If you love the rich flavors of classic Black Forest cake, you’ll fall head over heels for this Black Forest Trifle! It’s a stunning layered dessert made with chocolate cake, silky chocolate custard (or pudding), sweet-tart cherry pie filling, and clouds of vanilla whipped cream. A drizzle of cherry liqueur ties it all together with that signature Black Forest flavor.
What’s even better? This trifle looks like a showstopper on any dessert table, but it’s surprisingly simple to make. You can keep things quick with store-bought ingredients or make each layer from scratch with my easy homemade recipes for chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, and cherry pie filling. Either way, it’s a dessert that comes together with very little effort but delivers maximum impact.
Black Forest Trifle Ingredients
To make this indulgent treat, here’s what you’ll need:
- Cake – A chocolate sponge or fluffy chocolate cake works best since it holds up to the layering. You can use a box mix, homemade sheet cake, or even brownies for a richer twist.
- Custard/Pudding – Traditionally, trifles use vanilla custard, but here we’re going all-in with chocolate. Instant pudding works perfectly, or you can use my creamy homemade chocolate pudding recipe.
- Cream – Lightly sweetened whipped cream balances the richness of the cake and pudding. I’ve included an easy recipe below, but store-bought whipped topping works in a pinch.
- Fruit – Cherry pie filling is a must! Either use store-bought or my homemade cherry pie filling (made with fresh or frozen cherries).
- Cherry Liqueur – Kirsch (Black Forest cherry brandy) is what gives this dessert its signature flavor. Add as much or as little as you like—or substitute cherry juice for a non-alcoholic version.
How to Make Black Forest Trifle
- Prepare the layers:
- Bake and cool your chocolate cake, then cut it into cubes.
- Make the chocolate pudding and let it cool.
- Prepare cherry pie filling (homemade or store-bought).
- Whip up the cream or thaw your topping.
- Assemble:
- Start with a layer of cake in a trifle bowl. Drizzle with cherry liqueur.
- Add a layer of chocolate pudding, followed by cherry filling, then whipped cream.
- Repeat the layers until you reach the top, finishing with whipped cream.
- Chill: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for the best flavor.
- Garnish & Serve: Top with shaved chocolate, fresh cherries, chocolate sprinkles, or a dusting of cocoa.
Make Ahead & Storage
- Make Ahead: Bake the cake, prepare the cream, and make the filling up to 1–2 days in advance. Keep everything separate, then assemble a few hours before serving.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the fridge. Because of the fresh fruit, this dessert is best eaten within 2–3 days.
Recipe
Servings: 8 (medium trifle bowl)
Prep Time: 20 mins
Bake Time: 30–40 mins (if baking cake)
Chill Time: 1–4 hours (or overnight)
Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cake (9×13) or brownies, baked and cooled
- 30 oz cherry pie filling (about 2 cups)
- 4 oz kirsch/cherry liqueur (or cherry juice)
- 2 boxes chocolate pudding (90 g each), prepared
- Whipped Cream:
- 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 2–4 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Garnish:
Fresh cherries, shaved chocolate, chocolate sprinkles, or cocoa powder
Directions
- Bake and cool chocolate cake, then cut into 1-inch cubes.
- Prepare chocolate pudding and let cool.
- Make whipped cream: Whip cream, sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
- Assemble in layers: cake + kirsch drizzle → pudding → cherries → whipped cream. Repeat.
- Chill for at least 1 hour (overnight preferred).
- Garnish before serving.
This Black Forest Trifle is the ultimate make-ahead dessert—rich, decadent, and crowd-pleasing every single time. Whether you use shortcuts or go fully homemade, it’s guaranteed to impress!