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Delicious Black Forest Trifle layered with chocolate, cherries, and whipped cream.

Black Forest Trifle for Christmas

A festive and decadent Black Forest Trifle, perfect for Christmas gatherings, featuring layers of chocolate cake, sweet cherries, and luscious whipped cream.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Trifle Layers
  • 1 loaf Chocolate sponge cake cut into cubes
  • 2 15 oz cans Canned pitted sour cherries drained, juice reserved
  • 1/2 cup Kirsch (cherry liqueur) optional
  • 4 cups Heavy whipping cream chilled
  • 1/2 cup Powdered sugar or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Dark chocolate shavings for garnish

Equipment

  • Trifle bowl
  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer
  • Spatula

Method
 

Assembly
  1. If using, sprinkle kirsch over the chocolate cake cubes and let them absorb the liquid for a few minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
  3. Arrange a layer of kirsch-soaked cake cubes at the bottom of a large trifle bowl.
  4. Spoon half of the drained cherries over the cake layer, then top with a generous layer of whipped cream.
  5. Repeat the layering with the remaining cake, cherries, and whipped cream, ensuring the top layer is cream.
  6. Cover the trifle and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
  7. Before serving, garnish the trifle with dark chocolate shavings and additional fresh cherries if desired.

Notes

For best results, prepare the trifle several hours or even a day in advance to allow flavors to meld and the cake to soften. You can substitute kirsch with cherry juice for a non-alcoholic version.