When it comes to the Fourth of July, you need a dessert that’s festive, easy, and ready to steal the show—and this 4th of July Trifle checks all the boxes.
It’s a stunning red white and blue trifle layered with fluffy angel food cake, creamy white chocolate pudding, juicy strawberries and blueberries, and a cloud of whipped topping. Oh, and did I mention? It’s no-bake. That’s right—you don’t even have to turn on the oven.
I’ve been serving this patriotic trifle at summer parties for years, and it always disappears fast. It’s bright, fun, and looks like edible fireworks in a trifle bowl. Plus, you can make it ahead so you’re not rushing last-minute.
Whether you’re hosting or bringing dessert to a potluck, this easy 4th of July dessert is guaranteed to wow your crowd—no baking skills required.
Table of contents
What is a 4th of July Trifle?
A 4th of July Trifle is a layered dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Imagine soft angel food cake cubes, creamy white chocolate pudding, juicy strawberries and blueberries, and fluffy whipped topping stacked in a clear trifle bowl so you can see every red, white, and blue layer. It’s basically a patriotic party in a bowl!
The magic of a patriotic layered dessert like this is how simple it is to make. No baking. No complicated steps. Just a few easy layers that come together into something that looks totally impressive on your dessert table. And trust me—it’s a showstopper.
This trifle isn’t just pretty—it’s also super tasty. You get the light, airy texture of the cake, the creaminess of the pudding, and the juicy pop of fresh berries in every spoonful. It’s the perfect July 4th dessert for summer BBQs, potlucks, or anytime you want a cold, refreshing treat.
And hey, if you’re feeling fancy, you can even make individual trifles in mason jars for cute, grab-and-go servings. However you serve it, this summer berry trifle is pure holiday joy.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here’s the thing—you don’t need to be a baking pro to pull off this 4th of July Trifle. This dessert is basically foolproof, which is why I keep coming back to it every summer. It’s a no-bake dessert, meaning no oven, no heat, no sweat (literally).
You’ll love how quickly it comes together: store-bought angel food cake (or homemade if you’re feeling extra), instant white chocolate pudding, fresh berries, and a tub of whipped topping. Layer it up, chill it, and boom—you’ve got a stunning patriotic trifle that looks way fancier than it actually is.
It’s perfect if you’re hosting a crowd or need a last-minute dish for the potluck. And because it’s chilled, it’s super refreshing on a hot summer day. Bonus? You can make it ahead of time and free up your kitchen for the burgers and brats.
If you want a festive layered dessert that’s fun, easy, and guaranteed to wow—this trifle’s got your name all over it.
Similar Recipes You Might Enjoy
Looking for more fun, festive treats to round out your holiday table? Check out these favorites:
- Explore a festive Fourth of July menu with more holiday favorites – Get inspired with more patriotic dishes for your celebration.
- Try a refreshing strawberry icebox cake as a complementary dessert – Cool, creamy, and perfect next to your trifle.
- Complete your party spread with a summer berry peach cheesecake – Another fruity, crowd-pleasing dessert.
- Include an Easter poke cake for another layered dessert idea – A fun, colorful option for any gathering.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s everything you need to make this easy, no-bake 4th of July Trifle. Simple ingredients, big flavor, and a whole lotta patriotic fun:
- 1 box instant white chocolate pudding mix (I recommend Jello brand)
- 2 cups cold milk (use whole or 2%—skip almond or oat milk; they won’t set the pudding right)
- 1 prepared angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tub frozen whipped topping, thawed (Cool Whip or your favorite brand)
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Optional add-ins:
- Swap in fresh raspberries for the strawberries or add blackberries to mix it up.
- Mix softened cream cheese into the pudding for a tangy twist.
Pro tip: Check the recipe card below for exact measurements and step-by-step instructions!
That’s it! Just six main ingredients—and you’re on your way to a beautiful patriotic layered dessert that everyone’s gonna love.
How to Make 4th of July Trifle
This is where the magic happens. Don’t worry—this layered dessert recipe is super simple. Follow these steps and you’ll have a showstopper dessert ready in no time!
1. Prepare the Pudding
Start by making the pudding. In a large bowl, whisk together the instant white chocolate pudding mix and cold milk for 2 minutes until it thickens. Then pop it in the fridge for 5-10 minutes to fully set.
Tip: Want a little tang? Mix in 4 ounces of softened cream cheese to the pudding before chilling. Totally optional, but so good.
2. Cut the Cake into Cubes
Grab your angel food cake and cut it into 1-inch cubes. I like using a serrated bread knife for clean cuts—less squishing, more pretty cubes!
You can swap in pound cake or vanilla cake here if you prefer a richer base.
3. Assemble the Trifle
Now for the fun part: the layers!
- Start by placing a layer of cake cubes at the bottom of your trifle bowl.
- Spoon half of the pudding evenly over the cake cubes.
- Arrange sliced strawberries around the edge of the bowl (this makes those pretty red stripes show through the glass).
- Scatter a layer of strawberries over the pudding.
- Sprinkle a layer of blueberries on top of the strawberries.
- Spread half the whipped topping over the berries.
This is where you can pause and admire how good it’s already looking.
4. Repeat the Layers
We’re not done yet! Repeat the same steps:
- Another layer of cake cubes
- Spoon on the remaining pudding
- More strawberries around the bowl
- More blueberries
- Finish with the remaining whipped topping
5. Decorate Your Dessert
Once you’ve built your final layer, top it off with extra strawberries and blueberries for decoration. Feel free to get creative—make a flag design, a star pattern, or just pile the fruit on top.
