Black Forest Trifle Recipe

Are you looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, bur you're not quite sure what you're in the mood for? We've all been there before. In the world of desserts, there are plenty to choose from, but we love a good trifle since it's packed with layers of goodness. This black forest trifle includes layers of cake, custard, and whipped cream, and it's super decadent. We love that it has a little bit of everything in it.

Recipe developer Jennine Bryant of The Marshside Pantry came up with this tasty trifle, and she does a great job of explaining exactly what it is! "A Black Forest trifle is a cross between the classic Black Forest gateau and the British trifle. The Black Forest gateau (Schwarzwald kirsch torte) is a cake from the Black Forest in southern Germany made with layers of chocolate cake, cream, chocolate and cherries, infused with the liquor Kirsch," Bryant explains. "This recipe takes the concept of this cake, and uses the flavours in layers like the British trifle (classically made with cake, fruits, jelly, custard and cream." This cake has many wonderful aspects, and Bryant perfectly sums up her favorite part: "Black Forest Trifle is such a decadent dessert yet easy to put together. I think the smooth chocolate custard alongside the tart cherries is my favorite bit!"

Before starting the actual prep process, you will need to gather all the necessary ingredients to whip up this dish. Start with a ready-made chocolate cake, a swiss roll, or a plain cake. Next, you will need to get a few ounces of milk chocolate. To add some creaminess to the recipe, be sure to pick up some custard and whipping cream. Next, grab some Kirsch and powdered sugar. Additionally, you will need cherry pie filling and fresh cherries. Last but not least, grab some chocolate shavings.

Start by grabbing a microwave-safe dish and spoon in the custard. Place the custard in the microwave, set your timer for 30 seconds, stirring thoroughly between each 30-second interval. Continue heating until it's warm to the touch. At that point, add the chopped milk chocolate to the custard and keep stirring until the chocolate melts completely. Place the dish to the side to cool and move on to the next step.

Grab a cutting board and a knife and slice the Swiss roll into 1-centimeter pieces. "The most important thing is that they create a good layer of cake," Bryant says. "The layers above that are liquid will slowly seep through the cake making it deliciously moist." These will be the layers that you use for the trifle.

Next, take out a stand mixer or a handheld whisk. Add the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and the Kirsch. Continue whisking until the mixture has thickened and it holds its shape.

It's time to bust out the trifle bowl. First, add about half of the slices of Swiss roll to the bottom. The next layer you will need to add is the chocolate custard. Again, just use about half and save the rest for the next layer. For the third layer, add the whipped cream mixture. Then, open the cherry pie filling and carefully spoon it into the center of the trifle. Now, repeat the layers until you use up the rest of the ingredients.

Decorate the top of the trifle with fresh black cherries and chocolate shavings. Store the trifle in the fridge until you're ready to serve. You can eat this dessert on its own, but Bryant also provides a few great serving suggestions. "This is definitely an event type of dessert because it is big! It's a great, simple dessert for a dinner party — it looks quite dramatic and feeds a lot of people," Bryant shares. "The richness of it goes well with red wine. It's got enough going on by itself to really add anything more!" 

Finally, Bryant has a suggestion for leftover: "The leftovers should be covered well and stored in the fridge. The trifle should be consumed within 3 days."