If you only make one dessert this summer, make it this Amarula berry trifle, which is full of so many delicious flavors that combine so well. One spoonful is like a sumptuous summer party in your mouth.

So, if you want a blissful bowl of tantalizing trifle, read on for the only recipe you’ll ever need.

A summer berry trifle recipe

A summer berry trifle is where fresh fruity flavors meet creamy indulgence. This recipe will show you how to make the ultimate berry trifle. It’s a summery showstopper – a whipped cream, custard drenched sponge, fresh berry, vanilla pudding, all rolled into one.

It completely encompasses summer.

This recipe is pretty straightforward to make – it’ll take a little bit of your time and you’ll have to source quite a few different ingredients.

It’s well worth the effort though. Once you’ve made this trifle you’ll be making it time and time again. When it’s perfected, you’ll have a spectacular summer dessert.

There is so much scope for creativity as well. Why not go foraging for some elderberries? The latter gives this dessert an all new twist with the addition of this seldomly used ingredient that is completely free and healthy.

Custard poured over the biscuits in the clear glass

Amarula – the refreshing taste of summer

With its sweet fruity taste and subtle nutty undertones, Amarula makes the perfect extra ingredient for your favorite summertime dessert recipes.

Whether you’re baking a summer cheesecake or whipping up a berry trifle like this recipe, Amarula can bring a flavor that’ll take your summer to new heights.

It’s definitely a flavor to share with friends and family. So, what better time to break open the Amarula and toast to health and happiness than during a summertime barbecue or backyard party?

Amarula is often thought of as a winter drink – it’s not surprising really, when you think of its warm, creamy and comforting taste. Serve it chilled over ice or use it in a summertime dessert and you’ll see that this versatile liqueur is as much about summertime as any other time of the year.

The taste of the marula fruit is like a little burst of summer. Tropical flavors dance on your tongue, tantalizing your taste buds. This trifle recipe takes this tropical taste and uses it to full effect.

Paired with fresh berries, whipped cream and a sponge finger base, Amarula Vanilla Spice works so well.

Wondering where to get hold of Amarula? It's available on Amazon and large supermarkets.

Products you need for this recipe

Saucepan – get a quality saucepan to make the custard for your Amarula berry trifle
Large mixing bowl – you’ll need to whisk up the eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl
Hand blender – blend together the ingredients for the custard part of your trifle. Using a hand blender is the easiest way.
Whisk – you could also use a balloon whisk to mix up the custard part of the trifle.
Caster sugar – caster sugar is an essential part of the custard layer of trifle recipes.
Icing sugar – for the vanilla spiced cream, you’ll need some quality icing sugar.
Cornstarch – get a silky, thick consistency to your custard layer by using cornstarch.
Amarula and Amarula Vanilla Spice – the secret ingredients! This luscious liqueur will bring the unique taste to your berry trifle.
Lemon juicer – the citrus from the lemon will add extra zing to the trifle. Get yourself a juicer to make the juicing job easier.
Lemon zester – a little bit of zest goes a long way. Invest in a zester – it’ll make a handy little addition to your kitchen.
Vegetarian gelatine – crucial to get that thick texture to the jelly layer of this trifle.
Italian savoiardi sponge fingers – Italian sponge cake is best, for that classic sponge cake taste. You can also use vanilla pudding cake, angel food cake, pound cake or any other kind of sponge cake.
Trifle bowl – don’t forget the all important trifle bowl!

Four layers of a Amarula Berry Trifle in a clear trifle bowl

Multiple layers of a berry trifle dessert with fresh berries

What is a trifle dessert?

A trifle is a summery dessert that’s made up of several different layers in a trifle bowl – a sponge cake layer (think pound cake or angel food cake), a layer of fresh fruit and jelly, a layer of thick luscious custard and a layer of whipped cream (can be cream cheese or cool whip cream).

History of trifle

Trifle originated in England. The earliest references to this whipped cream fruity cake recipe are as far back as 1585, in an English cookery booked called ‘The Housewives Jewel.’

That’s right. Trifle is almost 200 years older than America!

Around this time, fruit fool recipes were very popular. A fool is a pudding mix that involves folding fresh fruit into custard for a creamy fruity mixture. The original trifle recipes were also flavored with sugar, ginger and rosewater.

The fact that people are still making this delicious pudding mix shows just how popular old English dessert recipes can be!

Trifle variations

There are lots of recipes that call for a boozy twist. Once classic recipe for trifles involves using Madeira wine or sherry to infuse the jelly. Others call for port.

