Description
A decadent and layered Black Forest Trifle featuring moist chocolate cake cubes soaked in cherry liqueur, luscious cherry pie filling, rich chocolate pudding, and fluffy homemade whipped cream, garnished with fresh cherries and chocolate accents. Perfect for an elegant dessert to serve chilled.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 9×13 chocolate cake or brownie, baked and cooled, cut into 1 inch cubes
Cherry Layer
- 30 ounces cherry pie filling (approx 2 cups), store bought or homemade
- 4 ounces kirsch or cherry brandy, any cherry liqueur or amaretto, or cherry juice for non-alcoholic version
Chocolate Pudding
- 2 boxes chocolate pudding (90 grams each), prepared according to package directions or homemade
Whipped Cream
- 1 ½ cups cold heavy whipping cream or double cream
- 2-4 tablespoons (15-30 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Garnishing
- Fresh cherries
- Shaved chocolate
- Chocolate sprinkles
- Icing sugar or cocoa powder for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Bake the chocolate cake according to package or homemade recipe directions. Allow it to cool completely, then cut into 1 inch cubes.
- Prepare the Pudding: Prepare the chocolate pudding according to package instructions or homemade recipe. Let it cool to room temperature.
- Make the Whipped Cream: In a large bowl with a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or using a handheld mixer, combine the cold heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Start mixing on low speed until the mixture increases in volume and soft peaks form, then increase to medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.
- Assemble the Trifle: Place half of the cake cubes into the bottom of a 9-inch trifle bowl, pressing down slightly. Drizzle half of the kirsch or cherry juice evenly over the cake. Layer with half of the chocolate pudding, then half of the cherry pie filling, and half of the whipped cream. Repeat the layers ending with the whipped cream on top.
- Chill: Cover the trifle and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, preferably 4 hours or overnight, to allow flavors to meld.
- Garnish and Serve: Just before serving, garnish with fresh cherries, chocolate sprinkles, shaved chocolate, and dust with icing sugar or cocoa powder if desired. Serve chilled.
Notes
- For a non-alcoholic version, substitute kirsch or cherry brandy with cherry juice or extra cherry pie filling.
- The trifle can be assembled one day ahead and kept refrigerated to enhance flavors.
- Use homemade chocolate pudding and cake for better flavor control and freshness.
- Adjust the powdered sugar in whipped cream to your preferred level of sweetness.
- Fresh cherries or frozen cherries thawed work well for garnishing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
