Throw together a super Easy Trifle in no time with our retro Trifle Recipe. Totally yummy dessert that’s ideal for serving at parties, celebrations or after Sunday lunch.
Layers of jelly, thick creamy custard and topped with a mountain of messy whipped cream and chocolate flake. Sometimes you just need a bowlful of proper retro style trifle, the kind you used to get in the 80s…
It’s perfect for dessert after a big family dinner, great as part of a buffet for parties or even just because you fancy a bowlful. It reminds me of happy days, parties and holidays so that’s enough of a reason to throw it together more often!
English trifle is so making a come back in my house!
HOW DO YOU MAKE TRIFLE?
Well…. there’s all kinds of trifles and everyone has their own little twist on making one.
You get the purists who make everything from scratch, you get booze soaked trifles… and then you get my really easy trifle recipe.
My trifle recipe is made entirely with cheat ingredients so it’s ridiculously easy to make but I promise you it tastes just SO GOOD!
TRIFLE INGREDIENTS
These ingredients are enough to fill an 8 inch bowl. If your trifle bowl is a different size just adjust your ingredients to suit.
- Trifle Sponges – we love these in our easy trifle, but you can swap for Swiss roll slices if you like.
- Tin of Mandarins – wouldn’t be trifle without these tangy little oranges.
- Strawberry Jelly
- Carton of Ready Made Custard – life is way too short for making custard from scratch!
- Double Cream – sometimes called whipping cream or heavy cream
- Chocolate Flakes – you can add hundreds and thousands too if you like.
HOW TO MAKE EASY TRIFLE
You are going to LOVE how easy this trifle recipe is! Seriously, no faff and all taste!
Firstly get yourself a nice decorative bowl – I kind of love the retro cut glass ones. The one I use was actually my grandmas so it feels good to still be able to use it now all these years later.
If you really want a retro glass trifle bowl the best place to find them is charity shops – go for a rummage and see what you can pick up.
STEP ONE – LAYER UP THE SPONGES
- Put the sponges into the bottom of the trifle bowl
STEP TWO – ADD THE JUICE
- Tip the juice from the mandarins over the trifle sponges to moisten them.
STEP THREE – ADD THE MANDARINS
- Add in the mandarins and mingle them up a little with the moistened sponges.
STEP FOUR – NEXT COMES THE JELLY
- Mix up the jelly as per the packet instructions
- Pour the jelly over the top of the trifle sponges and mandarin segments.
- Cover the bowl with cling film or reusable food wrap and place in the fridge for a few hours until the jelly sets.
STEP FIVE – ADD THE CUSTARD AND CREAM
- Once the jelly has set – remove the trifle from the fridge and pour on the layer of custard. I completely cheat with the custard and use a pack of ready made because I want my dessert to be lazy and low fuss!
- Once the custard layer is on, you can then add the cream. Firstly whip the cream – I usually do this in the food processor as it takes literally minutes to whip.
- You can either pipe the whipped cream onto the trifle or just smooth it on with a spatula whichever you prefer.
- Then simply scatter chocolate flake or hundreds and thousand cake sprinkles over the top of the cream to finish.
HOW TO MAKE TRIFLE YOUR WAY
You can give our simple dessert recipe your own twist! Try any of the tasty ingredient swaps for trifle ideas below!
- Switch the mandarins for fresh strawberries or raspberries
- Switch the strawberry jelly for whatever flavour you like
- Skip the jelly altogether and use chocolate mousse
- Swap the trifle sponge for Swiss Roll
- Top with sprinkles or edible glitter instead of chocolate flake
TOP TIPS FOR MAKING GREAT TRIFLE
WHAT FRUIT STOPS JELLY SETTING
- When switching the fruit in the trifles be careful not to add pineapple, mango, papaya or kiwi. These fruits contain an enzyme which stops the jelly setting.
CAN I MAKE TRIFLE WITHOUT SPONGES
- Of course you can – you can switch the sponges for leftover cake or slices of swiss roll.
CAN I MAKE TRIFLE WITHOUT JELLY
- Yes – just switch the jelly layer for chocolate or toffee mousse.
HOW TO SERVE TRIFLE
- Perfect for serving up after the roast dinner on a Sunday
- Great for birthday parties or celebration buffets.
LOVE EASY DESSERTS? TRY THESE
- Mini Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sundaes – quick and easy little sundaes that just take minutes to throw together.
- Oreo Cheesecakes – delicious Oreo biscuit base topped with creamy cheesecake frosting and chocolate sprinkles.
- Easiest Eton Mess – quick and easy Eton Mess recipe, perfect for summer.
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Easy Trifle Recipe
Super easy trifle recipe - classic retro dessert
Ingredients
- 4-5 trifle sponges
- 300g tin of mandarins
- 1 pack of strawberry jelly
- 500g carton of ready made custard
- 300ml double cream
- 2 chocolate flakes
Instructions
- Put the trifle sponges into the bottom of the bowl.
- Pour over some of the mandarin juice to moisten the sponges.
- Add the mandarins amongst the trifle sponges.
- Make up the jelly as per the packet instructions and pour over the sponges and mandarins.
- Leave to set in the fridge for a few hours.
- Pour over the layer of custard.
- Whip the cream and pipe onto the top of the trifle.
- Scatter over the chocolate flake.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 623Total Fat: 45gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 235mgSodium: 222mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 3gSugar: 27gProtein: 9g
Nutritional content will vary depending on the exact ingredients you use and how careful you are with measuring - this nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate - you should always calculate your own nutritional information especially if you have specific dietary requirements.