Easy Individual Mini Trifle Cups Recipe

These easy mini trifle cups are easy to make with store bought ingredients and are always a hit with guests. You can make them ahead of time, and don't have to worry about serving as they're individual sized already. They only take about 10 minutes to put together.

Jump to:

• Why We Love This Recipe
• Individual Serving Size
• Ingredients
• Substitutions and Variations
• Instructions
• Storage
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Individual Dessesrt Ideas
• Recipe

I love these mini trifles. I have served them many, many times and they are always a huge hit with guests.  These individual trifles are great for a tea party, dessert table, or as your main dessert. You might also like our mini chocolate brownie trifles, and our mini caramel apple trifles.

Individual Serving Size

I like to make these mini trifles in a small glass, or mini parfait dessert bowl, half pint-sized mason jars, or mini trifle bowls, or even in a clear plastic disposable cup.  

A clear cup works well, as you can see all the layers through the glass, and they're the perfect individual serving size.  These individual desserts making serving so much easier.  And there's also the cuteness factor, because these mini trifle cups make such a beautiful presentation.

Ingredients

These are super easy to put together because I used all store bought ingredients.  You can put these together quickly and easily and they're so good.

This recipe is more of an assembly kind of a recipe, you could of course make the custard and pound cake from scratch, but this version is quick, easy and really, really yummy.

This no bake dessert is quick to make and so delicious.

• Cake

I like to use pound cake as the cake layer in my mini trifles.  

If you can't find pound cake you could also use a sponge cake, or small jelly rolls, or even angel food cake.  

If you can find a raspberry pound cake it works perfectly for the raspberry trifles, but plain pound cake or lemon pound cake works really well for these mini berry trifles.

• Custard

Trifle is traditionally made with custard.  You can make it from scratch, or use a mix to make it.  Or, like I did, you can look for the canned version.  

Using canned custard makes this whole recipe so easy to put together.  If you can not find custard you would also use vanilla pudding instead.

• Jam

Traditional English trifle usually has a jelly layer.  But making jello and allowing it to set takes quite a while, so I have substituted it with jam.  It works really well to add some sweetness to the dish.  

You can change the fruit in this dish, and if you do then change the jam flavor to match it.  For individual strawberry trifles, you could use strawberry jam instead of raspberry.

• Fruit

Our raspberry trifles have a layer of fresh raspberries in them.  The fresh berries add a tangy freshness to the dish.  And be sure to keep a perfect fresh raspberry to garnish the top of the trifles.

• Whipped Cream

We made homemade fresh whipped cream using heavy cream for this dish.  Despite using some other shortcuts, I would not use a shortcut for this step.  Spray whip cream from a can won't hold, and turns into a watery mess if it isn't served immediately.  A dessert topping like Cool Whip just doesn't have the same great flavor of real whipped cream.  

Whipped cream is easy to make, and worth the few minutes that it takes to make it from scratch, especially when you're saving time on the other steps by using a store bought pound cake and canned custard.

Substitutions and Variations

I love these in raspberry flavour, but you could really use any jam and fresh fruit in them.  Strawberry would be great, and blueberry is a favourite too.

You can also use this mini trifle recipe to make one large one instead.  Instead of using individual small bowls, layer the ingredients in a large trifle bowl instead.

Instructions

1. Assemble each mini trifle in a small juice glass, or mini parfait, or small mason jar. First, cut the pound cake into small cubes, and layer into the bottom of the glass.

2. Next take some raspberry jam, and warm it up in the microwave to make it more runny. You can also add a tsp. or so of water to the warm jam to make it more runny. Pour about a tablespoon of jam or 2 over the pound cake in each glass.

3. Add some fresh raspberries as the next layer, but remember to save a few for the top.

4. The next layer is the custard, just spoon some over the raspberries. If you do make it yourself, let it cool before you add it.

5. Then, whip the cream in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until stiff peaks form. Next, add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 tbsps of sugar and whip to combine. Add a layer of whipped cream to the mini trifles as the final layer. Garnish with another raspberry and a little grated chocolate.

Storage

These delicious treats are a great make ahead.  Make them the night before and wrap the top of each one with plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator until it's time to serve them.

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator wrapped in plastic wrap.

Tip: Make these individual trifles ahead of time for a party. Assemble the day before and wrap each one in plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator until it's time to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Individual Dessesrt Ideas

If you tried this Easy Mini Trifle Cups Recipe or any other recipe on my blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

With easy mini trifles, life really is a party!

Recipe