Black Forest Trifle for Christmas

Layers of chocolate cake, cherries, and cream—no frosting fuss, all festive flavor.

If you want a dessert that wows at Christmas without hours of work, meet your new favorite: the Black Forest Trifle for Christmas. You get all the elements of Black Forest cake—rich chocolate, juicy cherries, cool cream—layered in a bowl. It’s visually stunning and genuinely delicious, perfect for holiday tables, family gatherings, or potlucks.

Why You’ll Love This

• Effortless elegance: No frosting or piping—just layer and chill.
• Feeds a crowd: Perfect for 8–10 people with generous portions.
• Make-ahead-friendly: Assemble early and let flavors meld overnight.
• Balanced flavors: Chocolate, cherry, and cream in every bite.

Prep & Cooking Info

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: ~30 minutes (for cake)
• Chill Time: At least 3 hours, ideally overnight
• Total Time: ~4 hours
• Servings: 8–10
• Course: Dessert
• Cuisine: American / Holiday
• Method: Layered Trifle / No-Fuss Assembly

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix (or use your favorite homemade chocolate cake)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups cherries (fresh or canned, pitted, with juice or syrup)
• ¼ cup cherry juice (reserved)
• 2 cups vanilla pudding (store-bought or homemade)
• ½ cup dark chocolate shavings or grated chocolate
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional, for dusting)

Instructions

1. Bake & cool cake
   Prepare the chocolate cake according to the package or your recipe. Let it cool completely, then cut into 1-inch cubes.
2. Whip cream
   In a bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
3. Prepare cherries
   If using canned cherries, drain but reserve some juice. If fresh, pit and chop them. Mix cherries with reserved juice to make them juicy.
4. Layer in a trifle dish
   • Start with a layer of chocolate cake cubes.
   • Spoon on vanilla pudding over the cake.
   • Add a layer of cherries (with a bit of juice).
   • Spread a layer of whipped cream.
   • Repeat those layers—cake → pudding → cherries → whipped cream—until the dish is full.
5. Top & garnish
   Finish with a layer of whipped cream. Sprinkle chocolate shavings or grated chocolate and optional cocoa powder on top. Add a few cherries for a festive look.
6. Chill
   Refrigerate the trifle for at least 3 hours or overnight to allow the layers to set and flavors to meld.
7. Serve
   Scoop into dessert glasses or plates. The layers should be distinct and flavors blended.

Tips / Storage / FAQs

• Use a glass trifle bowl so the layers show beautifully.
• Don’t skip cooling: Use fully cooled cake so the whipped cream doesn’t melt.
• Pudding flexibility: Use instant vanilla or make a homemade custard.
• Storage: Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days.
• Freezing: Not recommended—textures will degrade.
• Chocolate substitutions: Use milk chocolate or semi-sweet if dark is too intense.
• Cherry syrup: If cherries are too dry, add a splash more juice before layering.

Final Thoughts

This Black Forest Trifle for Christmas is indulgent yet easy. The layers soak up flavor, the visuals are festive, and the overall effect is stunning without complicated steps. Make it ahead, relax, and let everyone ooh and ahh when you bring it out.

The Goods

Black Forest Trifle for Christmas

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Layered Christmas dessert: chocolate cake cubes, cherry filling, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream come together in a show-stopping Black Forest Trifle that’s easy to assemble.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Recipes

• 1 box chocolate cake mix or use your favorite homemade chocolate cake
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups cherries fresh or canned, pitted, with juice or syrup
• ¼ cup cherry juice reserved
• 2 cups vanilla pudding store-bought or homemade
• ½ cup dark chocolate shavings or grated chocolate
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder optional, for dusting

Instructions

Bake & cool cake

• Prepare the chocolate cake according to the package or your recipe. Let it cool completely, then cut into 1-inch cubes.

Whip cream

• In a bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

Prepare cherries

• If using canned cherries, drain but reserve some juice. If fresh, pit and chop them. Mix cherries with reserved juice to make them juicy.

Layer in a trifle dish

• Start with a layer of chocolate cake cubes.
• Spoon on vanilla pudding over the cake.
• Add a layer of cherries (with a bit of juice).
• Spread a layer of whipped cream.
• Repeat those layers—cake → pudding → cherries → whipped cream—until the dish is full.

Top & garnish

• Finish with a layer of whipped cream. Sprinkle chocolate shavings or grated chocolate and optional cocoa powder on top. Add a few cherries for a festive look.

Chill

• Refrigerate the trifle for at least 3 hours or overnight to allow the layers to set and flavors to meld.

Serve

• Scoop into dessert glasses or plates. The layers should be distinct and flavors blended.

Notes

Use a glass trifle bowl so the layers show beautifully.

Don’t skip cooling: Use fully cooled cake so the whipped cream doesn’t melt.

Pudding flexibility: Use instant vanilla or make a homemade custard.

Storage: Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days.

Freezing: Not recommended—textures will degrade.

Chocolate substitutions: Use milk chocolate or semi-sweet if dark is too intense.

Cherry syrup: If cherries are too dry, add a splash more juice before layering.