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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    November 1, 2022

    Pound Cake Trifle

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Pound Cake Trifle recipe uses moist, fluffy pound cake, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries that are drizzled with a rich and creamy lemon cream cheese sauce.

    Here are some pound cakes recipes you can use: Buttermilk Pound Cake, Sweet Potato Pound Cake, Red Velvet Pound Cake, and Lemon Pound Cake Loaf.

    Pound Cake Trifle in a glass dish

    Latest Recipe Video:

    Jump to:
    • Latest Recipe Video:
    • Key Ingredients
    • How To Make A Pound Cake Trifle Recipe
    • How To Store Leftovers
    • Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Dessert Recipes
    • Before You Begin
    • 📖 Recipe

    Have you ever baked your favorite pound cake recipe only for it to get stuck in the pan? That's why I created this recipe. I was testing out a new recipe, and for the love of me, I couldn't figure out why the cake kept getting stuck.

    So I had 4 botched pound cakes in my house, and my wife said I needed to find something to do with them. The cake was still moist and flavorful but wasn't pretty and missing some pieces.

    I also don't like waste, so the following recipe is the perfect way to use a cake that you worked hard on but got stuck to the pan for some reason. Nobody will ever know unless you tell them.

    Pound Cake Trifle

    Key Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients you'll need for this amazing pound cake trifle.

    Cream Cheese

    I love the creamy, rich flavor that cream cheese adds to pound cakes, so using it was a no-brainer.

    Lemon

    Zest of 1 small lemon will have your tastebuds dancing.

    Powdered Sugar

    This is the base for our lemon cream cheese sauce. 

    Heavy Whipping Cream

    This will lighten our sauce and make it pourable.

    Pound Cake

    I recommend trying one of my pound cake recipes linked in the "more pound cake recipes." Think about your final presentation because that'll determine how small or large you should chop the cake.

    Fresh Berries

    You'll need strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.

    Pound Cake Trifle

    How To Make A Pound Cake Trifle Recipe

    The whole family can get involved in assembling a trifle pound cake. Get creative with the way you'll stack the berries and cake. I will present two different presentation options for you; one is better for large parties and the other for more intimate dinners or dinner parties.

    Option 1:

    In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, lemon zest, powdered sugar, and salt with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, and slowly pour in the heavy cream mix for 2-3 minutes until fluffy and thick but pourable.

    In a 12-14 cups trifle dish, add a layer of chopped pound cake, add the majority of the sliced strawberries, then half of the cream cheese sauce. Next, add a layer of blueberries and blackberries, a layer of pound cake, and the remaining cream cheese mixture. 

    Garnish the top layer with the remaining berries. Serve immediately or wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Trifle is best 2 days after assembling. 

    Option 2:

    Amongst 8 wine glasses, add a layer of pound cake, some strawberries, and half of the cream cheese sauce. 

    Next, add a layer of blueberries and blackberries, a layer of pound cake, and the remaining cream cheese sauce. 

    Garnish the top layer with the remaining berries. Serve immediately or wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

    close up shot of Pound Cake Trifle

    How To Store Leftovers

    Cake and cream cheese sauce can be made one day in advance and kept in an airtight container in the fridge.

    Place leftover trifle pieces in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 days.

    Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks

    Here are a few notes to remember while making this delicious lemony pound cake trifle.

    • You can use sponge cake or angel food cake instead of a homemade pound cake.
    • Sliced-pound cake, then chop it to your desired size.
    • Sara Lee pound cake is a good neutral cake that works in this recipe.
    • Change the fruit depending on the season. Oranges, mangoes, bananas, and sauteed apples will be excellent.
    • Use any glass dish for the dessert presentation.
    • It will work in the recipe if it can go on or in a cake.
    • You can finish the top layer with homemade whipped cream. Its flavor will be better than any store-bought whipped topping.
    • Feel free to use your favorite cake for this recipe. Instead of the lemon cream cheese, you can mix instant vanilla or lemon pudding. 
    • Make sure it's enough pudding mix to serve 8.
    Pound Cake Trifle
    Pound Cake Trifle on a blue towel

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Here are the top questions readers have about making pound cake trifle.

    What is a cake trifle?

    A cake trifle is a delicious no-bake dessert made from layers of cake, custard, whipped cream, and fresh fruit. It usually served cold or at room temperature.

    What is trifle called in America?

    In America, a trifle is called a pound cake trifle. It is a popular dessert because it is easy to make and can be customized to fit any taste. The layers of pound cake, whipped cream, and fruit or other flavors are always a hit.

    Should a trifle be made the night before?

    That depends on what's your trifles foundation. Angel food cake or ladyfingers will become soggy if made the night before. However, since pound cake is a denser cake, it will hold up for 2 days fully prepared.

    Pound Cake Trifle

    Should there be jelly in the trifle?

