Heavenly Red Velvet Trifle Recipe: Layers of Sweet Bliss

Crafting a decadent red velvet trifle promises pure culinary magic that will leave everyone craving more.

Sweet layers of crimson cake mingle with creamy textures that dance across your palate.

Chocolate undertones weave through each delightful spoonful, creating an irresistible dessert experience.

Delicate cream cheese frosting adds luxurious richness to this crowd-pleasing treat.

Elegant yet surprisingly simple, this recipe allows even novice bakers to shine in the kitchen.

Impress your guests with a stunning dessert that looks far more complicated than its straightforward preparation suggests.

Prepare to wow everyone with this showstopping red velvet masterpiece that guarantees smiles all around.

Why Red Velvet Trifle Is A Crowd Favorite

• Craft a Show-Stopping Dessert: Impress guests with a visually stunning layered treat that combines rich red velvet cake, creamy filling, and elegant toppings.
• Master a Crowd-Pleasing Recipe: Perfect for celebrations, potlucks, and special occasions, this dessert appeals to all ages with its delightful combination of textures and flavors.
• Create a Make-Ahead Marvel: Prepare the trifle in advance, allowing it to chill and develop deeper flavors, making party planning stress-free and convenient.
• Unleash Customization Potential: Easily swap or add toppings like fresh berries, chocolate shavings, or nuts to personalize the dessert and match different preferences.

Red Velvet Trifle Ingredient Must-Haves

• Cake Flour: A soft wheat flour that provides a delicate and tender texture to the red velvet cake.
• Cocoa Powder: Adds rich chocolate flavor and contributes to the signature deep red color of the cake.
• Eggs: Provide structure and help bind the cake ingredients together.

• Buttermilk: Creates a tender crumb and adds a subtle tangy flavor to the cake.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures moisture and helps create a soft cake texture.
• Red Food Coloring: Gives the classic vibrant red color to the red velvet cake.
• White Vinegar: Helps activate the baking soda and enhances the cake's tenderness.

• Cream Cheese: Provides a rich, creamy base for the trifle filling.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and helps stabilize the cream cheese mixture.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, aromatic flavor to the cream filling.
• Heavy Cream: Creates a light and fluffy texture when whipped.

• Chocolate Shavings, Chopped Pecans, Fresh Raspberries: Add visual appeal and complementary flavors to the trifle.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides a delicate, sweet finishing touch.

How To Layer A Perfect Red Velvet Trifle

Step 1: Create Cake Base

Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine cake flour and cocoa powder, ensuring a smooth and even mixture.

Step 2: Mix Wet Ingredients

• Eggs
• Buttermilk
• Vegetable oil
• Red food coloring
• White vinegar

Blend until the mixture achieves a vibrant red color and is fully integrated.

Step 3: Combine and Bake Cake

Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, stirring until the batter becomes smooth and lump-free. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean.

Step 4: Cool Cake Completely

Remove cake from oven and let it cool at room temperature for approximately one hour. This ensures the cake is ready for the next steps.

Step 5: Prepare Cream Cheese Filling

Beat cream cheese until it becomes soft and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.

Step 6: Whip Cream

In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. This creates a light and airy texture for the filling.

Step 7: Create Cream Mixture

Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, creating a smooth and luxurious filling.

Step 8: Assemble Trifle Layers

Cut the cooled cake into small cubes or crumble into pieces. In a clear glass trifle dish, begin layering cake pieces and cream mixture, alternating between the two.

Step 9: Chill and Set

Refrigerate the assembled trifle for at least 2 hours, allowing flavors to meld and develop.

Step 10: Decorate and Serve

• Chocolate shavings
• Chopped pecans
• Fresh raspberries

Dust the top with powdered sugar for an elegant finish. Serve chilled and savor the decadent red velvet trifle.

Tips That Make Red Velvet Trifle Look And Taste Amazing

• Prep Ahead: Cut and cube cake the day before to save time and make assembly smoother on serving day.
• Chill Thoroughly: Refrigerate trifle for minimum 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to develop and cream to set perfectly.
• Prevent Color Bleeding: Use gel food coloring for more intense red color without watering down cake batter and ensure even distribution.
• Texture Control: Crumble cake into different sizes for varied texture – smaller pieces absorb cream better, larger pieces provide delightful cake chunks.
• Stabilize Cream: Add gelatin to whipped cream mixture to prevent separation and maintain fluffy consistency during refrigeration.

