Black Forest Trifle

Recipe

Servings: 8 (makes one 9 inch medium size trifle bowl) 

Prep Time: 20 mins

Bake Time: 30-40 min to bake cake (if baking cake) 

Non Active Time: 1-4 hours or overnight for chilling 

Ingredients

• One 9×13 chocolate cake or brownie baked according to package or recipe directions (or use my homemade easy chocolate sheet cake recipe)
•  30 ounces cherry pie filling, (approx 2 cups) store bought or my easy homemade recipe
• 4 ounces kirsch or cherry brandy, any cherry liqueur or ameretto, cherry juice for non alcoholic version 
• 2 boxes chocolate pudding, (90 grams each) prepared according to directions or make my homemade version

For the Whipped Cream (or substitute with 3 cups whipped topping defrosted)

• 1 ½ cups cold heavy whipping cream or double cream 
• 2-4 tablespoons (15-30 grams) powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For Garnishing

• Fresh cherries 
• Shaved chocolate
• Chocolate sprinkles 
• Icing sugar or cocoa powder for dusting
  

1. Bake chocolate cake according to package directions
2. Cool completely. Cut cake into 1” cubes.

For the Pudding

1. Prepare pudding as directed or using my homemade recipe and allow to cool. 

For the Whipped Cream

1. Prepare whipped cream – In a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.
2. Start mixing on low speed. Once the mixture starts to increase in volume, or soft peaks increase the speed to medium-high until stiff peaks form.

Assemble

1. Place ½ of the cake in the bottom of a trifle bowl. Pressing down a little. Drizzle with ½ the kirsch if using.
2. Top with half of the pudding, then half of the cherries and half of the whipped cream. Repeat layers ending with whipping cream. 
3. Cover and chill in the fridge for 1-4 hours or overnight for best results. 
4. Before serving garnish with fresh cherries, chocolate sprinkles or shaved chocolate if desired. Serve chilled. 

For the Cake

1. Bake chocolate cake according to package directions
2. Cool completely. Cut cake into 1” cubes.