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Perfect Star-Spangled Berry Trifle Recipe with Easy Cream Cheese Mousse

star-spangled berry trifle - featured image
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A quick and festive dessert featuring layers of cream cheese mousse, fresh berries, and cake, perfect for patriotic holidays and summer gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Optional: a pinch of salt
  • 1 cup (150 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 cup (150 g) fresh blueberries
  • 1 cup (150 g) fresh raspberries
  • Optional: 1 tbsp sugar or honey to macerate berries
  • 1 pound (450 g) pound cake or angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • Optional: a splash of berry juice or liqueur (like Chambord) to moisten cake cubes

Instructions

  1. Rinse the strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries gently under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Hull and slice the strawberries. If berries aren’t very sweet, toss with a tablespoon of sugar or honey and let sit for 10 minutes.
  2. Cube the pound cake or angel food cake into about 1-inch pieces. Sprinkle a tablespoon of berry juice or liqueur evenly over the cubes if desired. Let sit while preparing mousse.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth (2-3 minutes). In a separate chilled bowl, whip cold heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture using a spatula.
  4. Assemble the trifle by layering one-third of the cake cubes at the bottom of a trifle bowl, followed by one-third of the cream cheese mousse, then a layer of mixed berries. Repeat two more times, finishing with a star-spangled berry pattern on top.
  5. Cover the trifle with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
  6. Before serving, garnish with fresh mint leaves or a dusting of powdered sugar if desired. Scoop portions ensuring each serving has all layers.

Notes

Chilling the trifle for at least 2 hours is key to let flavors meld and mousse set. Use cold cream and chilled bowls for best whipped cream volume. Fold whipped cream gently into cream cheese to keep mousse light and airy. Fresh berries are best; if using frozen, thaw and drain well. For dairy-free, substitute coconut cream and dairy-free cream cheese. Cake can be moistened with berry juice or liqueur for extra flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: berry trifle, cream cheese mousse, patriotic dessert, summer dessert, easy trifle, holiday dessert, star-spangled dessert

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/perfect-star-spangled-berry-trifle-recipe-with-easy-cream-cheese-mousse/