By Wendy Stoltz and Florina Dobre / Last Modified On March 15, 2023
Layers of gluten-free cake, fresh berries, and whipped cream are delicious in this gluten-free trifle. Trifles are simple to make and they are the perfect gluten-free dessert when feeding a crowd.
We're using our gluten free vanilla cake in this trifle recipe. Use dairy-free whipped cream to make this trifle dairy-free.
If you're looking for other cake recipes to use in this gluten-free trifle, you'll want to try this gluten free lemon cake next. More of a chocolate fan, use this gluten free chocolate cake recipe works great in trifles.
Why You're Going to Love this Gluten-Free Trifle
Easy to Make - With only a few ingredients, this gluten-free trifle is easy to make. To keep things even simpler, you can use a store-bought gluten-free cake, or gluten-free cake mix.
Versatile - You can switch up the cake flavors in this trifle. You can also decorate the top with different types of fruits, sprinkles, or even ice cream.
Feeds a Crowd - Trifles not only double as a table centerpiece, but they can also feed a crowd. Serve from one large trifle, or divide the ingredients into several smaller serving dishes.
Gluten-Free Trifle Ingredients
While this isn't a recipe for a traditional English trifle, we've come up with a recipe that's simple and uses minimal ingredients.
Gluten-Free Cake - You can use one of our gluten-free cake recipes, or you can use a store-bought gluten-free cake or gluten-free cake mix (we recommend trying King Aurthur GF Yellow Cake Mix for this recipe). It's up to you. You'll end up baking a 9 x 13 cake in a rectangle pan and cutting the cake into bite-size pieces, for layering.
Whipped Cream - We love mixing up a batch of fresh whipped cream but you can use store-bought whipped cream or cool whip. If you're not a fan of whipped cream, you can also use custard or pudding, just make sure it's gluten-free. You can also add jam, for a more traditional trifle.
Berries - We love adding a variety of berries to trifles. They add color and flavor and you can switch up the types of berries you use, or include them all.
If you have any questions about what goes into a gluten-free trifle, please leave a comment below and we will get back to you.
How to Make a Gluten-Free Trifle
There really isn't a wrong way to make a trifle. The most important thing is to add the layers carefully, so that all the fun layers and colors are prominent. You can add the layers in any order you want, but we prefer to start with cake, then whipped cream, then berries.
Continue to repeat the layers until you've used up all your ingredients.
NOTE: If you want your trifle to look visually stunning, you will need to use a round dessert display stand like the one we show in the photos.
How to Store a Gluten-Free Trifle
Because of the whipped cream and fresh berries, you'll want to cover the trifle and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve it. Trifles only last 1-2 days before they start to go bad. It's best to enjoy trifles within 24 hours of layering it.
Can I make a Trifle the Day Before?
Yes, you can make this trifle the day before. Because the liquid from the whipped cream and berries will start to settle, the cake may start to soften. If you make it the night before, it's best to make it as late in the day as possible.
This gluten-free trifle reminds me a lot of gluten free strawberry shortcake, but in a layered form with more berries. Traditional English trifles typically were made with alcohol-soaked sponge cake, custard, and berries, but we've simplified it by using regular gluten-free cake and whipped cream.
Other Cakes to Use
We have a few different cakes that would work well for trifles. Gluten Free Angel Food Cake is a reader favorite and it works perfectly as a sponge cake in this gluten-free trifle recipe. You could also use Gluten Free Lemon Bread, for a lemon twist. You could also use Gluten Free Ladyfingers.
If you don't feel like making a cake from scratch, you can also buy boxed gluten-free cake mix, such as:
- Simple Mills Almond Flour Vanilla Cake Mix
- King Arthur GF Yellow Cake Mix
- King Arthur GF Confetti Cake Mix
- Krusteaz Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix
- Pillsbury Gluten-Free Funfetti Cake Mix
- Extra White Gold GF Vanilla Cake Mix
- XO Baking Gluten-Free Pound Cake Mix
Frozen Berries in Trifles
We recommend using fresh berries, and skipping the frozen berries when making a trifle. Frozen berries tend to be extra juicy and can cause the cake pieces to get mushy. Frozen berries tend to be less expensive but you can stick to berries that are in season, to help with the cost.
Did you make this Gluten-Free Trifle? Leave us a comment below letting us know which of our gluten-free cakes you used.
Gluten Free Trifle
A simple recipe for a gluten free trifle that uses gluten free cake, whipped cream, and fresh berries. Make one large trifle, or mini trifles.
Ingredients
- Gluten Free Vanilla Cake
- 6 cups whipped cream (or gluten free custard or gluten free pudding)
- Fresh Berries
Instructions
- Bake the gluten free vanilla cake in a 9 x 13 pan. Cool completely, then cut into 1-inch cubes.
- Using a large trifle dish, place ⅓ of the cake pieces onto the bottom.
- Spoon 2 cups of whipped cream over the cake pieces.
- Add a layer of fresh berries.
- Repeat two more times, or until you are out of ingredients.
- Serve cold.
Notes
- You can use a store bought gluten free cake mix in this recipe, just be sure to follow the instructions for baking it in a 9x13 pan.
- You can use gluten free custard or gluten free pudding in place of the whipped cream, or in addition to the whipped cream.
- You can use your fruit of choice.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 125Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 21mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g
This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands that I used a the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.
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