English Trifle – Easy, Impressive and Delicious!

English trifle is a show stopping end to any meal, but is traditionally served in Britain, often at Christmas. Make these individual versions when you have leftover cake, and customize with colors and fruit to suit the season!

If you ever want to have an easy, impressive, make ahead dessert; or have some leftover cake (usually from trimming the top off), these individual English trifles are a great idea.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

It is important to use clear cups, bowls, glasses, etc. when making any kind of trifle as the point is to be able to see the layers. You can understand why when you see them served. Here are some individual Christmas trifles I made in different glasses and bowls. Use whatever you like or have on hand, they’re fun in any type of clear serving dish or glass!

For Christmas trifles, just use lime and strawberry jello for the green and red colors. Kids love them, so just skip the sherry on some.

Have you ever heard of Orange Boodle? If you like trifle, you’ll like Boodle, too!

My friend Cynthia at What a Girl Eats has a stunning trifle recipe which she has made in a large trifle bowl.

English trifle often include bananas (which I prefer not to put in my trifle) and the gelatin is poured in over the cake whilst still in liquid form. Here’s my version made in individual dessert glasses; very elegant.

Christina’s Individual English Trifle Recipe

by Christina Conte (a traditional British recipe)           serves 8

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

• leftover yellow or pound cake, broken into small pieces
• Sherry (Harvey’s Bristol Cream) or your favorite liqueur
• fruit cocktail in juice (you can add bananas if you like)
• flavored gelatin, prepared as directed (your choice of flavor)
• homemade custard, not yet set, at room temperature, or Bird’s custard (cooked with milk)
• freshly whipped cream

Place the cake in the bottom of the cup or bowl and sprinkle with Sherry.

Next, add some fruit cocktail with a little juice.

Mix the gelatin with a fork (I like to use strawberry flavor) and layer it over the fruit.

Next is the custard layer. Make sure it’s not hot or it will melt the gelatin, but if it’s already set, it won’t look good, so it has to be room temperature.

Finally, top with the freshly whipped cream, either spooning it on, or piping it for a more formal presentation.

You have just made English trifle!

These need to be kept refrigerated, and will be delicious for about 24 hours, and they are actually best if left for a few hours before eating, as the flavors will meld together more.

Trifles are a super-easy, make-ahead dessert which will be sure to please, and you can always give them your own spin by changing the flavors of cake, fruit, gelatin, etc. Here’s another Christmas trifle made with strawberry and lime gelatin.

Don’t miss another recipe or travel post; sign up for my FREE subscription below.

Continue to Content

Individual English Trifles...Easy, Impressive and Delicious!

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Impressive and delicious: individual English trifles are perfect for holiday entertaining, or anytime you want a no bake dessert.

Print

Ingredients

• 6 oz leftover yellow or pound cake, broken into small pieces
• 3 oz Sherry (Harvey's Bristol Cream) or your favorite liqueur
• one 15 oz can of mixed fruit cocktail in juice (you can add bananas if you like)
• one 4 serving packet of flavored gelatin, prepared as directed (your choice of flavor)
• homemade custard, not yet set, at room temperature, or Bird's custard (cooked with milk)
• 10 oz heavy cream, freshly whipped

Instructions

1. Place the cake in the bottom of the cup or bowl and sprinkle with Sherry.
2. Next, add some fruit cocktail with a little juice.
3. Mix the gelatin with a fork (I like to use strawberry flavor) and layer it over the fruit.
4. Next is the custard layer. Make sure it's not hot or it will melt the gelatin, but if it's already set, it won't look good, so it has to be room temperature.
5. Last, but not least, top with the freshly whipped cream, either spooning it on, or piping it for a more formal presentation.

Notes

Change the jello/jelly color to suit the occasion, such as strawberry and lime for Christmas.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 462Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 192mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 1gSugar: 37gProtein: 6g

Nutrition information is only estimated.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a review by clicking on the 5 stars above, in the purple header (a form will appear) or tag me on Instagram! 😍

Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.