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Summertime is all about strawberries! And this strawberry angel food cake dessert recipe is no exception. My gluten-free berry trifle is made with soft and moist cake, strawberries, blueberries, and layers of dairy-free cream cheese whipped topping. An easy summer dessert recipe that's light, sweet, and perfect for any occasion.
What Makes This Recipe Great
I love strawberry season! When summer comes, and ripe, juicy strawberries are in season, it's time to make a strawberry dessert recipe that's delicious, easy, and loved by everyone (kids and adults!). You may have tried my Paleo Strawberry Shortcake, which is one of my absolute favorites!
This year, I went for a fun 4th of July Strawberry Angel Food Cake Trifle that features layers of cake, fresh berries, and a dairy-free cream cheese whipped topping. It's the easiest cake to throw together last minute and makes the best dessert for summer gatherings, large or small.
Plus, it's gluten-free, dairy-free, and travels easily! If you're looking for an easy dessert recipe, this is it!
Ingredient Notes
- gluten-free angel food cake: Homemade or using a boxed angel food cake mix! Cut into cubes
- CocoWhip dairy-free whipped topping: or whipped cream of choice like TruWhip. If not dairy free, you can also use Cool Whip.
- Kite Hill plain cream cheese: You can also use regular cream cheese.
- organic powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- fresh strawberries
- fresh blueberries
- mint leaves: Optional for garnish.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven and make the gluten-free angel food cake batter according to the package directions. Bake in an angel food cake pan for best results. Slice the cooked and cooled cake into cubes.
- Add the dairy-free cream cheese into a large bowl and mix using an electric mixer or hand mixer on medium speed until fluffy and soft peaks are formed.
- Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla and continue mixing.
- Fold in the whipped topping until combined.
- Layer the trifle: Add ½ of the cake cubes to the bottom of a 14 cup trifle dish, followed by ⅓ of the blueberries, followed by ½ of the cream cheese mixture. Add ½ of the strawberries on top of the cream cheese. Repeat with the remaining ½ of the cake cubes, ⅓ of the blueberries, and the remaining half of the cream cheese mixture. Top with the remaining ½ of the strawberries in a decorative pattern around the edges with the blueberries in the middle with mint leaves on top.
Expert Tips
- Fresh Berries: If preferred, you can make this strawberry angel food cake recipe without the blueberries. You can also substitute for other berries like blackberries or raspberries.
- Homemade Angel Food Cake: If you want to make this strawberry angel food cake homemade, here's a lovely recipe from a blogger who makes an excellent gluten-free version. It calls for many baking staples like egg white, gluten-free flour blend, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, cream of tartar, salt, and cornstarch.
Serving Tips
- Serve chilled out of the fridge. Should not be left out for more than 2-3 hours at a time.
- It works great to make this strawberry angel food cake trifle up to a day in advance.
Storage Tips
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator and eat within 2-3 days.
Recipe FAQs
Angel food cake is unique for its light and fluffy texture, made by whipping egg whites. It also has a sweet but not too sweet taste. It's versatile, allowing various toppings, flavors, and accompaniments. It is also lower in fat and calories than other baked goods and cakes.
It might have fallen if the egg whites are not whipped properly, the batter is over or undermixed, the pan is not properly prepared, it is removed from the oven too soon, there are sudden temperature changes, or it is not cooled upside down in the pan. Be mindful of the instructions when preparing and baking.
This recipe! Making a layered trifle with fruit and whipped topping is the perfect way to make an easy dessert that looks and tastes super fancy!
More Strawberry Recipes
Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Strawberry Cucumber Mojito Mocktail
Gluten-Free Strawberry Angel Food Cake Trifle Dessert
Equipment
- 14-cup trifle dish or large glass bowl
Ingredients
- 1 gluten free angel food cake, Homemade or using a mix! cut into cubes
- 9 oz CocoWhip dairy free whipped topping, or whipped topping of choice like TruWhip
- 16 oz Kite Hill plain cream cheese, can also use regular cream cheese
- 1 ¼ cups organic powdered sugar
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 16 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 16 oz fresh blueberries
- mint leaves, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the gluten free angel food cake according to package directions. Slice into cubes.
- Add the cream cheese into a bowl and mix using an electric or hand held mixture until fluffy.
- Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla and continue mixing. Fold in the CocoWhip whipped topping until combined.
- Layer the trifle: Add ½ of the cake cubes to the bottom of a 14 cup trifle dish, followed by ⅓ of the blueberries, followed by ½ of the cream cheese mixture. Add ½ of the strawberries on top of the cream cheese. Repeat with remaining ½ of the cake cubes, ⅓ of the blueberries, and remaining half of the cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining ½ of the strawberries in a decorative pattern around the edges with the blueberries in the middle with mint leaves on top.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Expert Tips
- Fresh Berries: If preferred, you can make this strawberry angel food cake recipe without the blueberries. You can also substitute for other berries like blackberries or raspberries.
- Homemade Angel Food Cake: If you want to make this strawberry angel food cake homemade, here's a lovely recipe from a blogger who makes an excellent gluten-free version. It calls for many baking staples like egg white, gluten-free flour blend, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, cream of tartar, salt, and cornstarch.
Serving Tips
- Serve chilled out of the fridge. Should not be left out for more than 2-3 hours at a time.
- It works great to make this strawberry angel food cake trifle up to a day in advance.
Storage Tips
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator and eat within 2-3 days.
Nutrition
All nutrition facts are an estimate and automatically calculated. While I fact check them using My Fitness Pal, please note that they may not always be 100% accurate and depend on ingredients used. Weigh your total and divide by the number of servings for the most accurate grams per serving size.
My family loved this!
Perfect 4th of July (or any summertime celebration) dessert! Was asked to bring dessert to a party, didn’t say it was gf and df until everyone was raving about it. Added a teaspoon of almond extract for an extra something
Love it! Thanks Mary!
This is the best tasting dessert I have had in a long time! I used the Mom’s Place cake mix and it turned out amazing. I can’t wait to share at a family gathering today!
Yay! So glad you loved it!