I was in charge of the desserts at a friend’s pool party a few weeks ago and my Mom made a request for a Black Forest Trifle. I knew I was already making my favorite Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, so chocolate and cherry would be an a nice alternative.
I love trifles because they are so easy to toss together and always look impressive anyways. Like my absolute favorite Mama’s Best Banana Pudding — looks super impressive but is easy and crazy delicious. Or my other Fall favorite Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Trifle.
I didn’t make my own cake from scratch because, well you know, I have twin toddlers and I was already making cookies. Sorry, but it’s the truth – even food bloggers like a cheat box mix from time to time!
However, if you want to make your own cake, the chocolate cake form this Chocolate and Peanut Butter Dream Cake would be perfect! It’s a super moist dark chocolate cake and will make a wonderful trifle cake base.
The layers in this Black Forest Trifle all combine into an amazing combination of chocolate and cherry and cream. You get a double dose of chocolate from the chocolate cake and chocolate pudding. Then a generous layer of sweet cherry pie filling and it is all topped with creamy whipped cream.
This trifle is based on the classic Black Forest Cake, however if you aren’t a fan of cherries, you could do another flavor of pie filling — like strawberry. However, I have to tell you that the chocolate and cherry combination is by far the best combo!
Keep this trifle chilled until you are ready to serve and let it rest for at least an hour before serving. I know it’s SO hard to wait, but it’s worth it to let all the layers meld together!
Hope you enjoy this trifle as much as we did! It would be a perfect 4th of July dessert!
Black Forest Trifle
Black Forest Trifle - layers of chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, whipped cream and cherry filling!
Ingredients
- 1 box devil’s food cake, prepared according to package directions
- 1 (5.9 oz) box of instant chocolate pudding, prepared according to package directions
- 3 cups whipped cream or 8 oz cool whip
- 1 (21 oz) can cherry filling
Instructions
- Crumble cake into small pieces.
- Layer, cake, pudding, cherry filling and whipped cream. Continue layering until all ingredients have been used.
- Refrigerate for at least one hour to let the flavors meld and cake soak up the good stuff. Serve chilled!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 160Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 65mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 10gProtein: 2g
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Before making this recipe, I read a comment where it was advised to double the cherries, pudding and Cool Whip. I purchased the extra ingredients but didn’t open them before I began layering my trifle. If you have an extra large trifle bowl, you may need them but I have a standard footed bowl (from Walmart) and found that the recipe amounts fit perfectly in my bowl. I had no space for anything else when I finished layering. I ended my trifle with whipped cream, and decorated the top with chocolate curls from a Hershey’s bar. It looked great and very festive for a Christmas Pot Luck.
I used Duncan Hines Signature Triple Chocolate cake mix and it was very good.
I purchased a chocolate pound cake that was so dry my husband couldn’t eat it. I hated to throw it away so I went looking for something I could make with it. I found this recipe and decided to try it. This is definitely a winner!!! I was afraid it would be too sweet but it wasn’t. Definitely a keeper.
Hi, how exactly are you breaking up the cake? Are you cutting it and letting it kind of crumble, but still holding some form of piece lol or is it more like when your making cake pops, how you want the cake crumbled up?
This is one of the most delicious trifles I have ever had! I have brought it to a couple family barbecues and it is always a huge hit. It is beautiful and so easy to make.
Definitely double the pudding ,cherries and cool whip. It was delicious, but would have been better with more of everything. Very easy.
I have made this twice, the second time I doubled the amounts of pudding, cherries and cool whip. I prefer it with a family size mix brownie base that’s a little chewier too. Absolutely delicious and beautiful. Hit with kids and adults both.
As I read this recipe I thought it would need double Ingredients
Can you make the night before?
Yes! 🙂
I did make mine the night before because of made too far in advance the pudding starts to separate and gets watery w the other ingredients.
I am looking forward to making the cherry trifle. I could not see that you posted how long it would take to make it including the chill time.
Hi! Love this recipe, we featured it in our recent blog post. 🙂
http://catchingfirefliesgifts.com/blog/2017/08/tantalizing-trifles/
Can you use brownies instead of cake mix?
Will this keep ok if made the day before?
Yes!
Making this for Christmas and put tablespoon of Kirsch liquer in with the cherries!
I always make a special dinner as my Christmas gift to my family, this year will serve filet of tenderloin. This will top it off nicely, I’m going to add some rum to the whipped cream, thanks for the inspiration!
Which devils cake brand n cherry filling you used?
I do not remember – whatever was on sale! Any brand will work!
There is nothing as pretty as a trifle, and your black forest trifle is particularly lovely. Must be the contrast of colors…or that I love black forest flavors 🙂
This is a show stopper of a dessert and perfect for Father’s day!
I could eat every layer of this, all the way to the bottom! Yum!
I love black forest flavors… and this looks so impressive!!
Oh my this looks like heaven! Can I come over and have this with you today!?
Whoa….just hold those horses! That is one of the best looking desserts I have EVER seen!