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Dessert Dilemma Solved: Why a Trifle is Always a Crowd-Pleaser
Ray's Recipes: The Trifle
Mariann Morell
April 18, 2025
When you're tasked with bringing dessert to a gathering, or simply want a sweet treat that's both impressive and manageable, look no further than the humble trifle. Trust me, this layered delight is a dessert superhero!
Why is a trifle always a good choice? Let me count the ways:
Effortlessly Elegant: Don't let the stunning presentation fool you. Trifles are surprisingly simple to construct. Layering ingredients is the name of the game!
Make-Ahead Marvel: Hosting can be hectic. The beauty of a trifle is that it can be assembled a day or two in advance, freeing up valuable time on the day of your event. In fact, letting it sit allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
Feeds a Crowd: Need a dessert that can serve a lot of people without a ton of individual fuss? A large trifle bowl is your answer!
Endless Creativity: This is where the fun begins! The possibilities for trifle variations are truly endless. You can customize it to suit any occasion, season, or dietary preference. Think different cakes, fruits, creams, liquors, and toppings – the only limit is your imagination!
My Go-To Trifle Layers Often Include:
Cake: Sponge cake, pound cake, or even leftover cake scraps work wonderfully.
Fruit: Fresh berries, sliced peaches, canned fruit cocktail (don't knock it 'til you try it!), or even a fruit compote.
Custard or Cream: Vanilla custard, whipped cream, mascarpone cheese, or even a vegan coconut cream.
A Little Something Extra: A drizzle of liqueur, a sprinkle of nuts, chocolate shavings, crumbled cookies – these add texture and flavor. I’ll add a liquor or syrup to the cake layer and fresh fruit, nuts or chocolate shavings to the top over some whipped cream.
This is a pie-caken trifle that I make for Thanksgiving. It is lovely layers of spice cake, pecan pie filling, and pumpkin custard whip cream.
Courtesy of Marthastwart.com I have made this trifle or variation at Christmas for a number of years and it always gets rave reviews.
The beauty is, you can adapt it to what you have on hand or what your guests love.
So, while I'm a big fan of a good cookie or a decadent chocolate cake, when I need a reliable, adaptable, and crowd-pleasing dessert, the trifle is always my first thought.
Now, I'm curious... What are your go-to desserts?! Do you have a signature sweet treat that you always rely on? Share your delicious secrets in the comments below! 🧁
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