This easy no-bake, make-ahead Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake made with fresh, luscious strawberries, heavenly, billowy whipped cream and light as a cloud angel food cake has to be one of the easiest desserts you will ever prepare!
If you are looking for the perfect Easter or another holiday dessert, you are in the right place. Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake is light, it’s refreshing, it’s elegant, and it’s delicious!
Strawberries from Plant City, FL, are in season right now, and they are spectacular! Did you know Plant City supplies three-fourths of the nation’s strawberries and December through April is strawberry season? Plant City even hosts a Strawberry Festival in early March to celebrate its most famous crop.
Of course, this traditional Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake is also perfect for summer backyard barbecues, potlucks, and makes a sweet ending to any meal.
I’ve been making this easy and delicious dessert for as long as I can remember and it couldn’t be easier. In fact, I have been making it so long, I didn’t have a recipe and had to measure everything out so I could share it with you!
Can you substitute other fresh or frozen berries or fruits?
Yes, yes, and yes! Fresh or frozen peaches, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and nectarines all would be delicious in this berry trifle recipe!
Looking for more easy dessert recipes with fruit? How about Classic Southern Strawberry Shortcake, Homemade Fresh Peach Ice Cream, or Southern Peaches and Cream Pie? Need even more ideas, check out all of my dessert recipes!
How to make easy Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake!
This easy trifle recipe only has a few ingredients: Fresh juicy strawberries, heavy cream, sugar, lemon zest and juice, kosher salt and a purchased angel food cake.
When you are ready to make Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake, gather your ingredients and place a metal mixing bowl and the whisk attachment for your electric mixer into your freezer or refrigerator for at least 15-20 minutes before you make the whipped cream.
How to macerate strawberries.
In a large bowl combine the strawberry slices, one cup sugar, lemon juice and zest and pinch of salt. Optional, add a splash of Grand Marnier.
Set aside for about 30 minutes and stir occasionally. This allows the strawberries to macerate or to soften slightly and start releasing their juices.
How to make whipped cream.
To make the whipped cream, pour the whipping cream into the chilled bowl and add 1/4 cup sugar. Use the whisk attachment and beat the cream mixture on medium speed until stiff peaks form. This should take 7-8 minutes.
Do not overbeat the mixture or the cream will turn to butter. Cream doubles in size when whipped and the two cups of heavy cream will turn into four cups of whipped cream.
How to layer a trifle!
To layer the trifle, place one layer of torn pieces of angel food cake in the bottom of a large trifle dish.
Spoon about one-third of the strawberry mixture over the angel food cake.
Add about one-third of the whipped cream and make sure the whipped cream completely covers the strawberry layer.
Repeat the layers two more times.
Top with a layer of whipped cream and garnish with strawberries if desired.
Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve. (Can be made up to 4-6 hours ahead of time!)
Tips:
No time to make dessert, and looking for an even easier trifle recipe? Substitute sliced frozen strawberries in syrup for the fresh strawberries, and Cool Whip or frozen whipped topping for the whipped cream.
*This recipe originally published March 26, 2017, updated with new photos on July 21, 2018. No changes to the original recipe.
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Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs fresh strawberries washed, hulled and sliced
- 1-1/4 cups sugar divided
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- pinch of kosher salt
- splash Grand Marnier optional
- 1 prepared angel food cake torn into pieces
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Place a metal mixing bowl and the whisk attachment for your electric mixer into your freezer or refrigerator for at least 15-20 minutes before you make the whipped cream.
- In a large bowl combine the strawberry slices, 1-cup sugar, lemon juice and zest and pinch of salt. Optional, add a splash of Grand Marnier. Set aside for about 30 minutes and stir occasionally. This allows the strawberries to macerate or to soften slightly and start releasing their juices.
- To make the whipped cream, pour the whipping cream into the chilled bowl and add 1/4 cup sugar. Use the whisk attachment and beat the cream mixture on medium speed until stiff peaks form. This should take 7-8 minutes. Do not overbeat or the cream will turn to butter. Cream doubles in size when whipped and the two cups of heavy cream will turn into four cups of whipped cream.
- To assemble the trifle, for the first layer, put one layer of torn pieces of angel food cake in the bottom of a large trifle bowl.
- Spoon about 1/3 of the strawberry mixture over the angel food cake and follow up with about 1/3 of the whipped cream. Make sure the whipped cream completely covers the strawberry layer.
- Repeat two more times and finish up with a layer of whipped cream. Smooth out the topping, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Oh my! Soooo delicious looking! My family will love this trifle! Can’t wait to share it at our next gathering.
My mom makes something similar and it is my favorite at all family gatherings. This looks so delicious!
This looks absolutely divine!! My husband loves angel food cake – I’ll need to try this one out!
Yum! This reminds me of a favorite dessert my aunt used to make when I would visit her in Florida – strawberry shortcake with sweetened biscuits. Divine! Love the angel food cake variety. Sounds perfect for a summer party!
I’m in the process of making this now but dinner isn’t til 5 o’clock! Will the cake be mushy by then? 😣
Hi Cat, the cake will definitely absorb the strawberry juice and it will soften a little, but the trifle actually tastes better after letting it sit for a few hours to let all the flavors come together. I think you will be fine! I hope you enjoy it!