What is a Trifle?

I love a good trifle for all sorts of reasons. One, they might be the easiest dessert to put together. Secondly, they often use ingredients I have laying around the house. Possibly the best thing abut a trifle is the layers. I love a good layered dessert, don’t you? All the layers get repeated so you get to savor each taste over and over again.

After making this easy gluten-free Black Forest Trifle I found on the internet, it got me thinking. What exactly IS a trifle? What makes it different from a parfait? How are they both different from a fool? (Who even knew there was a dish called a fool?!?!) All desserts have cake of some sort, and layers of custard or pudding, and whipped cream.

Liqueur (or Liquor) is The Key Ingredient

Apparently, what sets a trifle apart from the rest is soaking liquid. Apparently, most trifles contain cake soaked in liqueur. Well, I was serving this easy gluten-free Black Forest Trifle at a church funeral dinner. Yeah, choosing to leave the alcohol out of this one. However, the chocolate cake could be soaked in cherry juice. Noted for next time.

Make This Easy Trifle with a Gluten Free Cake Mix

I used Better Batter’s chocolate cake mix as base of this easy gluten-free Black Forest Trifle. They generously sent me free product to try this past summer, and I still had their chocolate cake mix sitting down in my pantry.

Better Batter mixes contain NONE of the 8 most common allergens. Even their powdered sugar is corn-free! This mix is easy to whip together. Simply add water, oil and eggs, mix well and bake! Doesn’t get much easier than that.

I baked my cake one day before I needed the dessert. Therefore it would be completely cooled when it came time to assemble. The original Black Forest Trifle recipe I found on the internet, by The Novice Chef, called for chocolate pudding.

However, I had an extra box of vanilla pudding mix in my cupboard I wanted to use. So I improvised, made the vanilla pudding, and added homemade chocolate syrup I had in fridge. Voila, chocolate pudding! Need it dairy-free? Use my recipe for dairy-free pudding!

How to Make Homemade Whipped Cream

This recipe calls for whipped cream. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of Cool Whip. It works great in a pinch, but it’s not REALLY whipped cream. Besides, homemade whipped cream is so easy to make.

Want to know my secret trick? Freeze the bowl you intend to whip the cream in overnight. I use a metal mixing bowl for this. It dramatically cuts down the amount of time you need to whip your cream. I whipped mine for less than three minutes. Oh, and I also added sugar to the cream prior to whipping.

Other Gluten Free Trifle Recipes

Well, I’m happy to report that this easy gluten-free Black Forest Trifle was a success. The head of the kitchen committee at church messaged me to say “It was excellent!” They consumed every last bit, down to the last crumb.” Score one for gluten-free baking!

I’ll add that to my list of other successful trifles, such as this peppermint Christmas Chocolate Trifle. Looking for something similar, but in a smaller portion size? Check out Eat At Our Table’s recipe for an adorable Gluten Free Midnight Brownie Cookie Parfait.

Check out this list of 50 trifle recipes for parties for more inspiration! 

Print

Easy Gluten-Free Black Forest Trifle

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1 box gluten-free chocolate cake mix prepared
• 1 box chocolate Jello pudding 5.9 oz (6 serving) size
• 1 can cherry pie filling If you like a lot of cherry, you might want a second can.
• 1 16 oz carton heavy whipping cream whipped, with 2 tbsp sugar
• 1-2 cup fresh cherries pitted
• 1/2 c kirsch brandy or cherry juice – optional

Instructions

• Prepare gluten-free chocolate cake mix according to directions. Allow to cool, preferably overnight. If desired, soak cake with 1/2 cup kirsch cherry brandy or cherry juice. 
• Prepare pudding. You can use instant or cooked, but it needs to be thoroughly chilled which ever you choose. 
• Whip the cream. This is easier to accomplish if whisked in a metal bowl that has been stored in the freezer for a few hours. (But not absolutely necessary.) Whip cream until soft peaks form, approximately 2.5 minutes. Be careful not to overwhip, as it will start to turn to butter. 
• Cut cooled cake into chunks, and layer 1/3 of the prepared cake into a large glass bowl. Top with 1/3 of the pudding, then 1/2 of the cherry pie filling, and finally 1/3 of the whip cream. Repeat layers until ingredients are used.
• Adorn the top of the trifle with the fresh cherries, and shaved chocolate if desired. Refrigerate at least an hour prior to serving.  . 

This easy gluten-free Black Forest Trifle would be perfect for a Christmas dinner. Let me know if you make it, by tagging it with #miglutenfreegal.

Originally Published November 2017

The post Easy Gluten-Free Black Forest Trifle appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

The Ice Storm of 2013

Some years, winter weather is simply remembered by the date. For instance, the Blizzard of 1978, nine months before I was born. In my lifetime, it was the ice storm of 2013. What started as rain December 19th, turned into a massive ice storm that cut power to hundreds of thousands of people across Michigan. Luckily, living near a hospital, our power was restored within 24 hours.

Which allowed us to provide shelter to those without heat. I still remember my surprise as my dad told me that he and his wife were on their way to our house. It ended up being the most memorable Christmas though. We had a quiet night that evening, unwrapping gifts, drinking hot tea, and enjoying each other’s company.

It took over a week for power to be restored in Lansing to my dad, aunt and grandmother. Utility trucks were called in from around the country to help with the restoration efforts. It was definitely a Christmas to remember.

The Runaway Sheep

The Ice Storm, and lack of power, canceled the first night of our Living Nativity, on December 22nd. However, we were able to continue on December 23rd and 24th. After the last performance on Christmas Eve, the live animals were being loaded up to return to the farm. However, one of the sheep had other plans, and made a break for it.

It was all over the news. Sightings at the nearby golf course, and the cemetary, made for much amusement. Our Local Flint Journal, wrote this hilarious MLive article. Meanwhile, the care and collaboration warmed the hearts of so many. Experts and friends finally corralled and captured the sheep, and returned her home. The whole issue was honestly a welcome bit of levity considering most people didn’t have power.

The Christmas Dinner that Almost Wasn’t

Prior to ice storms and power outages, I had agreed to bring fruit for our Sunday School breakfast. This traditionally happens the Sunday before Christmas. (This was cancelled due to a lack of power.) I had also agreed to make dessert for Christmas day at my aunt’s house, and had settled on a trifle. (Also cancelled due to a lack of power.)

Therefore, we moved the festivities to our house. We roasted a turkey, prepared my father’s famous meatballs, and enjoyed Ambrosia, an Irish Cream chocolate trifle, and each other’s company. The kids played games. Adults spent time talking. The chaos around the state from lack of power, was forgotten for a time. To date, it’s been my favorite Christmas, ever. 

What was your most memorable Christmas? Do you have stories about a year that had unusual circumstances? Leave me a note in the comments!

Originally Published January 2014

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