Optional: Sprinkle with crushed graham crackers, shaved white chocolate, or even festive sprinkles if you’re feeling fancy!
6. Chill and Serve
Cover the trifle lightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (longer is fine too). This lets the flavors mingle and keeps everything nice and cold.
When you’re ready to serve, grab a big spoon and dig in!
Serving tip: Use a clear trifle bowl for that layered wow factor, or make mini trifles in mason jars for individual servings—so cute for parties!
Serving Suggestions
Here’s how to serve your 4th of July Trifle like a pro:
Use a Clear Trifle Bowl
- Shows off those beautiful red white and blue layers
- Makes a stunning dessert table centerpiece
Try Individual Mason Jar Trifles
- Perfect for grab-and-go at picnics, BBQs, or potlucks
- Great for portion control and easy storage
Pair with Other Festive Treats
- Pair your trifle with this sweet strawberry dole whip recipe
- Serve refreshing watermelon tajin skewers alongside your trifle
- Add patriotic flair with this easy strawberry-lime mocktail margarita
Serve Chilled
- Chill at least 1 hour before serving for best texture and flavor
This trifle is perfect for feeding a crowd and guaranteed to impress with minimal effort!
Tips & Variations
Want to make sure your 4th of July Trifle turns out picture-perfect? Here are my favorite tips and fun ways to switch it up:
Cutting the Cake
- Use a serrated bread knife to cut the angel food cake into neat, even cubes without squishing it.
- Swap in pound cake, vanilla cake, or yellow cake if you want something a little richer.
Layering Tips
- Pat berries dry with a paper towel to avoid extra moisture that could make the cake soggy.
- When arranging strawberries around the bowl edges, press them gently against the glass for a clean, pretty look.
Trifle Bowl Size
- Aim for a 3.25-quart trifle bowl (about 104 ounces) so you have enough room for all those delicious layers!
Flavor Variations
- Mix cream cheese into the pudding for a tangier filling.
- Use raspberries or blackberries instead of strawberries and blueberries for a different berry combo.
- Want a citrus twist? Try a lemon blueberry trifle by swapping the pudding flavor.
Extra Decoration Ideas
- Add shaved white chocolate, graham cracker crumbs, or festive sprinkles on top.
- Try a flag or star design with extra berries if you’re feeling artsy!
However you layer it, this patriotic layered dessert is forgiving, fun, and always a hit.
Storage & Make-Ahead Instructions
Store:
- Cover the trifle lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- It’ll stay fresh for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Heads up: the longer it sits, the softer the cake layers get (still tasty, just softer!).
Freeze:
- I don’t recommend freezing this trifle—the texture of the pudding and whipped topping won’t hold up well once thawed.
Make Ahead:
- You can assemble the trifle up to a day in advance and keep it chilled until serving.
- If you’re worried about soggy cake, layer everything except the whipped topping, then add that right before serving.
This makes it perfect if you want to prep dessert the night before your big Fourth of July party—no last-minute scrambling, just chill and serve!
More Fourth of July Desserts
Looking to fill your dessert table with even more festive treats? Here are a few crowd-pleasers to serve alongside your 4th of July Trifle:
- Make entertaining easier with these make-ahead Fourth of July recipes – Perfect for prepping ahead of time.
- Offer no-bake lemon blueberry dessert for variety in your dessert table – Another cool, creamy treat.
- Prepare a caramel toffee crunch cake to complement fruity flavors – Rich, sweet, and pairs beautifully with lighter fruit desserts.
With these recipes, your Fourth of July dessert table will be fully stocked and ready to wow!
4th of July Trifle Recipe Card
Print
4th of July Trifle
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
Description
4th of July Trifle is loaded with layers of cake, pudding, and fresh fruit. A healthy and festive way to celebrate Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day.
Ingredients
- 6.8 ounces (two 3.4-ounce) instant white chocolate pudding (Jello brand recommended)
- 4 cups cold whole milk
- 14 ounces store-bought angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 16 ounces (two 8-ounce containers) thawed whipped topping
- 32 ounces fresh strawberries, washed, stems removed, sliced and pat dry
- 18 ounces fresh blueberries, washed and dried
Instructions
- Prepare the instant white chocolate pudding following package directions with cold milk. Chill until set.
- In a trifle bowl (approximately 3.25 quarts or 104 ounces), create a single layer of 1-inch cake cubes at the bottom.
- Spoon half of the white chocolate pudding over the cake cubes.
- Layer sliced strawberries along the edges of the bowl for decoration, then add a single layer of sliced strawberries over the pudding.
- Next add a layer of blueberries over the strawberries.
- Spread 1 of the containers of thawed whipped topping over the berries.
- Repeat layers: cake cubes, remaining pudding, strawberries and blueberries, ensuring an appealing arrangement.
- Finish with the remaining container of thawed whipped topping on top.
- Decorate the top with remaining sliced strawberries and blueberries.
- Refrigerate the trifle for at least 1 hour before serving. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Notes
Make sure your berries are washed and patted dry before layering to reduce excess moisture. Be careful around the edges to keep layers neat for a beautiful presentation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 202mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: 4th of July trifle, patriotic dessert, summer trifle, berries trifle, angel food cake trifle
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Tried this recipe? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a star rating and comment below to let me know what you think—or tag @VirileRecipes on social media so I can see your beautiful trifles!