How to Make an Easy Summer Berry Cream Cheese Trifle,

Don't let the term trifle confuse you. A trifle is simply a layered dessert made with cake, fruit and some kind of creamy pudding. Trifle is served in a clear bowl so the layers will be visible.

Layers of angel cake, ripe berries, cream cheese and whipped cream pudding will make this trifle a favorite dessert, sure to impress your family and friends. The cream cheese pudding is awesome.

I serve my trifle in a large clear glass or clear plastic bowl (found at thrift shops, dollar stores or yard sales) and spoon it into clear short size plastic cups.

Preparing this trifle is easy. There is little cooking and you use a pre made angel cake. Older kids and husbands will enjoy helping. They can whip the cream cheese mixture, slice the strawberries and arrange the layers.

Ingredients

one fourth cup, plus 2/3 cup sugar

one fourth cup of water

one fourth cup lemon juice

one half teaspoon almond extract

1 pound of regular plain cream cheese at room temperature... (two eight-ounce packages)

2 cups of heavy cream

2 pints blueberries or blackberries

2 pints strawberries hulled and sliced or raspberries

1 large pre baked (store bought) angel cake

1 12cup (large) clear glass bowl

Directions.

- Heat one fourth cup of sugar, one fourth cup of water and one fourth cup of lemon juice in a small sauce pan until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the almond extract.

- Slice the angel cake and brush each slice (both sides) with the sugar mixture. Tear or cut the slices into cubes.

- Beat the remaining 2/3 cup of sugar with the cream cheese using a mixer on medium speed. Beat until smooth and light.

- Add the heavy cream and beat until consistency of whipped cream.

Layering the trifle

- Arrange one half of the cake cubes on bottom of clear glass bowl. Cover with a layer of blueberries.

- Spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the blueberries. Top with one half of the strawberries.

- Layer the strawberries with the remaining cake cubes. Sprinkle the blueberries over the cake cubes.

- Add a layer of the remaining cream mixture.

- Finish with the remaining strawberries arranged in a decorative pattern.

- Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Recipe serves at least 10.

Suggestions

. Any summer berries will do. Strawberries, angel cake and blueberries make a nice red, white and blue patriotic trifle. You can substitute any plain cake or sponge cake in place of the angel cake if you want. Enjoy.

Sources:

Wikipedia Commons