Black Forest Cherry Trifle

The good news is this delicious Black Forest Cherry Trifle recipe is vegetarian, nut-free, and, with some substitutions, it can be gluten-free.

Not all trifles are equal, but you’ll love this trifle with its opulently rich flavors and textures. It packs a sweet punch, while the cake, liqueur, and creamy ingredients provide irresistibly enjoyable, messy perfection. This beautiful layered combination creates a well-balanced and indulgent dessert.

Trifles are typically made by layering various ingredients. We use chocolate cake, fruit, liqueur, custard, Jell-O (jelly), jam, double cream, and whipped cream served in a glass bowl to create a visually appealing and indulgent dessert for all ages.

The trifle’s lavish ingredients are opulently rich and irresistibly enjoyable. If you’re a fan of creamy, sweet, and fruity desserts, there’s a really good chance you’ll love the black forest cherry trifle to be a delightful treat.

What’s To Love?

💕 No oven is required.
💕 There are no limits to its creativity.
💕 Doesn’t require any complex cooking skills or hard-to-find ingredients.
💕 Is a fantastic dish for serving any time of the year but is particularly great for festive seasons.
💕 Perfect for entertaining to serve at parties or gatherings.
💕 Tastes as good as it looks and packs a sweet punch.
💕 Is a surefire crowd-pleaser.
💕 Creates a refreshing and luscious dessert that’s perfect for all weathers.

Have you already tried the Black Forest Cherry Trifle? If so, let us know how it was…we can’t wait to hear all about it!

Let’s Talk Ingredients

Our black forest cherry trifle has eight layers of pure, messy bliss. Every ingredient adds to the overall taste and texture; if you remove one, it’s like you’ve removed them all.

• Sponge Cake — store-bought chocolate cake, chocolate Swiss roll, chocolate muffins, or bake our fluffy Chocolate Sponge Cake. The sponge is a must for this trifle; it adds a soft texture that contrasts the trifle’s textures beautifully.
• Black Cherry Jelly — where we come from, trifles aren’t the same without jelly. We think it makes the trifle taste even more delicious and complements it.
• Sponge Liqueur — use cherry brandy liqueur; it goes perfectly with the trifle theme.
• Custard — an additional layer in our trifle, which is perfect when combined with liqueur! A ready-made custard makes life so much easier, but it’s also effortless to make your own to ensure its thickness. Check out our Perfectionist Thick Custard.
• Custard Liqueur — if you’re making homemade custard, we suggest using Disaronno Velvet Liqueur for its creaminess.
• Cream Cheese — use mascarpone cheese is a beautiful addition combined with the double cream to add even more bursting flavors.
• Cream — double cream adds a light, airy texture and a touch of sweetness to balance the cherries. It adds a luxurious texture and flavor to the trifle.
• Whipped Cream — this is optional but provides an extra fluffy layer.
• Cherries — canned cherries in syrup work best.
• Topping — grated chocolate, crushed chocolate cookies, cherries, or a drizzle of softened cherry jam work well.

For more detailed ingredients, see the recipe card.

Customizations

Here are some foodie alternatives should you want to make some changes:

• Sponge Cake — gluten-free cake works well if you’re gluten-sensitive or allergic. If you have no allergies, ladyfingers will work well with this trifle too.
• Cream — trifle is no fun without cream; there are, however, many dairy-free substitutions.
• Custard — use a dairy-free alternative or make your own thick custard.

When substituting ingredients, it’s essential to remember that the taste, texture, and overall result might differ, particularly if you’re substituting many ingredients.

If you have made the Black Forest Cherry Trifle with any customizations, we’d love to hear about it; please message us in the comments.

Instructions – Overview

Black forest cherry trifle is easy to make; the tedious part of assembling is waiting for it to set. Here’s a breakdown of how to get started on your layer journey (more detailed instructions are in the recipe card):

We believe there’s room for perfection when something is messy! Remember that the steps are just a basic guideline. Feel free to get creative with the layers and ingredients. Adjusting them to your taste preferences.

▶︎ If you’re making the cake from scratch, do it a few hours before or the day before. We suggest making our fluffy Chocolate Sponge Cake; it’s the perfect cake for trifles. Alternatively, you can use store-bought for convenience. Cut the cake into slices or cubes.

▶︎ Discard the juice from the cans of cherries. Put cherries into a bowl and pour the cherry brandy over them. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight.

