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Easy No-Bake Berry Trifle Recipe Perfect for 4th of July Celebrations

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A quick and festive no-bake berry trifle featuring layers of vanilla pudding, fresh mixed berries, and angel food cake, perfect for summer celebrations and 4th of July parties.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces angel food cake, torn into bite-size pieces
  • 2 cups mixed berries (strawberries hulled and sliced, blueberries, raspberries)
  • 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
  • Zest of 1 medium lemon

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and 2 cups of cold milk. Beat for about 2 minutes until thickened. Let sit for 5 minutes to set. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste for richer flavor.
  2. Pour 1 cup heavy cream into a chilled bowl. Add 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 3-4 minutes. Avoid overwhipping.
  3. Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the pudding until smooth and combined.
  4. Rinse berries gently and pat dry. Hull and slice strawberries. Zest the lemon and sprinkle over berries, tossing lightly to combine.
  5. In a trifle bowl or clear serving dish, layer one-third of the angel food cake pieces, then half of the pudding and whipped cream mixture, followed by a generous layer of lemon-zested mixed berries.
  6. Repeat layering with remaining angel food cake, pudding mixture, and berries. Finish with the remaining whipped cream spread on top, garnished with whole berries and lemon zest.
  7. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld and cake to soak up juices.

Notes

For gluten-free, substitute angel food cake with gluten-free pound or sponge cake. For dairy-free, use almond or oat milk and coconut whipped cream. Chill bowl and whisk before whipping cream for better peaks. Add fresh berries just before serving if assembling more than 4 hours ahead to avoid sogginess. Optional: drizzle honey or berry liqueur over berries before layering for extra flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: no-bake, berry trifle, 4th of July dessert, summer dessert, easy trifle, layered dessert, vanilla pudding, angel food cake

Find it online: https://merrymorsel.com/easy-no-bake-berry-trifle-recipe-perfect-for-4th-of-july-celebrations/