21 of our best trifle recipes
A trifle needn't be a 1970s throwback. Here are our favourite trifle recipes to prove it.
Retro desserts are making a comeback, and top of our list is the humble trifle! Forget the classic pud of old, because there are so many different twists on traditional trifle – from our indulgent Black Forest to espresso martini trifle (yes, you read that right). For those who aren't fans of Christmas pudding, trifle is a certified Christmas crowd-pleaser, so, why not try our clementine and prosecco trifle or sloe gin trifle this year?
Not only is a trifle quick and easy to prepare, but it can be kept in the fridge a few hours prior to serving, making it a great dinner party dessert. After all, who wants to spend all evening in the kitchen?
Read on for Good Housekeeping's favourite trifle recipes for 2022...
Tiramisu Trifle
You can’t beat a classic tiramisu…until you’ve tried a tiramisu trifle! We’d recommend making this crowd-pleasing dessert the day before you plan on serving it, so it has plenty of time to set.
Recipe: Tiramisu Trifle
Berries and fizz Coronation trifle
This celebration trifle recipe is made using shop bought madeira cake. The homemade jelly uses Prosecco - it is a celebration after all.
Black Forest Trifle Pots
A classic combination, these individual trifles are the perfect sweet finish to your meal. The gold leaf-coated cherries add that extra festive flourish, but you can use glacé cherries instead if you wish.
Recipe: Black Forest Trifle Pots
Clementine and Prosecco Trifle
The retro mix of almonds and sugar sprinkles brings welcome crunch to the topping on this fruity but rich pud, but you could use some pared orange zest instead.
Recipe: Clementine and Prosecco Trifle
White chocolate, raspberry and passionfruit trifle
This foolproof pudding looks impressive but is easy to whip up and will prove popular with both adults and children alike.
Trifle Layer Loaf
An impressive way to serve a classic trifle, this layered loaf makes the perfect dinner party dessert. Everyone will be requesting the recipe!
Recipes: Trifle Layer Loaf
Easy Christmas trifle
This Christmas trifle is full of festive flavours and looks striking on the table. Better yet, it requires little hands-on time and can be made in advance.
Recipe: Easy Christmas trifle
Strawberry, Gin and Basil Trifle
Sweet juicy strawberries and fragrant basil are a subtle yet winning pairing, and a splash of gin brings a grown-up edge to this crowd-pleasing dessert.
Recipe: Strawberry, Gin and Basil Trifle
Aperol spritz trifle
We’ve turned this refreshing summer cocktail into a crowd-pleasing, prepare-ahead dessert.
Recipe: Aperol spritz trifle
Espresso martini trifle
This chocolate trifle recipe couldn't be easier. Supermarket chocolate cake, lashings of fresh custard and whipped cream and vodka and Kahlua of course. Delicious.
Recipe: Espresso martini trifle
Sloe gin trifle
This sloe gin trifle is full of wintery flavours and seasonal fruit. You can even use your own homemade sloe gin using our simple recipe, if you like.
Recipe: Sloe gin trifle
Black forest trifle
We've fused two of our favourite retro desserts to make one showstopping pud!
Recipe: Black forest trifle
The Wimbledon Cup trifle
Spiked with Pimm's syrup, this trifle simply sings of summer.
Recipe: The Wimbledon Cup trifle
Christmas cake trifle
Not a fan of fruit cake? Use Jamaican ginger or chocolate cake instead in this easy Christmas trifle recipe instead.
Recipe: Christmas cake trifle
Cranberry Trifle
Christmas wouldn’t be the same without trifle. This recipe uses ready-made sponges and custard to make it super simple. Trust us, no one will ever know.
Recipe: Cranberry Trifle
Iced Raspberry and Eggnog Trifle Cake
This trifle cake recipe is the perfect pud for Christmas and looks oh-so pretty on the table.
Pomegranate, Blueberry and Pistachio Trifles
These individual trifles are perfect for festive dinner parties or the big day itself.
Gin trifle
Simple and speedy to make, gin adds a fresh flavour to this light and fruity trifle that is bound to become a summer pudding staple.
Recipe: Gin trifle
Apricot and peach trifle
This easy trifle makes the most of stone fruit season and uses shopbought Madeira cake to save time – genius!
Recipe: Apricot and peach trifle
White Chocolate Trifle
Sweet-toothed guests will love this retro dessert, which uses a white chocolate custard you'll want to make time and time again.
Recipe: White Chocolate Trifle
An experienced and highly skilled team of food writers, stylists and digital content producers, the Good Housekeeping Cookery Team is a close-knit squad of food obsessives. Cookery Editor Emma Franklin is our resident chilli obsessive and barbecue expert, who spends an inordinate amount of time on holidays poking round the local supermarkets seeking out new and exciting foods. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Her favourite carb is pasta, and our vibrant green spaghetti is her weeknight go-to. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating crispy corn and nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time (though she cannot resist a slice of tres leches cake). With a wealth of professional kitchen know-how, culinary training and years of experience between them, they are all dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work (and if they don’t – we’ll have the answer for why*) every time (*90% of the time the answer is: “buy an separate oven thermometer”!).
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