▶︎ If you plan to prepare your own custard, consider making it a few hours before. We urge you to make it yourself, as shop-bought custard can be too thin to add liqueur. Check out Perfectionist Thick Custard to follow how to add 100g of creamy liqueur and keep it thick.

▶︎ Prepare the black cherry jelly by chopping the whole jelly into cubes and adding it to a bowl. Pour 150g of boiling water over the jelly cubes and stir until dissolved. Add 200 ml of cold water and stir well. Leave to cool fully without setting in the fridge, which usually takes an hour.

▶︎ To start assembling, add the sliced cake and cherries to the bottom of the trifle bowl. Then, pour the cherry brandy into the cooled jelly and pour over the cake and cherries. Allow it to set fully for a few hours. To fast-track, put it in the freezer for one hour.

▶︎ Loosen the jam up in a bowl by giving it a good stir. You can pop it in the microwave for 20 seconds on high or add a tablespoon of cherry brandy. Spread evenly over the set jelly, then top with the custard and spread evenly.

▶︎ Whip the double cream until it thickens. Add the mascarpone and combine until well incorporated. This mixture can be quite thick, so feel free to add some creamy liqueur to help it spread more easily…that’s our excuse for a boozy treat anyway!

▶︎ In a separate bowl, whip the whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks. You can add a touch of icing sugar to the whipped cream. Fill a piping bag with the whipped cream, then decorate by squirting pretty patterns. Finally, garnish with crushed chocolate cookies or your favorite.

▶︎ Cover the trifle dish with plastic wrap or a large plate without touching the fresh whipped cream. Refrigerate for a couple of hours, or preferably overnight. This allows the flavors to meld together and the dessert to set.

For more detailed instructions, notes, and ideas…see the recipe card.

Tools You’ll Need

Want to make the best Black Forest Cherry Trifle? Using the correct equipment for preparation is essential; we think they’re a big helping hand. We understand that you might already have some of these kitchen tools to make this recipe, or you might want to use other tools and may not require our recommendations. Here are some of our suggestions to get you started:

• Trifle Bowl
• Mixing Bowl – to combine the ingredients if you’re using a hand mixer.
• kMix – or this award-winning hand mixer.
• Silicone Spatula – for stirring and incorporating all the ingredients smoothly.
• Weighing Scales and Measuring Spoons – to measure the ingredients accurately.
• Chopping Board – to chop the cake.

If you love those gadgets for this recipe, then might love this Kmix for mixing, whisking, creaming, and beating. Sometimes, the Kmix is a better tool than a hand mixer; it’s good at lightening the load. It’s our go-to for many of our recipes, and we think it’s a great asset for all kitchens.

Check out our favorite kitchen equipment that we love to use with all our recipes.

Storing

See our FAQs for detailed instructions on storing, refrigeration, freezing, and defrosting and for answers to readers’ questions.

Do you have a question? If so, let us know in the comments and we’ll reply within 24-48 hours and add your question to our FAQs if relevant.

Pairing

Black forest cherry trifle is frequently eaten as a standalone dessert but can also be paired with other delicious foods and festive drinks. Here are some suggestions and our favorite go-tos for what to eat with it:

▶︎Because trifles are so versatile, you might consider adding other toppings to enhance the overall taste. A mix of raspberries and cherries would work well, as would cherry biscuit crumbs, a mix of dark and white chocolate, or a simple drizzle of compote

▶︎ What you drink when eating the cake counts, too; it adds a boozy element that complements the cake’s creamy texture. Cherry brandy would be our first choice.

▶︎ If liqueur isn’t your thing, then a rich, dark roast coffee goes wonderfully with the creamy, sweet flavors of the trifle. The coffee’s slight bitterness complements the sweetness of the cake, creating a balanced combination.

More Recipes

Here are some other creamy-rich recipes that we think you might also like:

⭐️ Quick Tip: Read the recipe in its entirety before you start. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand. Voila…you’re all set to go!

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FAQ’s & Troubleshooting

By addressing these FAQs and troubleshooting tips, you can overcome common challenges and create a delicious batch of Black Forest Cherry Trifle every time.

Your Questions Matter

Do you have a question? If so, let us know in the comments and we’ll reply within 24-48 hours and add your question to our FAQs if relevant. If you don’t already follow us, head over to our Twitter or Facebook to keep up to date with all our new recipes and articles.

For food safety top tips, check out USDA.gov.