Berry Trifle Summer Dessert Recipe (updated 6/1/2015)

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This is my Family's very favorite dessert and so easy to make!  You can use anything you want for fruit and layering and it's great fun to mix color combinations.  Red/White/Blue is very easy; (blueberries, strawberries, angel food cake and whipped cream).  Change it up by using chocolate cake and chocolate pudding with whipping cream.  Maybe add some chocolate chips too?

Again, you can add any layers of food that your family loves. That's what so great about creating and altering recipes, adjust to what you like.

My Trifle consists of layers of pound cake cut in to cubes.  (You can make it from scratch or Costco has great pound cake or angel food cake can be used also.) Then vanilla pudding on top of the bread so that the fruit does not soak through and make the bread soggy. I like to make my pudding from scratch, but pre-made pudding works just as well.
Next, I used strawberries and blackberries (from my garden, yum!!!), and whipping cream. Keep layering in this order until the bowl is about 3-inches from the top.  I used a few grapes to top it off because before I realized it, I used every berry-oops!  So make sure you set aside the smallest, and best looking berries before you begin layering.
I usually make a little design with the strawberries and raspberries...Trifle bowls can be purchased just about anywhere, but my very favorite one from Pampered Chef.  (Target, Walmart, Kmart are a little less expensive though). The one from Pampered Chef is a little bit heavier glass, and comes with a lid that seals tight in case of leftovers.

Updated 6/1/2015:  please avoid the can spray typed whipping cream. I made a dozen smaller sized portions of the trifle for my son's party and within an hour it had melted EVERYWHERE!  I only used it on top because I thought it might look prettier - thank goodness I didn't use it in the layers. I can't imagine how it would have melted together with the weight of the fruit and breading.

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Enjoy!

Butter/Pound Cake 

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 3 cups white sugar
• 6 eggs
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease one 9 or 10 inch tube pan. Mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar. Mix in the eggs, one at time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the lemon and the vanilla extracts. Gently mix in flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 90 minutes. Do not open oven door until after one hour. When cake begins to pull away from the side of the pan it is done. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Have a great summer!