There's something magical about layers of chocolate, cherries, and creamy goodness coming together in one dessert. The Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe captures that magic perfectly—it's like the beloved Black Forest cake got a fresh, fun makeover that’s easier to prep and absolutely delicious to devour.

This dessert is shown in a tall clear glass bowl on a glass stand, placed on a white marbled surface. It has six visible layers: starting from the bottom, there is a dark brown crumbly cake layer, then a smooth medium brown chocolate layer, followed by a thin dark red cherry sauce layer, a thick white cream layer, another dark brown crumbly cake layer, and a final medium brown chocolate layer. On top, there is a thick white cream layer spotted with dark brown chocolate shavings, and fresh bright red cherries with green stems sit on the very top. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

What I really adore about this Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe is how effortlessly it brings together every classic flavor to wow your guests or just pamper yourself at home. Plus, assembling it feels like a fun kitchen project where the payoff is a stunning, crowd-pleasing dessert.

Decadent layers: Every spoonful hits you with rich chocolate, tart cherries, creamy pudding, and fluffy whipped cream for a perfectly balanced bite.
Simple assembly: No need for fancy baking techniques or molds—just cake cubes and layers that come together in a trifle bowl.
Customizable: Whether you want to add a splash of kirsch or keep it non-alcoholic, this recipe slides right into your personal flavor preferences.
Make-ahead convenience: Prep it a day in advance so the flavors have time to meld, making your party day stress-free.

The image shows a tall glass trifle dish filled with six visible layers. At the bottom, there is a dark chocolate crumb layer with a crumbly texture. Above that, a smooth, light brown chocolate pudding layer sits evenly. Next is a glossy deep red cherry sauce layer with whole cherries visible inside. Above this sits a thick, white creamy layer, topped by another crumbly dark chocolate layer. Above that, there is another chocolate pudding layer, followed by a white whipped cream layer with a soft, fluffy texture on top. The whipped cream is sprinkled lightly with dark chocolate shavings and garnished with a pile of shiny, fresh red cherries with green stems on top. The dish is placed on a white marbled surface with some cherries scattered around and a glass of dark red juice in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The beauty of this Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe is how each ingredient sings in harmony yet plays a vital role—in texture, flavor, or both. Using a sturdy chocolate cake base means your layers don’t get mushy, while cherry pie filling adds that perfect sweet-tart pop. The pudding’s creaminess contrasts with the light whipped cream, giving you a luxurious finish.

Flat lay of a glossy chocolate sheet cake cut into neat cubes, a small white bowl of bright red fresh cherries with stems, a small white bowl filled with glossy cherry pie filling, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of smooth chocolate pudding, a small white bowl of thick cold heavy cream, a small white bowl of fine powdered sugar, a small white bowl of clear cherry liqueur, scattered dark chocolate shavings, and delicate chocolate sprinkles, all arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Chocolate cake or brownie: Use a dense chocolate cake or brownie to soak up kirsch and hold its shape under creamy layers. I love making my homemade chocolate sheet cake for this.
Cherry pie filling: Ready-made works great, but a homemade cherry filling adds extra freshness and control over sweetness.
Kirsch or cherry liqueur: Adds an authentic kick; swap with cherry juice for a kid-friendly or alcohol-free version.
Chocolate pudding: Provides smooth creaminess; homemade pudding really shines here if you have time to make it.
Heavy whipping cream: Whipped with powdered sugar and vanilla, it lightens and balances the rich layers perfectly.
Fresh cherries and chocolate shavings: For garnishing, they bring texture, elegance, and that final visual “wow” factor.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love playing around with this recipe—sometimes I swap the chocolate cake for brownies, or add a bit of espresso powder to the pudding for depth. The great thing? You can tweak it to match your mood or occasion without losing that classic Black Forest vibe.

Variation: Once, I used frozen cherries instead of pie filling and stirred in a dash of almond extract—it was a lovely twist that gave the trifle a nutty aroma and a little extra texture.
Dairy-free option: You can substitute coconut whipped cream and a dairy-free pudding if you’re avoiding dairy—it still tastes fantastic!
Non-alcoholic: Simply replacing kirsch with cherry juice keeps that bright cherry flavor without any booze.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe

Step 1: Baking or Prepping Your Chocolate Cake

I usually bake a 9×13 chocolate cake the day before so it cools completely and’s easy to cube. If time’s tight, a quality store-bought brownie or cake mix works just fine. Make sure to cut the cake into 1-inch cubes—that size soaks up the kirsch beautifully but won’t turn to mush.