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Another twist on this pudding calls for the sponge cake or angel food cake to be soaked in jelly.

The Scottish, not content with the oh-so-polite cake recipe of the English, decided to make their own version. Tipsy laird recipes contain – yep, you guessed it – whisky in the whipped cream. Well, it wouldn’t be Scottish without whisky now, would it?

What is the best way to layer a trifle?

When layering a trifle, you want to use a ⅓ of each ingredient at a time. This is because you’re going to be making three layers.

Start with the angel food cake or pound cake sponge fingers on the bottom of the trifle bowl. Next add the fresh fruit and fruit jelly layer to the trifle. This recipe calls for fresh berries and elderberry jam.

After this comes the custard. Pour the custard over the fruit – it’ll soak down the bottom pound cake layer and all the flavors will mingle.

On top of the custard layer, you want a delicious layer of whipped cream. You can also use a cream cheese mixture. I’ve opted for a delicious whipped cream infused with Amarula in this recipe. Trifle is quite a flexible dish, so feel free to experiment.

Once you’ve added the cool whip or cream, repeat the process – angel food cake sponge, fresh berries, custard, then whipped cream. Repeat it once more, for a final third layer.

The last step is to add fresh fruit on the top of your trifle, for decoration. Your trifle is now complete!

Will trifle get soggy overnight?

You can make the trifle up to two days in advance, but it’s very important you don’t add the cream. If you add the cream, it’ll become a big soggy mess, as the juices soak in the bottom pound cake layer. So, make the trifle layers, leaving out the cream layer and keep it covered in the fridge.

Then, when it’s ready to serve, add the freshly whipped cream layer. If you like, you can use cool whip cream.

How long does trifle last in the fridge

If, for whatever reason, you don’t devour your trifle in one go, you can store it in the fridge. It’ll keep fresh for around three days. After that, it’s going to get soggy, as the vanilla pudding base will soak up all the juices and the layers collapse into one big glop. It’ll also lose its taste.

So, be sure to eat leftover trifle within three days. Come on, it’s not that hard!

How long does it take a trifle to set?

After you’ve made your scrumptious summer berry trifle, it’ll need to set. Once the jelly has set, it will keep its shape beautifully.

Looks aren’t everything, of course. This recipe tastes like a dream. Still, there are few things quite a spectacular as a well set trifle, displayed as the centerpiece recipe on your party table.

More amazing Amarula recipe

Now that you’ve tried the amazing taste of Amarula, why not whip up a few more Amarula-based recipes? From delicious drinks to seriously sumptuous summertime desserts, Amarula recipes are as varied as they are delicious.

Butterbeer fudge – if you’re a fudge fanatic or a full blown Harry Potter fan, you have to give this a go! It’s buttery, rich and melt-in-your-mouth fantastic, perfect for your Potter party or Halloween bash.
Amarula cheesecake – another one of my Amarula dessert recipes, this one is deliciously decadent and extremely simple to make. This cheese cake recipe will blow you away!
Chocolate fairy cakes with Amarula buttercream – rich, moist, indulgent and utterly scrumptious, this simple fairy cakes recipe will have you swooning with delight.
Alcoholic butterbeer – if you’re a fan of this butterbeer fudge and Harry Potter in general, you won’t want to miss this one!
Amarula cocktail – a beautiful chocolatey drink that’s bursting with flavor and makes a perfect indulgent drink any time of the year.

Other sumptuous summertime desserts

No bake rhubarb cheesecake – fresh, sweet, tangy and indulgent, this no bake cheese cake is the perfect recipe for cake lovers. Rhubarb is such an underrated ingredient in sweet recipes. Try this recipe and you’ll see what I mean!
Bubble gum ice cream – there’s something so satisfying about making your own ice cream. If you’ve never tried, this is one of the best recipes to start with. It’s definitely the most fun, you’ll feel like a big kid making it and you’ll be in heaven when you taste it.
Strawberry flan – so easy and cheap to make, yet it tastes fantastic. With recipes like this, simplicity is bliss.
Gin and tonic cheesecake – this one’s a bit naughty. A boozy spin separates it from the typical cheese cake recipes. Cream cheese, lime, gin, a hobnob biscuit cake base… what’s not to like?
Fruits of the forest cheesecake – this one is pure heaven. Another cream cheese cake classic, recipes like this are perfect for a special summertime party.
Blackberry compote - if you have any blackberries left over, this is an excellent way to make the most of them. Best served with yogurt for breakfast.

What’s your favorite summertime dessert? Let me know in the comments below!

📖 Recipe