Advertisement
Home Recipe Collections

Best trifle recipes for Christmas and beyond

Layer up. Make your Christmas dessert one to remember with these towering trifle recipes.
Loading the player...

‘Tis the season for trifle recipes, no doubt about it. Those steady layers of sponge and jelly, billows of custard and cream, and a rainbow of fruit found in a trifle dessert cannot be beaten. A cheeky nip of booze doesn’t hurt the cause either.

Trifles have been making spirits bright for 400 years. According to The Oxford Companion to Food, the first trifle recipe (well, recipe with trifle in the title) appeared in 1596. However, the trifle recipes we know today were first seen in the mid-18th century. Traditionally, trifles are layered by starting with a base of pound cake, sponge cake or sponge fingers, then fresh fruit or jelly and topped with custard and cream.

In our best dessert trifles, we deviate from convention to bring you trifle recipes made with madeleines, lemon curd and peaches; one that combines two popular desserts — Nik Hill’s banoffee trifle; and even a jam roll trifle cake recipe. Plus, you’ll find trifles that celebrate summer fruits and very Christmasy trifles for festive feasting. But of course, we have an easy trifle recipe or two and more traditional trifles to try also.

Grab the biggest bowl you can – this yuletide favourite is made for celebrating.

Here are our best Christmas trifle recipes for 2024

Advertisement
Jam roll trifle
Jam roll trifle (Credits: William Meppem)

Jam roll trifle

Rodney Dunn recipe for jam roll trifle.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Trifle
Trifle (Credits: Ben Hansen)

How to make trifle

Catherine Adams breaks down the trifle step-by-step, sharing how to create a winning trinity of sponge, fruit and creaminess.
Advertisement
Dark-chocolate cherry trifle
(Credits: Ben Dearnley)

Dark-chocolate cherry trifle

This dark chocolate trifle is too easy to make, ready in just over 20 minutes. Pitted cherries on top ensure it’s a delight.
Chocolate trifle with umeshu jelly, plums and crème fraîche
Chocolate trifle with umeshu jelly, plums and crème fraîche (Credits: Chris Court)

Chocolate trifle with umeshu jelly, plums and crème fraîche

Blood plums and chocolate pair really well, and for this trifle it’s worth splurging out on really great dark chocolate. The plums’ lovely tartness cuts through the rich crémeux and we’ve added Scotch for the boozy kick.
Tipsy raspberry trifle
Tipsy raspberry trifle (Credits: William Meppem)

Tipsy raspberry trifle

Love brandy? You’ll love this adults-only dessert.
Advertisement
Moscato, raspberry and panettone trifles
Moscato, raspberry and panettone trifles (Credits: William Meppem)

Moscato, raspberry and panettone trifles

What to do with leftover panettone on Christmas Day? You turn them into these individual trifles, and bask in the compliments.
Advertisement
Summer trifle
(Credits: William Meppem)

Summer trifle

No stress and no fuss. This dessert can be whipped up with minimal effort.
Advertisement
Dark berry trifle
Dark berry trifle (Credits: William Meppem)

Dark berry trifle

A light, fizzy and fun dessert that’s ready-made for Christmas.
Boozy winey trifle
Boozy winey trifle (Credits: William Meppem)

Boozy winey trifle

Tawny jelly. Champagne sabayon. Apera-brushed sponge. Things are about to get boozy.
Advertisement
Mango and coconut trifle
Mango and coconut trifle (Credits: Chris Court)

Mango and coconut trifle

All the tropical flavours you crave in summer, in trifle form.

Related stories


Advertisement
Advertisement