These mini Lemon Berry Cake Trifles are layers of vanilla cake, lemon pudding, fresh berries, and homemade whipped cream. Soft and fluffy cake with lemon cream filling pair perfectly with sweet summer berries.

Fresh Berry Trifle with Lemon Pudding and Vanilla Cake

I’ve always been partial to cake paired with berries and cream. There’s something about the simplicity of a fluffy vanilla cake with sweet berries and a homemade whipped cream.

If there was just one thing that could make it better, it would be some kind of lemon addition. When brainstorming for these Lemon Berry Cake Trifles (which are actually the byproduct of a baking disaster—you’re welcome for my failures), I knew I wanted to use some sort of lemon pudding or lemon pie filling to complement the fresh berries and cream.

Trifles are traditionally a layered dessert, and they can have a few different components: cake, custard, jam, pudding, whipped cream, curd, and/or berries or some other fruit.

Since one of my favorite summertime desserts is this No Bake Lemon Cream Pie, which has a lemon cream cheese filling that is creamy and so silky smooth, I knew I really wanted to use a variation of this lemon filling in the trifle as the “custard” or “pudding” part.

The outcome was outstanding, if I do say so myself. These pretty little lemon berry trifles have multiple layers of vanilla cake, lemon cream cheese pudding, berries, and whipped cream. While I made them in mini glasses, this easy trifle dessert can me made in a large trifle dish, which would make a stunning addition to any dessert table.

What I Love About The Layers In This Lemon Berry Trifle:

Vanilla Cake: A white cake is so incredibly classic, and the pure flavors of vanilla (and a hint of almond) work as the perfect foundation for the subsequent layers of cream cheese lemon filling, berries, and whipped cream. You can use boxed cake mix or homemade vanilla cake. Usually I’m partial to homemade, but with all of the layers in a trifle, a boxed vanilla cake mix will work just as well (and will be a little simpler).
Lemon Pudding: This is a cross between a lemon pudding and a lemon cream cheese custard. Instant vanilla pudding with lemon juice and lemon zest makes for a very fresh, yet easy lemon pudding. The addition of cream cheese gives it a fluffier, almost mousse-like consistency.
Whipped Cream: There is nothing in this world that compares to homemade whipped cream. I could eat an entire bowl of cream and berries (with zero shame). This homemade whipped cream with lemon zest adds an extra citrus punch that really enhances the trifles.
Fresh Berries: I practically live on berries during the summer months, and you can use whatever berries you have in season near you. I used a combination of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.

Mastered this Mini Lemon Berry Cake Trifle? Try these other lemon berry desserts I love: Lemon Blueberry Cream Pie, Lemon Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza, Strawberry Cobbler with Lemon Biscuits, and these Lemon Blueberry Shortbread Bars.

Ingredients:

Vanilla Cake + Box Ingredients: Boxed vanilla cake is one of my favorite things about this trifle. It is so easy to prepare, then it is broken up into small pieces, and is perfect to fit in a trifle dish.
Instant Vanilla Pudding: I’m partial to vanilla pudding mix rather than using a lemon pudding mix, because I find adding my own lemon juice and lemon zest makes for a fresh and bright lemon pudding. Lemon pudding mix can often taste a little artificial.
Milk: Whole milk or skim milk is fine.
Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is key here!
Lemon Zest: The best way to get lemon flavor without changing the texture of anything.
Cream Cheese
Powdered Sugar
Heavy Whipping Cream
Almond Extract: Almond extract is totally optional here, but I love how it complements the lemon and berries.
Vanilla Extract
Fresh Berries: Use any kind of berries that are in season!

How To Make These Cake Trifles With Berries and Cream:

Cake: If you are making a boxed white cake, prepare the cake according to the directions on the back of the box. Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting into small pieces. If you want to make homemade cake for this trifle, this is my favorite vanilla cake recipe.

Lemon Pudding: Use a hand mixer or standing mixer to whisk together instant pudding, milk, and lemon juice. Once combined, add in the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon zest. Use your mixer to combine all the ingredients together until the pudding is completely smooth.

Whipped Cream: In a separate bowl, use your hand mixer or standing mixer to whip heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add in powdered sugar, lemon zest, and both vanilla and almond extracts. Whip until stiff peaks form. Fold 2/3 of the whipped cream into the lemon pudding, gently folding until all combined.

Assemble: You can use mini glasses or a traditional trifle dish. Place a layer of cake on the bottom of each glass. Top with a little bit of lemon pudding and berries, then repeat the layers once more. Top with whipped cream and fresh berries.

Storage Tips

Due to the whipped cream and lemon pudding, these mini berry cake trifles do need to be stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Make Ahead Tips:

While you can make this and serve it right away, I do prefer to let the trifles refrigerator for a couple of hours, at the very least. The pudding and cake turn into more of a fluffy mousse, and it’s so delicious.

You can easily make this the day before and keep it refrigerated until you are ready to serve.

Variations

Vanilla Cake: I love this homemade vanilla cake recipe, but you can also use homemade pound cake or homemade angel food cake. Or, like I did in this recipe, you can use store-bought cake mix (plus the ingredients on the box), store bought pound cake (Sara Lee is my favorite), or store bought angel food cake.
Jam: You can add in a layer of jam if you want to! A little strawberry jam would be a perfect addition.
Curd: If you are looking for an extra punch of lemon flavor, you can also drizzle in a little lemon curd. This is my favorite homemade lemon curd, but your favorite store bought brand will work too.

Final Thoughts On These Mini Lemon Berry Trifles:

Trifle Dish: You can make this in one large trifle dish, if desired. Otherwise, you can use mini glasses. Mini mason jar glasses are what I used for these Lemon Coconut Trifles.
Fresh Berries: You can use any berry that is in season, and fresh berries are key to making a successful berry cake trifle.
Leftovers: You may have some leftover cake, which, if you’re like me, is the best midnight snack with a dollop of whipped cream and berries. So, there could be worse things.