How to Make a Trifle

I have been making trifles for years. I like them because they are light, requires  baking, contain berries (something healthy), and the dessert looks pretty in a glass dish. I made a trifle yesterday for my Moms of Multiples Board Meeting. I took some pics as I was making it so I could share it on the blog today.

Here are the ingredients I use to make a trifle:

• A 5.1 ounce box of Jello Instant Vanilla pudding. This is the large size
• 3 cups of milk (used to make the pudding)
• 8 ounces of Cool Whip
• A 3 ounce box of Jello in either strawberry of raspberry flavor (you will only use have of the powder)
• A 48 ounce bag of mixed berries from the frozen section (thaw before use)
• An angel food cake
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• A medium size jar of preserves in strawberry or raspberry flavor

To make the layers of the trifle you will have 3 layers that are repeated once, for a total of 6 layers. The bottom layer is simply cubed angle food cake. I make a nice heaping layer, as the next layer is the berry mixture, which will soak into the angel food cake. Here is how your bottom layer should look:

Next, is the berry layer. For this layer you will drain the juice from your berries, otherwise your trifle will become soupy. Mix the entire bag of berries with the entire jar of preserves. Then add a half a box of the jello (either raspberry or strawberry). The jello helps the mixture become a bit firm and add flavor. I also had a half a cup of sugar, as the berries and preserves I use contain no added sugar.

Once that berry mixture is mixed and ready you add half of the entire berry mix to the trifle bowl:

The next layer is the pudding and Cool Whip layer. So in a large bowl make the box of pudding using 3 cups of milk. Wait about 5 minutes for the pudding to set and then blend in the entire 8 ounces of Cool Whip.

Now you can add exactly half of this filling on top of the berries in the trifle bowl:

Now it is time to repeat the layers, so add another layer of angel food cake (you will have left over angel food cake). I use a total of about 2/3 to 3/4 of an entire angle food cake for my trifle. I use just enough to make a layer that is heaping, but not overwhelming. For this trifle I used 2/3 of an angel food cake, so each layer was 1/3 of an entire angle food cake.

Now, I add the remainder of the berry mixture. You may not use all, as you don’t want your bowl to overflow. Use just enough so you can make sure you have enough space for the top layer of pudding and cool whip.  Your final layer after that second layer of the berry mixture is the Cool Whip and pudding mixture to finish it off! I always add some berries to the top to garnish:

I like to put it in the refrigerator to firm up for a few hours before serving. Enjoy!