This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy.

Learn how to make this festive and patriotic dessert that’s perfect for Memorial Day or 4th of July celebrations! Red White & Blue Trifle is a simple recipe to make that makes a statement. Only 5 ingredient is all you need to make this layered pudding trifle recipe with fresh berries. 

For more red, white, and blue recipes be sure and try these Red, White, and Blue Cookie Bars and my 4th of July Patriotic Jello Pie.

A glass trifle dish layered with fresh berries, instant pudding, and cake chunks.

Red White Blue Trifle Recipe

I absolutely love festive and colorful Holiday desserts! This red white blue trifle recipe is so simple to make thanks to the short ingredient list. Cake, instant pudding mix, milk, and fresh berries are all you need to assemble this layered trifle recipe.

Perfect for any patriotic occasion and celebration like Memorial Day or 4th of July with it’s red, white, and blue themed colors. 

A view of the top of the trifle with fresh berries layered.

Ingredients Needed

Here is the list of ingredients that you will need to make this trifle recipe.

  • Instant Vanilla Pudding – You will need two large boxes. I prefer the taste of the vanilla pudding but if you want a true white color, then try using white chocolate instant pudding mix instead. Either one works great in this recipe, it’s just whatever you prefer. 
  • Half & Half Milk – This is the best milk to use. You need the fat to help thicken and set the pudding layers. If wanted, you can use whole milk or 2%. 
  • Cake, Pound Cake or Angel Food Cake – Lots of options with this one. I prefer the taste and texture of pound cake or a vanilla cake mix. You can either purchase these in the bakery at the store or buy a box of cake mix, pound cake mix, or angel food cake and make it according to package instructions. 
  • Fresh Berries – Do not use frozen berries. Blueberries and raspberries are what is shown in the pictures but strawberries (sliced or chopped) or blackberries are other great options. 

Ingredients needed to make this red white blue trifle with each one labeled in black text.

How to Make a Red, White, & Blue Trifle for Memorial Day or 4th of July

Learn how to make this recipe with these easy steps below. Be sure and read to the bottom of this post where I have a recipe card with all the detailed instructions, ingredients, and tips. 

  • Preparation : Make sure you have cooked & completely cooled cake chunks for this recipe. You can purchase a pound cake or angel food cake at the store, or purchase a box of pound cake or angel food cake and make it yourself according to package directions. Or make a white cake mix or vanilla cake mix, according to package instructions, and use that in the trifle. Wash the fresh berries and dry them. I pat the berries with a paper towel to ensure that there is no moisture and they’re dry. You do not want to put wet berries into the trifle when layering.
  • Pudding : Whisk together the instant pudding mixes and half & half milk in a mixing bowl. Whisk for 2-3 minutes, ensuring that all the pudding is dissolved and combined well with the milk. Let this sit for 5 minutes before layering. 
  • Layered Trifle : Use a glass trifle dish OR similar serving dish. Assemble the layers inside the trifle dish in this order.

    – Thin layer of pudding

    – Layer of raspberries (reserve some for the top)

    – All of the cake chunks (3 cups)

    – Layer of pudding

    – Layer of blueberries (reserve some for the top)

    Remaining pudding

    – Remaining berries

  • Serve : The trifle can be served immediately but for best results let it refrigerate, covered, for 2- 4 hours before serving. 

How to make red white and blue trifle with step by step picture instructions showing each step needed.

How to make red white and blue trifle with step by step picture instructions showing each step needed.

How to make red white and blue trifle with step by step picture instructions showing each step needed.

Tips For Success

Here are a few of my helpful tips so that you can have success recreating this recipe in your kitchen.

  • Use Half & Half : This is a milk of half cream + half milk. It has extra fat in it which will help the pudding layer set and thicken. It also tastes better, thicker, and richer in this recipe. I prefer it but you can easily use whole milk or 2% if wanted. 
  • Use Pound Cake or Vanilla Cake Mix : I have tested this recipe several ways and the pound cake or vanilla cake mix is what we thought tastes best. You can either purchase a pound cake at the bakery, and chop it up, or buy a box of it at the store and prepare it according to package instructions. I believe Better Crocker makes a pound cake boxed mix. 
  • Trifle Dish : Using a glass trifle dish is what makes this look so pretty. You can easily find trifle dishes on Amazon (affiliate link to the one I use below in the recipe card) or at any retailer. 
  • Dry Berries : Make sure that you are not adding wet or moist berries into the trifle. Wash the berries and pat them dry with a paper towel before adding them into the layers. 
  • Cooled Cake : Use completely cooled and chunked cake pieces for the cake layer. 

Trifle with a wooden spoon inside of it and fresh berries on top.

