown-ups too. I won't tell. But your kids will definitely love you for this one!
Best Cookie Dough Trifle Recipe
How can we not include a trifle with edible cookie dough?!? Soooo good.
Easy 3 Ingredient Cream Puff Trifle
This one is soooo easy! Cream puffs, Cool Whip, and chocolate syrup. This is perfect for a last-minute dish!
Boston Cream Pie Trifle
Boston cream in a trifle... if you are a fan of the donut, you will fall in love with the trifle.
Butterscotch Trifle
Speaking of flavors, let's not forget about butterscotch - a totally underrated flavor choice!
Carrot Cake Trifle with Cream Cheese Frosting
Oh, carrot cake! Is there any flavor combination they haven't thought of to put in a trifle?!?
Easy Nutella Chocolate Trifle
A Swiss roll and Nutella? Ummm, yes, please!
Strawberry Champagne Trifle
Strawberries, angel food cake, and champagne mascarpone whipped cream... (Trifle for ) Breakfast at Tiffany's, anyone?!? I mean, that presentation! All the heart eyes!
Strawberry Key Lime Cheesecake Trifle
For strawberry flavors that are a little more 'kid-friendly', how about this one mixed with lime?! Tangy, yummy, deliciousness.
Easy Strawberry and Coconut Trifle
If lime is a little too tart for your palate, strawberry and coconut is another perfect summertime combination of flavors!
White Chocolate Raspberry Trifle
Another fancy mixtures of flavors with white chocolate and raspberry. So easy but tastes so elegant!
Mint Chocolate Trifle
Peppermint mocha is one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations. That you can eat this one as a refreshing trifle just makes me smile. It's like Girl Scout cookies in bowl.
Candy Cane Brownie Trifle Recipe
I love this take on peppermint - candy canes and peppermint sauce on brownies.
Gluten Free Peppermint Mocha Trifle
And if you're gluten-free and love peppermint and chocolate, you aren't forgotten. Here you go.
Hot Chocolate Trifle
This amazing hot cocoa look-alike in a cold form is just amazing with that marshmallow topping! Feel free to enjoy this winter or summer.
Eggnog Gingerbread Trifle
While this can be a traditionally Christmas dessert, I think it works for fall into Christmas into New Year's. There are so many occasions for parties during those few months - so many opportunities to make this one.
Gingerbread Pumpkin Trifle
To put a fall spin on gingerbread, how about trying it with pumpkin?!?
Pumpkin Cheesecake Trifle
Let me tell you, pumpkin flavor is not just for fall, y'all. As a super-healthy food, you can eat this without guilt all year long.
Pumpkin Butterscotch Spice Cake Trifle
Some good news! Pumpkin has some more new flavor friends - say hello to butterscotch and spice cake!
Pumpkin Tiramisu - Maple Pumpkin Gingersnap Tiramisu Trifle
If you really want to pull together all those dreamy warm flavors, how about maple-pumpkin-ginger-tiramisu? Your tastebuds might short-circuit, but it will be so worth it!
Caramel Apple Trifle
This looks amazing all on its own, but I love that this recipe also gives you some lighter substitution options as well!
Apple Snickers Dessert Trifle
If you want to add in a little chocolate with your apples and caramel, this trifle with Snickers is the way to go!
Easy Coconut Cream Trifle
Coconut cream is amazing with other fruits and flavors, but I can personally vouch that coconut can stand alone all by itself.
Dreamy Coconut Pineapple Trifle
But.... just in case you wanted coconut to have a friend, this pineapple flavor is the perfect complement.
Tres Leches Coconut Cake Trifle
How about coconut AND Tres Leches?!? Oh. My. Word. Stop. Please.
Mango Orange Pineapple Trifle
If you are doing a summer luau or just want to pretend you're in Hawaii for a few hours, this one is the one to make!
Easy Tiramisu Trifle
Tiramisu.... Italian inspired dreamy treat. And this one is truly so easy to make!
Italian Cream Cake Trifle
Another Italian favorite here - a mix of classic fluffy Italian Cream Cake teaming up with pudding, pecans and coconut. You can definitely thank the Italians for this one!
Cannoli Trifle
Speaking of thanking the Italians... add this one to the list! Made with ricotta, it doesn't get more authentic than this!
Zuppa Inglese Recipe (Best Italian Trifle Recipe)
This is another fancy Italian trifle that will be sure to impress! This one has Lady Fingers instead of sponge cake, as well as Alchermes liqueur.
Red Velvet Cheesecake Trifles
Another fan favorite... red velvet is completely acceptable any time of year, but it's especially festive for Christmas or Valentine's Day.
Turtle Cheesecake Trifle
Another cheesecake variety, but this time with caramel and chocolate. I doubt you'll have leftovers with this.
Easy Lemon Trifle Recipe
Is there anything more refreshing than sweet lemon? This is pure summer sunshine! I love the lemon Oreos as a topping in this, too! You can also throw in a few blueberries for an extra zing of colors and flavor!
Better than Sex Trifle Recipe
A trifle roundup is not complete without this one. This one mixes chocolate cake with sweetened condensed milk, caramel, whipped cream and Heath bars... and now you know how it got its name. )
English Trifle
And to finish things off, we have the traditional English trifle.
You're welcome.
OK, so which one are you going to make?!? That’s the hardest part, right,? And did you come up with your own flavor combination? I’d love to hear about it! Comment or tag me on Instagram @100affections so I can take a look!
More Delicious Dessert Recipes
If you want some other dessert recipes, take a look below for more inspiration:
30 Single Serving Desserts for Parties (and here are some Individual Serving Appetizers for Parties, too!)
How to Make a Dessert Dip Charcuterie Board
35 EASY Summer Desserts for a Crowd
25 Easy and HEALTHY Summer Desserts
Thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!
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