The Black Forest Cake is my first ever love when it comes to cakes. So for this holiday season, I thought of sharing it in a delicious new avatar using a brownie instead of a cake and layering it in individual cups for delicious portion-sized treats. This trifle has all the flavor of a Black Forest Cake. So let’s get started.
The Layers explained.
Chocolate Brownie.
I have used my fudgy, melt-in-mouth, eggless brownie recipe for this trifle. I break the brownie into small pieces to form the bottom layer.
Cherry Filing.
The second layer is a quick homemade cherry compote. If fresh cherries are in season I highly recommend using them. A homemade cherry pie filling can be made ahead of time and will make this trifle extra special. You can even use a frozen pack. Other alternatives are shelf-stable cherry pie filling or just Marchiano cherries.
Whipped Cream.
Simply whip up chilled heavy cream with vanilla and confectioners’ sugar until stiff peaks form. For an easier option use frozen topping like the cool whip original pack. I use it a lot on super busy hosting days.
Chocolate shavings.
Grated chocolate or shavings is one of the critical ingredients that make this Black forest trifle taste like the original cake. So do not skip it. I have added a layer of shavings in between the trifle as well as on the top. Check out my Eggless Black Forest recipe for the easiest way to make these shavings.
Easy hack to pit cherries.
It took me less than 10 minutes to pit 2 cups of cherries. Wash your cherries and take out the stem. Now using a sturdy steel straw push it into the center of the cherry with one hand while holding the cherry firmly with the other hand. Push it in motion as if you are screwing a nail inside. The seed will pop right out. Repeat this process with other cherries. As I was running out of time I pitted the cherries a day before I actually made the filling. I placed the pitted cherries in an airtight container in the refrigerator until I made the filling. Making the filling the Stovetop method took me less than 15 minutes and it turned out so good.
Possible substitutes
You can substitute every component with a store-bought one if desired. Swap the brownie for a chocolate cake sponge. Use store-bought cherry filling instead. Don’t like cherries, you can use this strawberry filling. Swap homemade whipped cream with store-bought “cool whip” topping.
Easy workflow to save time!
As there are so many components involved in making this trifle, I am sharing how I make it for a large party with ease. Make brownies and freeze them up to 3 months in advance or keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for a week. Make the cherry filling up to 3 days in advance. Store it in the fridge until needed. If I am using homemade whipped cream then I whip it the very same day. You can whip it up to 1 day in advance. For making this dessert easier, I use frozen topping cool whip. Thaw overnight in the fridge or as directed. It works like a charm.
Can you make trifles ahead of time?
This is the best advantage of making trifles for dessert is that you can make it ahead of time. I prefer making, and layering the components at least a day ahead for the flavors to soak in and mingle. You can assemble the trifle up to 2 days in advance.
What containers work best to serve trifle?
KEEP IN TOUCH – Are we friends yet? Let’s connect on Facebook| Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter. Never miss a recipe. Please subscribe to my blog. It is free! Check out easy recipe videos on my YouTube channel now! Pin this photo for future reference.
Unique trifle recipes to try.
Baileys Chocolate Pudding Trifle Berry Compote Chocolate Cake Trifle Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding Trifle