Red White Blue Trifle FAQ’s

  • Can I Make This Ahead of Time?
    • Yes you can. I do not recommend making this the night before. I recommend making it 4 hours before serving time, and letting it sit in the fridge until you’re ready for it. It can be served right away but for best results and taste, let it refrigerate for 2-4 hours before serving. 
  • How To Store Leftovers
    • Keep leftovers in the fridge, in the trifle dish or in single servings in air-tight containers, for up to 3 days.
    • The cake will soften the longer it’s in the fridge, and the berries will begin to bleed into the pudding.
    • This trifle is best served within 4 hours of making it. 
  • Variation & Substitution Ideas
    • Berries : Blueberries, Strawberries (sliced or chopped), Raspberries, or Blackberries are all great options in this trifle. If I am making it for Memorial Day or 4the of July, I like to outline a star shape with blueberries and the place chopped strawberries around it for the top of the trifle. 
    • Pudding : Vanilla or white chocolate instant pudding are both great choices. I prefer the taste of the vanilla in this recipe. 
    • Cake : Pound cake, white or vanilla cake mix, or angel food cake will all work in this recipe. I think the pound cake (purchased or from a box) or a vanilla cake mix tastes the best.
  • Can I Make this Healthier?
    • Yes! There are a few ways that you can lighten up this recipe. Experiment using sugar-free pudding mixes. You might need less milk if doing this, just follow the directions on the back of the box. Use angel food cake for the cake. Angel food cake is lighter in calories and fat compared to pound cake or a cake mix. Use a lower-fat milk like 2% or 1% milk. The pudding layer won’t be as thick but it will still be delicious. 
A glass trifle dish layered with fresh berries, instant pudding, and cake chunks.
Together As Family Logo

Red, White, & Blue Trifle


Author Jessica - Together as Family
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Rest Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 15
Learn how to make this festive and patriotic dessert that's perfect for Memorial Day or 4th of July celebrations! Red White & Blue Trifle is a simple recipe to make that makes a statement. Only 5 ingredient is all you need to make this layered pudding trifle recipe with fresh berries. 

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 2 boxes (5.1 oz each) Vanilla Instant Pudding or White Chocolate Instant Pudding
  • 6 cups half and half
  • 3 cups Pound Cake, Angel Food Cake, or White/Vanilla Cake (3 cups chopped)
  • 2 cups raspberries washed & dried
  • 2 cups blueberries washed & dried

Instructions

  • Preparation : Make sure you have cooked & completely cooled cake chunks for this recipe. You can purchase a pound cake or angel food cake at the store, or purchase a box of pound cake or angel food cake and make it yourself according to package directions. Or make a white cake mix or vanilla cake mix, according to package instructions, and use that in the trifle.
    Wash the fresh berries and dry them. I pat the berries with a paper towel to ensure that there is no moisture and they're dry. You do not want to put wet berries into the trifle when layering.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add the instant pudding mixes and half & half milk. Stir with a wire whisk, for 2-3 minutes, until mixed together well. Let sit for 5 minutes before assembling the layers.
  • Use a glass trifle dish OR similar serving dish. Assemble the layers inside the trifle dish in this order :
    - Thin layer of pudding
    - Layer of raspberries (reserve some for the top)
    - All of the cake chunks (3 cups)
    - Layer of pudding
    - Layer of blueberries (reserve some for the top)
    - Remaining pudding
    - Remaining berries
  • Cover the dish with plastic wrap or tin foil and refrigerate at least 2-4 hours before serving. You can serve it right away but for best taste and texture, let it refrigerate.
  • * Feel free to use any berries you want. Chopped or sliced strawberries, blackberries are great options. If you want lots of berries you can even use all the raspberries & blueberries in the layers and then top the trifle with additional berries of all kinds. For 4th of July or Memorial Day it's fun to make a star shape out of blueberries on the top of the trifle and then put strawberries or raspberries surrounding the star.

Notes

Pudding : Vanilla or White Chocolate Instant Pudding both work well in this recipe. The white chocolate is more of a white color (for the red, white, and blue theme), but I prefer the taste of vanilla pudding, which is what I use when I make it. 
Half and Half : This is found by the milk at the store and it's half cream + half milk. You need the fat to help set the pudding and make it a thick texture. Feel free to use whole milk or 2% milk of that's what you prefer. You can also experiment and use sugar-free pudding as well. 
Cake : Lots of options here! Purchase a pound cake or angel food cake from the bakery area of the store. Or you can buy a box of pound cake, angel food cake, white cake, or vanilla cake and make it according to package instructions. Make sure that whatever you use, that it's cooked and cooled completely before cutting it into chunks for the trifle. I prefer pound cake or a vanilla cake mix in this trifle. 
Serving : This can be served right away OR for best results let it refrigerate for 2-4 hours before serving. 
Fruit : Do not use frozen fruit! Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and/or strawberries are all great options for this trifle. 

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 474mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 431IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 2mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

I'd love to see it! You can share it with me on @togetherasfamilyblog and follow on Pinterest @together-as-family-blog-recipes or Facebook @togetherasfamilyblog for more!

A close up view of a glass trifle dish with layers of cake, pudding, and berries inside of it.

 

 

Did you love this recipe?

Make sure to comment below so we can chat about it! Or follow on your favorite social network for even more family recipes.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




One Comment