This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Strawberry Shortcake Trifle recipe is simple to make with layers of moist vanilla cake, fresh strawberries, strawberry sauce & fresh whipped cream! It’s perfect for fresh summer strawberries!
If you love trifle, you’ll adore this Triple Berry Trifle! And for strawberry dessert fans, this traditional Strawberry Shortcake recipe can’t be beat.
So the boys are at the most fun age right now – 6 months. I imagine every stage could be a new favorite, but so far this one is a blast. The boys are so curious and sweet – smiling and laughing like crazy. They are sitting so well on their own, though a touch wobbly. And they are still little snugglers, which I’ll take all day long. The other morning, Ashton started mimicking the kisses I was giving him and gave me some big, drooly open-mouthed kisses for the first time. It was SO cute!
This summer we’ve been going to the pool, going out and about now that they are more portable, and going for nice, long walks. We are even taking them to the beach for the first time next month and I cannot wait to see them in the sand and ocean for the first time! While I’m looking forward to some cooler weather as fall approaches, I’m going to be sad to say goodbye to the warmth and being outside. Before that happens though, we are going to enjoy as much of the remaining summer as we can.
Why I Love this Trifle
A Strawberry Shortcake Trifle combines two things that are perfect for the remainder of summer – strawberry shortcake and trifles! I love the delicious strawberries you get this time of year – I can eat them by the carton – and this trifle is FULL of strawberries! And when you combine them with cake and whipped cream in a simple-to-make dessert like a trifle, I’m totally sold!
How to Make a Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
Make the vanilla cake: To make the trifle, I started with my Moist and Fluffy Vanilla Cake. It’s so tender, soft and fluffy and has such a wonderful buttery vanilla flavor. The cake has wonderful reviews and is a reader favorite! It’s perfect in this trifle.
Make the strawberry sauce: Next up is the strawberry sauce. You’ll puree about a pound of strawberries and combine it with some sugar and vanilla extract, then cook it over the stove to thicken it up a bit and bring out the flavor of the strawberries. It’s very similar to the strawberry sauce I used on my Strawberry Poke Cake and it adds great flavor and moisture.
Assemble the layers with whipped cream: The cake and strawberry sauce are layered with freshly chopped strawberries and homemade whipped cream. The whole dessert is light, full of strawberries and just like eating strawberry shortcake in trifle form. This is my kind of strawberry trifle! Such a delicious, classic dessert!
More strawberry recipes you’ll love:
- Strawberry Shortcake Popsicles
- Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake
- Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes
- Strawberry Shortcake Scones
- Strawberry Shortcake Cake
Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hr 45 min, plus cooling time
- Yield: 10-12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Strawberry Shortcake Trifle is simple to make with layers of moist vanilla cake, fresh strawberries, strawberry sauce and fresh whipped cream!
Ingredients
Vanilla Cake
- 3 cups (390g) all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 2 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups (336g) unsalted butter, room temp
- 2 cups (414g) sugar
- 4 egg whites
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) milk
Strawberry Sauce
- 1 lb strawberries, pureed
- 1/2 cup (104g) sugar
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
Whipped Cream
- 2 3/4 cups (660ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1 1/2 cup (173g) powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 lbs strawberries, chopped (about 5 cups)
Instructions
Make the Vanilla Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Grease a 9×13 cake pan.
- Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
- Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl on medium speed about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the egg whites and vanilla and beat on medium speed until well combined and smooth.
- Add about a third of the flour mixture to the batter and beat on medium speed until incorporated.
- Add about half of the milk and beat on medium speed until incorporated.
- Add another third of the flour mixture and beat until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the remaining milk and beat on medium speed until incorporated.
- Add the remaining flour mixture and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Bake the cake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The cake will be browned on top.
- When the cake is done, set aside to cool.
Make the Strawberry Sauce
- To make the strawberry sauce, add the strawberry puree, sugar and vanilla extract to a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until it begins to boil, stirring occasionally.
- Allow sauce to boil for one minutes, then remove from heat and seat aside to cool.
Make the Whipped Cream & Assemble the Trifle
- When everything has cooled, make the whipped cream. Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract to a large mixer bowl and whip on high speed until stiff peaks form.
- To layer everything in the trifle dish, add a layer of cake on the bottom, then about half of the chopped strawberries, about half of the strawberry sauce, then about half of the whipped cream.
- Add a second layer of cake, strawberries and strawberry sauce, then pipe the remaining whipped cream on top in swirls. Add a few additional strawberries on top as decoration.
Notes
Note: You may not need to use all of the cake for the trifle.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 840
- Sugar: 72.7 g
- Sodium: 274 mg
- Fat: 45.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 101.5 g
- Protein: 10.4 g
- Cholesterol: 127.3 mg
Categories
Enjoy!
Hello! Love the sounds of this. Thinking of trying it for a wedding dessert in small cups. Would the whipped topping hold up for 24 hrs covered and refrigerated if made the day before? How long could it be set out on the table before serving? ( indoors in air conditioning) Thanks much!
Yes, the whipped cream is stable from the powdered sugar and would be fine. Generally whipped cream shouldn’t be left out for more than 2 hours.
Will the homemade whipped cream dissolve into nothing once layered? I want to make this the night before. Will it hold?
No, it won’t wilt. The powdered sugar stabilizes it.
Love your recipes, always a hit! Going to try this for my in-laws Christmas this year. Does the type of milk in the cake matter (2% vs whole etc)?
I’m so glad you enjoy the recipes! The type of milk does matter. You want something with more fat, since that will add additional moisture and tenderness to the cake. I typically use 2%, but whole milk would work as well. I wouldn’t use something like skim milk. I hope that helps!