Lemon-scented berries are scattered in between layers of angel food cake and creamy, vanilla pudding to create a crowd-pleasing trifle that is perfect for entertaining.
Just in time for spring entertaining, I am so excited to share my Lemon Berry Angel Food Cake Trifle. It was created on a whim when my mom asked me to bring dessert to a family dinner. To be completely honest, I just opened my pantry and tried to figure out what I could throw together with what I had on hand.
Let’s talk angel food cake for a minute. Confession: this was my first time baking it at home. In fact, I don’t even own a bundt pan. Embarrassing, right? If you’re feeling ambitious, my girl Megan has a beautiful recipe for Homemade Angel Food Cake. Since I’m not that fancy, I used a “just add water” mix hiding in the back of my pantry which allowed me to use two bread pans. Since you’re tearing the cake into bite-sized pieces, it really doesn’t matter what shape pan you use.
Whatever you do, try to avoid using store-bought angel food cake if possible. Freshly baked from a mix takes no time at all and trust me when I say it requires no baking talent. The end result is much more moist, fluffy and flavorful than the pre-made versions.
Homemade vanilla pudding couldn’t be any easier to make from scratch and only requires 6 ingredients you probably already have on hand such as milk, sugar and cornstarch. For freshness and bright flavor, I added a little lemon zest to the berries before layering the trifle.
After a little time in the refrigerator for all of the flavors to enhance and get cozy with one another, you are ready to serve this baby. Creamy, cool, slightly tart and bursting with flavor, my family went crazy for this dessert. In fact, my mom was sad I only made one dish. We devoured it!
If you’re entertaining a crowd, feel free to double the recipe. It is perfect for making ahead as well to help you save time on the day of the party.
Your fork is waiting.
- 2 1/2 cups homemade vanilla pudding see below
- 1 large *angel food cake torn into bite sized pieces
- 4 cups mixed berries fresh or frozen
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon butter
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To make the vanilla pudding, warm milk in a medium sauce pot over medium heat. While milk is warming, stir together sugar, cornstarch and salt in a small bowl. Once milk has started to create bubbles around the edge of the pan, slowly whisk in the sugar mixture. Continue whisking until mixture begins to thicken being careful not to boil.
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Remove from heat and gently stir in the vanilla and butter. Chill pudding in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours before assembling trifle.
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While pudding is cooling, prepare angel food cake according to package instructions. Let cook completely before tearing into bite-sized pieces.
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When you are ready to assemble your trifle, start by mixing berries in a bowl with the lemon zest.
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Layer 1/4 of the angel food cake pieces in the bottom of a glass trifle bowl or a large serving bowl. Scatter 1/4 of the berries on top then drizzle with 1/4 of the vanilla pudding.
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Repeat the layers 3 times until you've used all of the cake, pudding and fruit.
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Cover the dish with plastic wrap and chill completely before serving, ideally 2 hours or more.
When it comes to angel food cake, you have three choices: store-bought from the bakery aisle, box mixes or from scratch. I used a box and it blew the store-bought versions out of the water. If you're feeling ambitious, I highly recommend this recipe for Homemade Angel Food Cake.
Store bought will work in a pinch, but the "just add water" mix I used only took 5 minutes to prepare and the freshness and flavor blew store bought out of the water.
If using frozen berries, let them come to room temperature first.
Homemade Vanilla Pudding Recipe is from All Recipes.
Yum! I love trifles and I think this is the perfect time to make one as well. This looks so scrumptious!
I am so incredibly obsessed with trifles!!!
Loving the simplicity of this dessert. I would never buy store bought angel cake either and the pudding looks super easy to make. I surely wish I had a slice of this dessert right now. Berries are my favorite ultimate fruit :-)
Oh it was so incredible. Thank you friend!
That’s the best throw-together dessert I’ve laid my eyes on. If it were me, my family would be dessert-ing on week old strawberries and canned whipped cream. Ha!
ha!! Thank you so much. It was worth the effort and definitely easy!
WOW Liz, this trifle looks delicious! I love angel food cake with berries, and this recipe takes it up a notch by combining them with delicious pudding… I MUST try this ASAP!
p.s. LOVE that the pudding is Homemade!
I can’t believe how delicious and easy homemade pudding is!
I hope you get to try it!!
This has all my favorite dessert flavors! Hooray!
I forgot the whiskey!! <3
Now I want homemade angel food cake. I’ve never attempted one at home, which is weird considering I’m a baker. This trifle looks wicked delicious. Pinned.
It was so freaking good!! You would make the best one I’m sure!
This is such a fun spring dessert! I love all that berryliciousness mixed in. It’s my favorite at this time of year!
I really LOLed reading the post. This would be me making a trifle – sorry I don’t have a bundt cake pan. Oh, sorry and no sugar. Ooops, I have only mango. LOL. A+ for honesty! It looks delish!!!
LOL!! Exactly. :) Honestly though it was so freaking delicious!!!
Hi!
Beautiful. The very thing to bring for Easter.
How do you feel about substituting xylitol for the sugar?
Some recipes work and others haven’t so much with the xylitol for me.
Thanks!!
I’m not sure!! I’ve never worked with it before… I wouldn’t do something new for Easter that you haven’t done before, that’s for sure. :) If you try it will you let me know? So sorry I’m not more helpful!!
I’ve been looking for something exactly like this to take to Easter. I confess that I”ve never made an angel food cake either. I always buy it pre-made from the store, but now that I know there’s a mix for it (I had no idea), I can just use that! Perfect.
Can’t wait to meet you tomorrow, Liz!
Can’t wait to meet you too Lori!! Safe travels!
Yum!!! This is my kind of recipe! I agree if you can make your own angel food cake and pudding it’s totally better than the store bought variety!
Couldn’t believe how much better it was!
Seconding (thirding?) you ladies on the box mix versus premade. It made me realize I liked angel food cake after all :)
Yes!! I can’t believe how much better it is!
Yum! I love trifles, especially for summer reunions and cookouts. They just seem so perfect for a crowd. I’ve never made angel food cake myself either (eek!). Looks like I”ll have to remedy that soon!
I am seriously addicted and now I want to make a million versions!
This is SO my kind of dessert! Lemon + berries + angel food cake = perfection!
I am wishing I had it right now!
What a fantastic Spring dessert!
It was so fresh and easy!
<3 this, it looks fantastic!!
Thank you friend!
The rate at which I want to inhale this trifle right now is most unladylike.
LOL!!! I seriously want it right now too!! xo
I love any cake with berries and my husband’s favorite cake is angel food cake so I will def be trying this out! Beautiful colors too!
Omg you must make this for him!!
Lemons and berries are the perfect combo! This looks great!
Thank you so much Christine!
I’m loving this. Angel food cake and berries are the perfect match.
They really are aren’t they?
I absolutely adore trifles! They are simple, beautiful, and delicious. Your version is definitely healthier than my grandma’s— she uses a store-bought jelly rolls (and rum!). I can’t lie, it’s good, but your version would leave me feeling much later!
I can’t believe I’ve never made them before!! The rum… GENIUS!!
Any dessert that involves lemon, berries and angel food cake is a winner in my book!! This looks amazing, Liz!
Ha!! It was so unbelievably good! Thanks Kelli!
Trifles are my absolute favorite dessert! Yum!
They are so good and so easy!! I can’t wait to try a new version next time. :)