Fun Twists To Try In Your Red Velvet Trifle

• Chocolate Lover's Dream: Replace red food coloring with extra cocoa powder, add chocolate chips to cake batter, and incorporate chocolate pudding between layers for an intensely rich chocolate experience.
• Berry Bliss: Swap raspberries with mixed berries like strawberries and blueberries, add berry compote between layers, and garnish with fresh berry sauce for a fruity transformation.
• Nutty Crunch: Incorporate chopped almonds and pecans into cake batter, layer with praline cream, and top with caramelized nut crumble for added texture and depth of flavor.
• Liqueur Indulgence: Brush cake layers with amaretto or coffee liqueur, add mascarpone to cream cheese filling, and sprinkle dark chocolate shavings for an adult-friendly version.

What Tastes Great With Red Velvet Trifle

• Pair with Luxurious Red Wine: Select a bold, slightly sweet red wine like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon to complement the rich, creamy dessert and enhance its deep red velvet flavor profile.
• Elevate with Champagne Delight: Choose a semi-sweet sparkling wine or champagne with fruity undertones to cut through the dessert's richness and provide a refreshing contrast to the cream cheese filling.
• Match with Espresso Elegance: Serve a small shot of robust espresso or a creamy cappuccino alongside the trifle, allowing the coffee's intense flavor to balance the sweet, velvety dessert and cleanse the palate.

How To Store Red Velvet Trifle Without Losing Texture

• Transfer leftover trifle to an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid, ensuring complete coverage to prevent moisture loss and absorbing other food odors.
• Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days, maintaining optimal texture and flavor quality when stored properly at consistent cold temperatures.
• Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the trifle before sealing the container, preventing potential freezer burn and preserving the cream's smooth consistency.
• Carefully wrap the entire trifle dish in multiple layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil, allowing freezing for maximum 2 weeks, though texture might slightly change upon thawing.

Red Velvet Trifle Questions Made Easy

• Can I make this trifle ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the trifle up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it refrigerated and add fresh garnishes just before serving to maintain the best texture and flavor.

• How do I prevent my cake from becoming too dry?

To keep the cake moist, don’t overbake and ensure you cool it completely before assembling. The cream mixture will also help add moisture to the cake layers.

• What can I substitute for buttermilk?

If you don’t have buttermilk, mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup of milk and let it sit for 5 minutes. This creates a perfect buttermilk substitute for the recipe.

Red Velvet Trifle Recipe

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4.8 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Red velvet trifle seamlessly blends rich chocolate layers with creamy cheesecake goodness. Sweet Southern charm meets elegant dessert perfection, inviting you to savor each luxurious spoonful of this irresistible treat.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups cake flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp red food coloring
• 1 tsp white vinegar

Cream Layer:

• 16 oz cream cheese
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Garnish and Assembly:

• 1/2 cup chocolate shavings
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for dusting)

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan, ensuring complete surface coverage.
2. Sift cake flour and cocoa powder together in a large mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture.
3. Whisk eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, red food coloring, and white vinegar in a separate bowl until thoroughly combined and vibrant red.
4. Gradually fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, mixing until smooth and free of lumps.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
6. Allow cake to cool completely at room temperature, approximately 1 hour.
7. Beat cream cheese until soft and fluffy, gradually adding powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
8. In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
9. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture, creating a light and airy filling.
10. Cut cooled cake into small cubes or crumble into pieces.
11. Layer cake pieces and cream mixture in a clear glass trifle dish, creating alternating layers.
12. Refrigerate assembled trifle for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
13. Before serving, garnish with chocolate shavings, chopped pecans, and fresh raspberries.
14. Dust top with powdered sugar for an elegant finishing touch.
15. Serve chilled and enjoy the decadent red velvet trifle.

Notes

• Ensure cake is completely cooled before assembling to prevent cream mixture from melting and losing its structure.
• Crumble cake into uniform small pieces for better texture and easier layering in the trifle dish.
• Use full-fat cream cheese and heavy cream for a richer, more indulgent dessert that holds its shape perfectly.
• For gluten-free option, substitute cake flour with almond flour or gluten-free blend, maintaining the same measurement ratio.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 550
• Sugar: 45 g
• Sodium: 320 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 51 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg