How to make a terrific Christmas trifle
Layer your way to trifle success this Christmas
Christmas is trifle time and this traditional Christmas favourite is quick and easy to whip up. Trifle is the perfect dessert as it can be made in advance for a fuss-free finale to your Christmas feast. Celebrate with a splash of decadence, featuring layers of sweet jelly, fresh fruit, sponge cake, custard and cream. Discover top trifle tips, tricks and recipes right here.
How to make trifle
Trifles are extremely versatile which means there’s no one way to make them. They can be customised to suit any taste, with flavours ranging from classic fruit jelly and custard to more creative flavours such as a chocolate tiramisu trifle recipe. But no matter what recipe you choose, here are key elements that can make your trifle a stand-out this Christmas.
Key trifle ingredients
Jelly
Jelly is an iconic ingredient of a Christmas trifle. It’s easy to make (store-bought jelly crystals do the trick) and can be any flavour you like. Just be sure that the flavour you choose matches the other components in your trifle.
Fruit
Trifles can be customised to include your favourite in-season fruit, from strawberries and raspberries to stone fruit such as peaches, mangoes and plums.
Sponge cake
Adding sponge cake to a trifle is a great way to balance the liquid-based components such as jelly, creams and custard. It also aids in providing structure to a trifle. Choose from store-bought sponge cakes or even sponge rolls.
Alcohol
A splash of alcohol in traditional trifles adds flavour to the sponge cake. Popular choices are port and sherry, but you can experiment with other liquors such as rum, cream-based liqueurs and gin. You can opt to omit the alcohol and replace it with a fruit juice of your choice, or cooled black coffee.
Custard & cream
Lashings of custard and cream add a velvety blanket of indulgence to any trifle. You can make your own custard from scratch or use a store-bought one for a no-fuss option.
Toppings
A trifle is never complete without toppings. Chopped in-season fruit is always very popular, but you can be as creative as you like – try popcorn, chocolate sauce, meringue kisses or even waffles.
Terrific trifle recipes
Discover show-stopping trifle layers, from classic Christmas trifles to modern versions with a twist.
Trifle assembly tips
- It’s important to choose the right dish for your trifle. Ideally, a glass bowl with high sides is best so you can see all of the luscious layers – don’t forget to check that it fits in your fridge!
- For a quick and easy option, make individual trifles in glasses using leftover cake, fruit and cream.
- Use a vegetable peeler to create chocolate shards for the top of your trifle.
How to store a trifle
- Trifle can be made and served immediately or after it’s had some time to set in the fridge.
- To make your trifle ahead of time, simply layer your ingredients in your dish, then cover and store in the fridge. If you're using jelly, ensure you leave time for it to set before you assemble.
- If you have leftovers, transfer the trifle to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.