Description

A festive and indulgent dessert, the Black Forest Trifle layers rich chocolate cake, sweetened cherries, creamy custard, and fluffy whipped cream for a show-stopping treat perfect for Christmas celebrations.

Ingredients

1 box of chocolate cake mix (or homemade chocolate cake)
1 jar of maraschino cherries, drained (or fresh cherries with syrup)
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
2 cups vanilla custard or pudding
1/4 cup cherry juice or brandy (optional)
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Shaved chocolate or cocoa powder for garnish
Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

Prepare the chocolate cake according to package instructions or your preferred recipe. Let it cool completely before cutting into cubes.
If using maraschino cherries, drain them well. If using fresh cherries, slice and combine them with a little cherry juice or brandy, if desired.
In a large trifle dish, layer the chocolate cake cubes at the bottom.
Next, spoon half of the vanilla custard or pudding over the cake, followed by a layer of cherries.
Spread half of the whipped cream on top of the cherries.
Repeat the layers with the remaining cake, custard, cherries, and whipped cream. Be sure to reserve a few cherries and some whipped cream for decoration on top.
Top the trifle with the reserved whipped cream, cherries, and shaved chocolate or cocoa powder. Garnish with mint leaves if desired.
Refrigerate the trifle for at least 2 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve chilled and enjoy a festive treat!

Notes

For an extra touch of flavor, you can add a little cherry liqueur like Kirsch to the cherries for a more intense flavor.
To make this dessert gluten-free, use a gluten-free chocolate cake mix or recipe.
The trifle can be assembled ahead of time, making it a great choice for holiday gatherings.
If you want to make it lighter, you can substitute the whipped cream with Greek yogurt or light whipped topping.