This banana trifle recipe is an easy-to-make rendition of a well-loved classic, offering notes of bananas, strawberries, and blueberries throughout each layer. While simple to create, this flavorful dessert is visually show-stopping and will win over every guest you serve.
Banana trifle with strawberry and blueberry
Desserts made with fruits and lighter flavors may evoke summer and springtime thoughts; they can easily be translated into any season. A delight to the eye and a pleasure to the palette, this banana trifle is sure to be a crowd-pleasing treat suitable for any occasion.
The delicious layers in this cake trifle, offer a variety of textures, from the creaminess of the pudding, the moist crumb of banana bread, and the fruity notes delivered by strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. To top it off, the delightfully light whipped cream adds a smooth and indulgent finale to the beautiful dessert, along with the indulgent crunch of Nilla wafers.
This easy-to-make banana trifle is the bright, feel-good treat your sweet tooth craves. My strawberry banana trifle recipe is an absolute favorite among my friends and family. In my house, we absolutely adore sweet treats that use fresh fruits. I’ve made banana trifles for moments of all kinds. It’s a beautiful addition to a family dinner and a perfect contribution to larger events and parties.
And with the holiday season knocking at our door, there is never a better time for perfecting a crowd-pleasing dessert. Seeing this recipe laid out on the food table at events always brings a smile to my face. Everyone always gushes over how beautiful it is! I always get asked, “how long did it take you to create this?” Little do they know, it’s as easy as pie! Show-stopping, yet simple to make? Sign me up!
Other fruit desserts you will love:
If you haven’t heard of a trifle before, it is a cold dessert typically made with sponge cake and fruit covered with custard, jelly, and cream layers. The classic trifle dish comes from England, originating in the 18th century. The earliest trifle recipe is found in a 1585 cookbook written by Thomas Dawson. It has evolved over time, with additions and variations growing over time. I catapult the classic dish into the modern era with fruit-filled layers of tantalizing flavors in my banana trifle recipe.
I use banana cake as the base, blueberries, strawberries for the fruit component, vanilla, cream cheese for a custard component, and a light whipped cream to round it out with this recipe. Trifles are a classic dish with limitless variations. Try this simply delicious recipe today!
Check out some answers to frequently asked questions below, and then you can get to making your banana trifle recipe with complete confidence!
Banana Trifle: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a banana trifle be made the night before?
Definitely! Most of the time, you will find that trifle recipes are even better when left overnight. Doing so allows the different layers of flavor to combine and meld together. However, it may be wise to top it off with the whipped cream and Nilla wafers until you’re ready to serve your trifle to ensure the best possible texture.
What is the best way to layer a trifle?
Using a trifle bowl for building your dessert is ideal, but if you do not have one, a glass bowl or clear ice bucket can be suitable substitutions. When you start the layering process of your trifle, put down the base layer with care as it is the foundation for the remainder of your dessert.
When cutting the pieces of cake for this foundation, be sure they’re bite-size yet thick enough to remain sturdy as more layers are built. Next, carefully spread the pudding mixture and fruit layers over top of the base. Then, repeat until your dish is whole! Then, top it off with the scrumptious whipped cream and Nilla wafers. Simple as that!
How do I store my banana bread trifle?
To store a trifle overnight, or to store leftovers, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to four days.
Will a trifle get soggy if left overnight?
If left overnight prior to serving the following day, your banana trifle will not get soggy, but the layers will soften. If you’re storing leftovers, the trifle may become soggy as the cake layers continue melding into one another.
Can I freeze the trifle?
Freezing this strawberry banana trifle is not recommended. Dairy-based products do not often freeze well, and these trifle components will begin to separate when frozen. If you have no other choice than to freeze your trifle, please do not expect it to maintain the same consistency or texture.
How long does this banana trifle last?
In the fridge, your trifle can last around three days before it starts to get soggy. That said, it will remain safe to eat for a few days longer despite the change in texture.
How do I serve trifle?
To serve this trifle recipe, scoop out a section with a large spoon. Make sure to reach the spoon all the way to the bottom of the dish, so each layer remains as intact as possible. Serving the trifle in smaller, clear containers will continue your ability to show off your trifle’s beautiful layers as you scoop out servings for your guests.
What do I need to make this trifle?
Get set up and ready to go by gathering all the baking tools you will need:
- Trifle bowl, to showcase all the beautiful layers
- Knife
- Mixing bowl
- Mixer
- Measuring cups
- Spoon
Pretty straightforward, right? Now, here are the yummy ingredients to add to your shopping list:
- banana cake/bread
- instant vanilla pudding
- cream cheese, softened
- whipping cream
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- strawberries
- blueberries
- Nilla wafers
Grab everything you need from this inventory list, and you are set to begin! You will be amazed by how easy this strawberry banana trifle is to make and even more amazed by its incredible flavor.
How to make this easy banana trifle?
- Bake or buy a banana cake, cool completely. Here’s my easy and super delicious recipe for banana bread.
- Cut the cake into bite-sized pieces. Put a single layer of cake pieces on the bottom of a trifle bowl.
- In a medium bowl, add the softened cream cheese and pudding powder. Mix with a mixer on low speed until combined into pea-sized crumbles. Add two cups of cold milk and mix on low. Gradually increase the speed as the pudding thickens.
- Once the pudding mixture is pudding consistency, spread half over the banana cake layer.
- Add cut strawberries over the pudding layer. Repeat the cake and pudding layers, then add a layer of blueberries.
- Add the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a medium bowl and mix with a hand mixer until the whipped cream stays on a spoon and is easily spreadable. Spread the whipped cream over the top of the trifle and top the trifle with Nilla wafers.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
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Banana trifle with strawberry and blueberry
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 banana cake homemade, or store-bought.
- 1 box vanilla instant pudding
- 8 oz cream cheese softened (use the brick cream cheese)
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups strawberries cut into pieces or sliced
- 1 ½ cups blueberries
- Nilla wafers
Instructions
- Bake or buy a banana cake, cool completely. Cut the cake into bite-sized pieces. Put a single layer of cake pieces on the bottom of a trifle bowl.
- In a medium bowl, add the softened cream cheese and pudding powder. Mix with a mixer on low speed until combined into pea-sized crumbles. Add two cups of cold milk and mix on low. Gradually increase the speed as the pudding thickens.
- Once the pudding mixture is pudding consistency, spread half over the banana cake layer.
- Add cut strawberries over the pudding layer.
- Repeat the cake and pudding layers, then add a layer of blueberries.
- Add the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a medium bowl and mix with a hand mixer until the whipped cream stays on a spoon and is easily spreadable.
- Spread the whipped cream over the top of the trifle and top the trifle with Nilla wafers.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
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