(Just A) Chocolate Cherry Trifle
"The base recipe for this trifle is one that I found in a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook from 2003. I have been adapting it many different ways since I first found it, and it has since become a bit of a signature dessert for me. This variation was created as a lighter way to sate a chocolate craving. It is not "chocolate overkill" if you are looking for that, but it is light and refreshing while still including lots of chocolate flavor. Please do make use of low fat and/or low sugar versions of the listed ingredients if you are interested. They will not harm the dessert in the least."
- Ready In:
- 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 8
- Yields:
-
1 trifle
- Serves:
- 12-16
ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 (1 1/2 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 2 (8 ounce) containers frozen chocolate whipped cream, thawed
- 1 1⁄2 cups chocolate sandwich style cookies, crushed
- 2 (21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling
- chocolate sprinkles (optional)
directions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth.
- Add the sour cream and beat for another minute or two until well combined.
- In a separate small mixing bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix as directed on the pudding box. I find that a wire whisk works best for this. To avoid lumps make sure to add small amounts of mix at a time to the milk and whisk thoroughly before adding more.
- Place the cookies into a large ziptop bag. Make sure to remove as much air as possible before you close it. You can use a rolling pin or some other blunt object to smash them, but I find that my hands are usually enough to crush them. You don't need uniform pieces unless you really want them. If you leave the pudding mixture on the counter while you do this, it should set up by the time you are finished.
- Fold the pudding mixture into the cream cheese mixture. Keep as much air in the mixture as you can! This is what gives trifles their signature fluffiness.
- Fold in the chocolate whipped topping, reserving about 4 ounces for garnish. The recipe originally called for 12 ounces in total, but they no longer sell that size and I find that I can always use the extra somehow! Again, keep as much air in the mixture as you can.
- Now you're ready to begin layering the trifle. I highly recommend a trifle bowl if you have one, but if not, any large serving bowl with high sides will work. Clear glass or plastic is always best so that people can see your layers, however uneven they might turn out! If your bowl is wider at the top than the bottom, your layers may not be perfect. Don't let this stop you; the taste will still be wonderful.
- Start with half of the cream cheese mixture. Make sure that the layer is as even as possible for best visual results. Try to keep smears up the side of the bowl to a minimum. This is the only tricky part and only matters if you're really trying hard to impress!
- Next, layer half of the crushed cookie crumbs over the top of the cream cheese layer. This can look a little sparse but don't worry. You don't need a full "crust" for this to work, it's just a flavor and texture accent for the rest of the dish.
- Finally, add one can of pie filling on top of the cookie layer. Do your best to spread this out evenly. Again, if you're trying to impress, be very careful of smears up the side of the bowl.
- Repeat this process with the remaining ingredients. You may use the remaining whipped topping and/or chocolate sprinkles to garnish if you like, but if not, then you're done!
- Cover tightly and chill until ready to serve. I find that the trifle sets up a little better and tastes best when it's cold, so the longer you can chill it before serving, the better. You can serve it immediately if you're in a hurry with no ill effects, so I haven't listed mandatory "cooking" or chilling time for this recipe. Use your best judgment.
Questions & Replies
Got a question?
Share it with the community!
Reviews
Have any thoughts about this recipe?
Share it with the community!
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Welcome! I am a casual cook looking to expand my experience and creativity when it comes to feeding my husband and myself! I am a (yet unpublished) fantasy writer that is lucky enough to have a husband who understands and accepts why I don't have a "real" job of my own. We have two kids (the purring kind) that are more than enough for the time being!
I spend most of my non-kitchen time reading, playing video games of all kinds (yes, we girl gamers ARE out there, and we don't have to limit ourselves to casual games if we don't want to) and writing. My husband and I are working on an independent game design for a kid-friendly RPG that might go somewhere (well, we're hopeful anyway.)
I tend to add things "to taste" and do not often measure ingredients for myself unless I am baking. Please take the listed amounts for my recipes as suggestions, not unbreakable rules. You should know what you like and there's no shame in following that. I don't expect everyone in the world to like the same level of salt, pepper and other seasonings that I do. Just go with your instincts. When in doubt, add to taste and stop when you're satisfied. You can always add more but you can't take it back out!
I have been a type 1 diabetic since 1996 and I have been working hard to get myself back on track during the last few years, after spending several years in poor control. This also includes getting my weight down (ugh.) I am eager to try low-carb and low-fat options that still retain plenty of taste! Sugar itself is not the enemy but it does still add up to carbs, so I have to be cautious.
My favorite cookbook would have to be Recipezaar! I don't often use formal cookbooks since I prefer to use my laptop to store everything safely. When I do, my favorite book would have to be my Taste of Home cookbook from 2003. It was my first cookbook and has some amazing recipes in it that I would love to make more often.
<img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/adoptedspring08.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
<img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/MrsTeny/Permanent%20Collection/PACSpring09Iwasadopted.jpg">
