Description
A quick and easy layered dessert featuring fresh strawberries, blueberries, vanilla pudding, and crumbly cookies, perfect for summer and patriotic celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- Fresh strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced
- Fresh blueberries, washed and patted dry
- 1 package (3.4 oz / 96g) instant vanilla pudding mix (preferably Jell-O brand)
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole or 2% milk (or skim milk for lighter version)
- Shortbread cookies or pound cake, crumbled into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting or sweetening berries)
Instructions
- Prepare the vanilla pudding: In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant pudding mix and 2 cups milk. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract if using. Whisk vigorously for about 2 minutes until thickened. Let sit for 5 minutes to fully set.
- Prep the berries: Wash strawberries and blueberries. Hull and slice strawberries into thin pieces. Pat blueberries dry with a paper towel.
- Crush the cookies or cake: Break shortbread cookies or pound cake into small crumbs about the size of coarse sand.
- Assemble the trifle cups: Start with about 1 tablespoon of cookie crumbs at the bottom of each cup. Add about 2 tablespoons of mixed berries. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of vanilla pudding over the berries. Repeat layers if cups are tall enough, ending with cookie crumbs and a few whole berries on top.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate assembled cups for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld and pudding firm up. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
Use fresh berries to avoid watery pudding. Gently spoon pudding to keep berries intact. Chill before serving for best texture. Add cookie crumbs just before serving to keep them crunchy if prepping ahead. For dairy-free, use coconut milk-based pudding and dairy-free cookies. Gluten-free options include almond flour cookies or gluten-free pound cake crumbs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 trifle cup
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 3.5
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 27.5
- Fiber: 3.5
- Protein: 4.5
Keywords: berry trifle, easy dessert, summer dessert, patriotic dessert, layered dessert, vanilla pudding, fresh berries, quick dessert