    This is a personal preference. Jelly may be your secret ingredient that adds a layer of extra sweetness and texture that your guest loves. There's no right or wrong answer, but it depends on you.

    Can you use pound cake in a trifle?

    A trifle with pound cake is perfect for a trifle because its dense texture prevents it from becoming soggy when absorbing the liquid toppings. This gives you more room to be creative with your flavors and textures.

    Pound Cake Trifle in glass dish

    More Dessert Recipes

    What's cake without ice cream? Here are a few homemade ice cream recipes that don't require an ice cream machine.

    • Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
    • Sweet Potato Pecan Ice Cream
    • Blueberry Basil Ice Cream
    • Peach Cobbler Ice Cream
    • Butter Pecan Ice Cream
    • Fudge Brownie Ice Cream
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    Before You Begin

    Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized. 

    Step 1: Get all ingredients for the pound cake trifle on the counter.

    Step 2: Measure everything out.

    Step 3: Follow the recipe and make an amazing presentation. All your friends and family will love you for bringing this dessert.

    Now that you know how to make a pound cake trifle, it's time for you to try it out! I would love to hear about your experience making this dessert – leave me a comment and a star rating below. Did you follow the recipe exactly? Did you add any of your own twists? Let me know in the comments!

    Click here to subscribe to MY Weekly Recipes for easy and free recipes right into your inbox! 

    To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the Pin button on the recipe card, the sharing buttons above or below this post, or any of the photos above. 

    Tag me @kennethtemple_ and use #LezEat on Instagram to share your remakes with me, and don't forget to leave a star rating and comment below. 

    📖 Recipe

    Pound Cake Trifle in glass dish

    Pound Cake Trifle

    Kenneth Temple
    This Pound Cake Trifle recipe uses moist pound cake, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries with a lemony cream cheese sauce.
    4.67 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 persons
    Calories 222 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 oz. cream cheese room temperature
    • zest of 1 small lemon
    • ½ cup powdered sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 ¼ cup heavy cream
    • 1 baked pound cake chopped
    • 2 lbs. strawberries washed, stemmed, sliced
    • 12 oz. blueberries washed
    • 12 oz. blackberries washed

    Instructions
     

    Option 1:

    • In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, lemon zest, powdered sugar, and salt with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, and slowly pour in the heavy cream mix for 2-3 minutes until fluffy and thick but pourable.
    • In a 12-14 cups trifle dish, add a layer of chopped pound cake, add the majority of the sliced strawberries, then half of the cream cheese sauce. Next, add a layer of blueberries and blackberries, a layer of pound cake, and the remaining cream cheese mixture.
    • Garnish the top layer with the remaining berries. Serve immediately or wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Trifle is best 2 days after assembling.

    Option 2:

    • Amongst 8 wine glasses, add a layer of pound cake, some strawberries, and half of the cream cheese sauce.
    • Next, add a layer of blueberries and blackberries, a layer of pound cake, and the remaining cream cheese sauce.
    • Garnish the top layer with the remaining berries. Serve immediately or wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

    Notes

    Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
    Here are a few notes to remember while making this delicious lemony pound cake trifle.
    • You can use sponge cake or angel food cake instead of a homemade pound cake.
    • Sliced-pound cake, then chop it to your desired size.
    • Sara Lee pound cake is a good neutral cake that works in this recipe.
    • Change the fruit depending on the season. Oranges, mangoes, bananas, and sauteed apples will be excellent.
    • Use any glass dish for the dessert presentation.
    • It will work in the recipe if it can go on or in a cake.
    • You can finish the top layer with homemade whipped cream. Its flavor will be better than any store-bought whipped topping.
    • Feel free to use your favorite cake for this recipe. Instead of the lemon cream cheese, you can mix instant vanilla or lemon pudding. 
    • Make sure it's enough pudding mix to serve 8.
    Storage:
    Cake and cream cheese sauce can be made one day in advance and kept in an airtight container in the fridge.
    Place leftover trifle pieces in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 222kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 204mgPotassium: 193mgFiber: 3gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 556IUVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword pound cake trifle, trifle pound cake, easy pound cake trifle recipe, pound cake trifle with berries,
    Cooked this recipe?Let me know how it was!
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    Banana Buttermilk Pancakes »

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    Comments

      4.67 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Joyce Andreone says

      April 09, 2025 at 4:50 am

      Your trifle recipe sounds delicious and I'm interested in making it for Easter. On Option #1, you wrote, "Trifle is best two days after assembling." Does this mean it has the most flavor at this time or it is best to eat it within the first two days after assembling? Sorry for the confusion on my part.

      Reply
      • Kenneth Temple says

        April 09, 2025 at 1:19 pm

        Hi Joyce, the cream cheese sauce and fruit will being to make the cake soggy and the texture may not be pleasing after two days. I hope this helps!

        Reply

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