Potluck Magic: Super Easy & Impressive Summer Berry Trifle

Summer is finally, visibly here, and the bbq invites are starting to roll in. Sure, you can promise to bring chips or beer, but that’s no fun. I prefer easy offerings that look like they took a lot of effort, like this Berry Trifle, for instance.

It looks and tastes like a masterpiece, but it only takes about 20 minutes to make. If you happen to have a trifle bowl, it will really up the wow-factor.

Here’s how to do it.

What you need:

2 angel food cakes—I got mine at the farmers’ market, but you can get them at most grocery stores.

whipped cream—1 can will do, or you can whip together this basic recipe:

2 cups heavy cream
¼ cup sugar
1 tbsp of vanilla

Note: If you don’t have a hand mixer it can take forever, especially if it’s hot in your kitchen.

2 baskets of strawberries (sliced, of course)—I only had strawberries when I made this, but you can throw in any other berry you have handy. Be warned that things can get ugly when you add blueberries because the color tends to run all over the cream and cake, but they taste great.

2 cups of vanilla pudding—I don’t make pudding from scratch. I use the box mix from Trader Joe’s.

Optional: This time I added some lemon curd from Trader Joe’s to the mix, and it’s sour tang really took this recipe to a new level.

Directions:

1. Tear the cake into small chunks and line the bottom of your trifle bowl.
2. Add a layer of pudding.
3. Add a layer of whipped cream.
4. Add a layer of berries.
5. Repeat until you run out of supplies. The top should be covered with berries.

I promise everyone will think you’re a culinary genius.

-Valentina