Description
A decadent Black Forest Trifle featuring layers of moist chocolate cake, luscious cherry compote, stabilized whipped cream, and mini chocolate chips, perfect for a show-stopping dessert that combines classic flavors in an elegant presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Cake
- 1 chocolate cake mix, baked according to box directions for 9×13
- 1 1/2 cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Cherry Compote
- 4 cups dark, sweet, pitted cherries (fresh or frozen)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Stabilized Whipped Cream
- 8 teaspoons cold water
- 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Score the baked chocolate cake into small cubes. Set aside for layering.
- Make the Cherry Compote: In a medium saucepan, add cherries. In a small bowl, whisk water, cornstarch, and lemon juice to form a slurry, then pour over cherries and heat over medium heat. Add sugar and stir. Bring to a low boil, stirring often, until cherries soften and burst. Mash gently if desired. Stir in almond and vanilla extracts and set aside to cool completely.
- Prepare Gelatin Mixture: Add cold water to a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over it and let it sit for a few minutes until thickened. Heat over low, stirring constantly for 3-5 minutes until gelatin dissolves. Cool but do not allow to set.
- Make Stabilized Whipped Cream: Using a stand or hand mixer, beat heavy cream with confectioners sugar until soft peaks form. Reduce speed and slowly drizzle in the cooled gelatin mixture, add vanilla extract, then increase speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form.
- Assemble the Trifle: In a large glass bowl or individual cups, layer cake cubes, cherry compote, whipped cream, and mini chocolate chips. Repeat layers, ending with a layer of chocolate chips. Press down on cake layers if needed to create room for additional layers.
- Chill: Refrigerate the assembled trifle for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours, before serving to let flavors meld and the whipped cream stabilize.
Notes
- Stabilized whipped cream keeps its shape longer and can be made with gelatin, cream cheese, or instant pudding mix. Gelatin is preferred for a pure whipped cream flavor.
- Fresh or frozen cherries both work; if using frozen, thaw and drain excess liquid before making compote.
- You can substitute mini chocolate chips with shaved chocolate or chocolate curls for different texture.
- Pressing down the cake layers gently helps fit more layers and keeps the trifle compact.
- Chilling for longer enhances flavor blending, so prepare in advance if possible.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