Step 2: Preparing the Pudding

Prepare two boxes of chocolate pudding according to package directions or whisk up my homemade chocolate pudding for richer flavor. Let it chill in the fridge until cool—that helps keep the layers neat and prevents melting when assembling.

Step 3: Whipping the Cream

For the whipped cream, I add cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to my mixer and start on low speed, gradually increasing it until stiff peaks form. A tip I swear by: chilled bowls and beaters help cream whip faster and fluffier.

Step 4: Assembling the Trifle

Begin by placing half the cake cubes in the trifle bowl and gently pressing down. Drizzle with half the kirsch or cherry juice for that signature Black Forest spirit. Spread half the pudding, then spoon on half the cherry pie filling, and top with half the whipped cream. Repeat the layers ending with a smooth layer of whipped cream on top.

Cover the trifle and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour, though I highly recommend chilling it overnight. This resting time lets all those luscious flavors meld together and the cake soak up the cherry liqueur.

Top Tip

From my experience with making this Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe a few dozen times, a couple of small touches make all the difference in texture and flavor balance.

Chill everything: I always chill my pudding, whipped cream, and trifle bowl—this stops layers from blending too much and keeps them visually distinct.
Don’t over-soak the cake: Soaking cake cubes lightly with kirsch brings flavor without turning your trifle soupy.
Layering carefully: Pressing the cake cubes gently keeps them intact, so the trifle looks beautiful and holds its shape.
Fresh fruit finish: Garnish with fresh cherries and chocolate shavings right before serving to keep everything looking bright and fresh.

How to Serve Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe

Black Forest Cherry Trifle - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

For me, fresh cherries on top are non-negotiable—they add that juicy burst and keep the trifle feeling fresh. Along with chocolate shavings and a light dusting of cocoa powder or icing sugar, the trifle looks irresistible every time.

Side Dishes

This dessert is rich enough to be star of the show but pairs beautifully with a simple cup of coffee or a light fruit salad for a refreshing contrast.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve thrown this trifle into clear individual glasses for dinner parties—guests love seeing those layers up close. For special holidays, adding edible gold leaf or maraschino cherries makes it extra festive.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers covered tightly in the refrigerator. The trifle keeps well for up to three days, though it’s honestly so good, it rarely lasts that long! Just be aware layers may soften over time but flavors deepen.

Freezing

I don’t recommend freezing this Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe because whipped cream and pudding textures change once thawed, and the cake can get soggy. It’s best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated.

Reheating

This dessert is best served chilled, so no reheating needed. Just be sure to pull it out of the fridge 10 minutes before serving for the perfect texture and flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different type of cake for the trifle?

Absolutely! While traditional chocolate cake or brownies work best because they hold up well, you can experiment with yellow cake or even pound cake. Just keep in mind these might soak up liquids differently, affecting texture.

What can I substitute for kirsch if I don’t have any?

You have options! Cherry juice or any cherry-flavored syrup works great for a non-alcoholic version. Alternatively, cherry brandy, amaretto, or even a splash of red wine can bring that characteristic depth.

Can I make the pudding from scratch?

Yes, homemade chocolate pudding really elevates this recipe. If you have time, making pudding with cocoa, sugar, cornstarch, and milk adds a richer, creamier element that store-bought versions can’t quite match.

How long should I chill the trifle before serving?

I’ve found letting the trifle chill overnight gives the best flavor meld and texture. But if you’re short on time, at least one to two hours will do. The longer, the better!

Final Thoughts

This Black Forest Cherry Trifle Recipe has a special place in my kitchen and heart—it's the kind of dessert that turns everyday moments into celebrations. It’s approachable, beautiful, and endlessly delicious, so I genuinely encourage you to give it a try. Trust me, once you do, it’ll quickly become a favorite in your dessert lineup, just like it did in mine.