Name: Easy Red, White, and Blue Trifle
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 purchased angel food cake, cut into bite-sized pieces, divided; 32 ounces sweetened vanilla yogurt, divided; 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced, or more for a larger bowl, divided; 3/4 cup strawberry preserves; 1 to 2 tablespoons water, or more as needed; 2 cups blueberries, rinsed and dried; 3/4 cup blueberry preserves; Whole strawberries and blueberries for garnish (optional)

A stunning no-bake dessert that combines fresh berries, fluffy angel food cake, and creamy yogurt in beautiful patriotic layers. This showstopper dessert requires minimal effort but delivers maximum visual impact and refreshing flavors.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This red, white, and blue trifle is the perfect dessert for summer gatherings, especially Fourth of July celebrations or Memorial Day picnics. What makes this recipe truly special is that it’s an “assembly recipe” requiring minimal cooking—just a quick melting of preserves to create fruity syrups. The clear layers of vibrant berries, snowy white yogurt, and airy cake create a stunning presentation that will impress your guests before they even take a bite.

The combination of fresh berries, creamy yogurt, and light angel food cake creates a refreshing dessert that’s not too heavy after a summer barbecue. Best of all, you can prepare this beautiful trifle ahead of time, allowing the flavors to meld together while you focus on entertaining your guests.

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

Angel food cake provides a light, airy base for this trifle. Its neutral, sweet flavor complements the berries perfectly, and its spongy texture absorbs the fruit syrups beautifully without becoming soggy. You can use store-bought to save time or homemade if you prefer.

Sweetened vanilla yogurt creates the creamy white layers that give this trifle its distinct look. It adds a tangy creaminess that balances the sweetness of the cake and fruit syrups. If you prefer, Greek yogurt can be substituted for a thicker texture and higher protein content.

Strawberries bring vibrant red color and sweet-tart flavor to the trifle. Fresh, ripe strawberries work best here, as they provide the best texture and flavor. Look for bright red berries with no soft spots.

Blueberries add the blue component to this patriotic dessert. Their smaller size creates a nice textural contrast to the larger strawberry pieces, and their deep color creates beautiful layers. Choose plump, firm blueberries for the best presentation.

Strawberry preserves and blueberry preserves are melted down to create simple fruit syrups that add moisture and intensify the berry flavors throughout the trifle. The preserves contain fruit pieces that add texture and visual appeal to the syrup.

Water is used to thin the melted preserves into a pourable consistency, allowing the syrup to drizzle beautifully over each layer.

Directions

Place a layer of angel food cake pieces in the bottom of a small trifle dish or pretty cut glass bowl. Spread a thin layer of yogurt over cake layer.
Add a single layer of sliced strawberries. Place strawberry preserves and 1 tablespoon water in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on High until preserves liquefy, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir, and add up to 1 tablespoon more water if needed to make a syrup. Drizzle a portion of strawberry syrup over strawberry layer.
Add another single layer of cake pieces, and spread with yogurt. Sprinkle with blueberries.
Place blueberry preserves and 1 tablespoon water in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on High until preserves have melted, about 1 minute. Stir, and add up to 1 tablespoon more water if needed to make a syrup. Drizzle a portion of blueberry syrup over blueberries.
Add another layer of cake pieces; spread with yogurt, add a layer of strawberries, and drizzle with strawberry syrup. Add a layer of cake; spread with yogurt, sprinkle with blueberries, and drizzle with blueberry syrup. Spread with a final layer of yogurt.
Garnish with fresh strawberry slices, whole berries, and blueberries, and drizzle with any remaining syrup.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Store leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator.

Servings and Timing

This red, white, and blue trifle serves 8 people generously. It takes approximately 15 minutes to prep and only 5 minutes of cooking time (to melt the preserves), making the total preparation time just 20 minutes. However, for the best flavor development, consider making this trifle a few hours before serving or even the night before. This allows the cake to absorb some of the fruit syrups and for the flavors to meld together beautifully.

Variations

Patriotic Parfaits: Instead of making one large trifle, create individual servings in clear glasses or mason jars for a portable dessert perfect for picnics.

Creamy Upgrade: Substitute half of the yogurt with whipped cream or whipped cream folded into cream cheese for a richer dessert.

Cake Alternatives: Try using pound cake or white cake instead of angel food cake for a different texture and flavor profile.

Seasonal Berry Swap: Adapt this recipe year-round by using whatever berries are in season. Blackberries, raspberries, or a mix of different colored berries all work well.

