Easy Lemon Trifle

Holiday party. You want to make something, rather than buy something, but you’re lucky to find time make a sandwich this time of year, let alone a fancy dessert. Lemon trifle to the rescue. It’s splashy, substantial, delicious, serves a multitude, and comes in several shades if easy. Got the time? Make the cake, curd, and custard from scratch. Don’t got the time? Buy a pound cake, a couple jars of curd, and a pudding mix.

"Easy Lemon Trifle," from Make It Like a Man!

Winter has finally come to Chicago. It arrived over the course of a single day. One day, it was in the 70’s. The next … brrr. Summer seemed to not want to go away this year. It lingered into the summeriest fall I can remember. I’ve tried to capture all that sunniest in this easy lemon trifle. As soon as I finished the trifle, I placed it on the window sill for a few minutes, thinking the sight of it would chase away the cold weather. But nope. Oh well. At least I got a trifle out of the deal.

"Easy Lemon Trifle," from Make It Like a Man!

What you need to fill an 8-inch diameter trifle bowl, serving at least 12:

1 nine-inch round, yellow, butter cake. See Make It Like a Man’s “Cherry Cheese Cake.” Split the cake recipe in half, and make it in one 9-inch pan. A box cake isn’t a suitable substitute, but a store-bought pound cake would be.
4 cups lemon pudding. Prepare two 3.4-oz. boxes of Jell-O instant or cook-n-serve pudding, but swap out 1/4 of the called-for milk with heavy cream. Or, use your favorite lemon pudding or custard recipe.
2 cups (more or less) lemon curd. See Make It Like a Man’s “Lemon Curd Pistachio Sundaes.” Make one batch of the lemon curd. Store-bought will also work.
1 1/2 – 2 cups heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks.
Zest of anywhere from 1 to 5 lemons, optional

How to do it:

  1. Spoon half of the pudding into a trifle bowl. Crumble half of the cake into bite-sized chunks over the pudding layer. Press the cake into the pudding just to even out the layer somewhat. (Sprinkle half the zest over the cake.) Top the zest with half the lemon curd, then half the whipped cream.
  2. Repeat, creating a second stage, using all remaining ingredients in the same way.
  3. Cover, and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Don’t be fooled by the size of the truffle bowl. This recipe will serve an army. Every time I pull that bowl out of the cupboard, I think, “You don’t look so big.” But I’m telling you, you’ll be eating trifle for a week. Fortunately, it keeps pretty well.

"Easy Lemon Trifle," from Make It Like a Man!

Easy Lemon Trifle

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17 thoughts on “Easy Lemon Trifle

  1. There is absolutely nothing wrong about eating trifle for a week…especially when it involves lemon-y goodness like this one! I agree with you on the “brr” statement. But at least we can pretend it’s warm with this awesome trifle. I vote you just leave a plate with a spoon on it next to the fireplace for Santa this year. And then include a note that says “Santa, trifle in fridge. Please don’t eat it all. Thanks, Jeff.” 🙂
    David @ Spiced recently posted…Bacon Cheddar Ranch Cheeseball

    • I’m sure you could, and I’m sure you’d do something unexpected and spectacular.

  2. It was the exact same thing in Toronto! It felt like summer for the most part in fall, then bam. Super cold weather and snow for days..
    The funny thing is I have never made a trifle before! My dad thinks that is crazy, because being born in England and having a mom as a chef, he was basically raised on homemade trifles. If I knew how easy they were to make, I think I would have made one years ago. Need to try this!!
    Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness recently posted…Peppermint Fudge

  3. The pictures got me drooling! I love lemon and lemon cheesecakes are just a blessing! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

  4. I love lemon anything and never heard of lemon trifle. This has to be good! It looks good too. I do have a love affair with chocolate but lemon is almost as good. You may like my cranberry lemon cheesecake with sour cream topping and sugared cranberries.

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