As the summer heat really starts to set in, I try to avoid spending too much time in my kitchen. That’s where trifles come in…or more specifically this Oreo trifle.

Sometimes I forget trifles exist because I get so caught up in my world of layer cakes.

What Is a Trifle?

To be honest, I had to Google the proper definition of a trifle. I knew that trifles usually involve bits of cake, whipped cream, and some type of fruit.

However, I wasn’t quite sure about the rest. I also didn’t know the proper order of the layers.

After a bit of sleuthing (thank you Wikipedia), I learned that traditional English trifles are made with sponge cake or ladyfingers soaked in sherry or fortified wine.

Custard, fruit, and jam are then layered on top of the cake, and sometimes topped with whipped cream.

Most trifles these days are made a bit differently though! There also are about a million variations out there, from red velvet to mixed berry.

Keeping Things Simple: How I Like To Make Trifles

The best part about trifles is that you can fill them with whatever you want and build them how you like.

I chose to use chocolate pudding instead of custard in this Oreo trifle to keep things simple.

In my opinion the best part of a trifle is that it’s easy to make. However, if you want to make your entire trifle from scratch, here is a great custard recipe.

I also decided to skip the sherry. Most sponge cakes need additional moisture of some sort, whether it’s from a soak of simple syrup, or sherry!

My Oreo trifle recipe uses a half batch of my chocolate sheet cake recipe, which is already plenty moist.

I find that the pudding kind of soaks into the bits of cake, so there’s definitely no need to add any additional liquid.

The Perfect Make Ahead Dessert

Trifles are great make ahead desserts and can easily be made in advance.

Just be sure to fully cover the trifle with plastic wrap to make sure it’s protected in your fridge.

I also recommend waiting to decorate the top until the day you plan to serve it! This ensures the whipped cream will keep its shape and the Oreo garnish will stay crispy.

Swaps & Substitutions:

This Oreo trifle recipe uses quite a few ingredients and I know you might not have them all on hand.

Or if you have food allergies or restrictions, I’ve got you covered. Below are some swaps and substitutions that you can make:

• All Purpose Flour – This recipe turns out best with AP flour, but you can use a gluten free flour blend (be sure to also follow my tips below) or cake flour if that’s all you have on hand.
• Granulated Sugar – I do not recommend reducing the amount of sugar or changing the type of sugar, as it will change the texture of the cake.
• Buttermilk – You can also use full fat yogurt, additional sour cream, whole milk, or an alternative yogurt or milk (almond, soy, oat) if you’re dairy free.
• Sour cream – You can also use full fat yogurt, additional buttermilk, whole milk, or an alternative yogurt or milk (almond, soy, oat) if you’re dairy free.
• Instant Espresso or Coffee – This ingredient is optional, so if you hate coffee, you can omit it. However, you can’t really taste the coffee once the cake is baked! I just like adding a bit of coffee because it enhances the chocolate flavor.
• Vegetable Oil – You can use any flavorless oil in this recipe. Canola or sunflower oil would work great!
• Heavy Cream – If you want to make vegan whipped cream, you can use coconut cream in place of the heavy cream in this recipe.

Tips For Making The Best Oreo Trifle

• Add the pudding before it’s fully set, so that it can really fill between the cake bits and be absorbed by them.
• Cut your cake into equal sized squares to make it easy to create even layers in your trifle
• Carefully spoon and smooth your layers of pudding and whipped cream with an offset spatula to give your trifle a gorgeous finished look
• I recommend making your whipped cream from scratch. It only takes a few minutes to make and tastes so much better than store bought whipped cream.
• Use whatever flavor of Oreos are your favorite! This trifle would taste great with just about any flavor, including peanut butter, birthday cake, or even double chocolate Oreos!

Making This Oreo Trifle In Advance & Storage Tips

Make this trifle in advance to make life easier! It can easily be made a day or two before an event or party. Just be sure to tightly wrap the trifle container with plastic wrap to keep it fresh.

Wait to decorate the top or add a cookie garnish until right before you plan to serve it.

Leftover trifle can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days if tightly wrapped with plastic wrap. After that the whipped cream will lose its shape.

You can also make the sheet cake up to two weeks in advance and freeze it, then cut it up and assemble the trifle the day of.

Using Different Sized Trifle Dishes

The quantities in this recipe are based on a trifle dish that is 8 inches in diameter.

You can also make individual trifles in stemless wine glasses, for easy serving! This recipe feeds about 30 people, so you may want to cut it in half if you plan to make individual trifle cups.

The amount of ingredients you need will vary based on the size of your trifle dish. Please adjust as needed 🙂

Let Me Know What You Think!

If you try this Oreo trifle recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment and rating below.

And don’t forget to tag me @chelsweets and use #chelsweets so that I can see your delicious creations!

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