Chocolate Lover’s Version: Add a layer of chocolate pudding or chocolate shavings between some of the layers for a chocolate-berry combination.

Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle toasted sliced almonds or crushed graham crackers between layers for added texture.

Storage/Reheating

This red, white, and blue trifle is best stored covered in the refrigerator. The trifle will keep well for 2-3 days, although the texture of the cake will soften over time as it absorbs moisture from the other ingredients.

For the best presentation, add any garnishes just before serving. If you plan to make this dessert ahead of time, consider adding the final layer of yogurt and garnishes just before serving to keep it looking fresh.

This dessert is not suitable for freezing as the yogurt and fresh berries would not maintain their texture when thawed.

Reheating is not recommended or necessary for this dessert, as it’s designed to be served cold.

FAQs

Can I make this trifle ahead of time?

Yes, this trifle actually benefits from being made a few hours ahead of time or even the day before serving. The flavors meld together beautifully, and the cake layers have time to absorb some of the fruit syrups, creating a more cohesive dessert. Just cover it tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

What can I use instead of a trifle bowl?

Don’t worry if you don’t have a trifle bowl! Any clear glass bowl will work, such as a large salad bowl, punch bowl, or even a glass casserole dish. The key is using something transparent so the beautiful layers are visible. For individual servings, try clear drinking glasses, mason jars.

Can I use frozen berries instead of fresh?

While fresh berries provide the best texture and appearance, you can use frozen berries in a pinch. Thaw them completely and drain well before using to prevent excess liquid from making your trifle soggy. Keep in mind that formerly frozen berries tend to be softer and may bleed their colors more than fresh berries.

How do I prevent my trifle from getting soggy?

To maintain the best texture, ensure your preserves aren’t too watery when creating the syrups, and don’t oversaturate the cake layers with syrup. If preparing far in advance, you might consider adding the final yogurt layer and garnishes just before serving. Using a sturdier cake like pound cake instead of angel food cake can also help if sogginess is a concern.

Can I make this trifle dairy-free?

Absolutely! Simply substitute the vanilla yogurt with a dairy-free alternative such as coconut yogurt, almond milk yogurt, or soy yogurt. The texture might be slightly different, but the overall effect will be similar and just as delicious.

Is this dessert gluten-free?

The standard recipe is not gluten-free due to the angel food cake. However, you can easily make it gluten-free by substituting with a gluten-free angel food cake or pound cake, which are available at many specialty bakeries and some grocery stores.

What other fruits can I use in this trifle?

This trifle is highly adaptable to different fruits. Try raspberries, blackberries, peaches, nectarines, or kiwi depending on the season and your color scheme. Just be sure to match your preserves to whatever fresh fruit you’re using for the best flavor consistency.

How do I transport this trifle to a potluck or picnic?

For easiest transport, assemble the trifle in its serving dish at your destination. Bring the prepared components separately: cut cake in a container, berries washed and ready in another container, yogurt, and preserves prepared as syrups in sealed containers. Alternatively, if you must transport the assembled trifle, use a bowl with a tight-fitting lid and keep it chilled in a cooler with ice packs.

Can I use pudding instead of yogurt?

Yes, vanilla pudding makes an excellent substitute for the yogurt in this recipe. It will create a sweeter, more dessert-like trifle. You could also use a combination of yogurt and pudding for different layers.

How far in advance can I prepare the components?

You can prepare many components up to 2 days in advance: wash and slice the strawberries, wash the blueberries, cut the angel food cake into pieces, and even prepare the fruit syrups. Store everything separately in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble. This makes the final assembly quick and easy on the day you plan to serve the trifle.

Conclusion

This Easy Red, White, and Blue Trifle is more than just a dessert—it’s a celebration centerpiece that brings together simple ingredients in a spectacular presentation. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and adaptability. With minimal cooking required, it’s perfect for hot summer days when you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.

The layers of fluffy angel food cake, creamy vanilla yogurt, and fresh berries create a dessert that’s refreshing, not too heavy, and visually stunning. Whether you’re hosting a Fourth of July barbecue, a Memorial Day picnic, or simply wanting to brighten up a summer meal, this trifle delivers both in presentation and taste.

What makes this dessert truly special is how customizable it is—adjust the layers to fit your serving dish, swap in different berries depending on what’s in season, or create individual servings for a portable treat. The result is always a crowd-pleasing dessert that showcases the best of summer fruit in a patriotic display of red, white, and blue.