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Black Forest Trifle

A cozy, creamy delight that layers chocolate cake, whipped cream, and luscious cherries for a festive dessert perfect for Christmas.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert, Holiday
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Trifle
  • 1 box chocolate cake mix or 1 homemade chocolate cake
  • 1 cup heavy cream for whipping
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups canned or fresh cherries pitted, with juice or syrup
  • 1/4 cup cherry juice from the canned cherries or fresh
  • 2 cups vanilla pudding store-bought or homemade
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate shavings or grated chocolate
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder optional for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bake the chocolate cake according to package directions or your favorite homemade recipe. Let it cool completely, then crumble it into bite-sized pieces.
  2. In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
  3. If using canned cherries, drain them, but keep the juice. If fresh, pit and chop them, reserving some for garnish.
Assembly
  1. In a large bowl or trifle dish, start layering: crumbled chocolate cake, a layer of vanilla pudding, a layer of cherries with cherry juice, and a layer of whipped cream.
  2. Repeat the layers until you run out of ingredients or the bowl is full. Top with chocolate shavings and a sprinkle of cocoa powder if desired.
Chill
  1. Cover and chill the trifle in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best results.

Notes

Store leftovers up to 3 days in the fridge. Avoid freezing. For a vegan option, use a vegan chocolate cake recipe and coconut cream.