Mini Trifles with berries, cheesecake filling, and oatmeal crumb crust- a perfect 4th of July dessert that is not only fun to serve, it is absolutely delicious!
I am a huge fan of desserts with fresh berries. Strawberry Shortcake is a family favorite, and No Churn Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream is a perfect summer treat!
Trifle has always been one of my favorite desserts. It is easy to make, looks gorgeous, and tastes incredible. It doesn’t get much better than that does it?
This trifle doesn’t start with a cake base, it has a nutty crumb layer, more like a cheesecake crust. It adds such a great crunch to the trifles!
I often use a large glass bowl for trifle, but this time around I decided to make individual trifles in mason jars. One of the great things about serving in mason jars (besides the fact that they are so darn cute) is that you can put lids on the trifles, plop them in a cooler, and take them to a picnic.
Or just nestle them in ice for an outdoor party. Much easier than trying to transport a big trifle bowl. Mine is so tall it barely fits in the cooler, so these are a much better option!
The fresh berries in this trifle recipe are awesome with the creamy filling and the crunchy layer. I was in heaven with every spoonful. I used blueberries and strawberries, but you could use any red and blue berries.
Blackberries and raspberries would also be yummy. The red white and blue color makes these perfect for a 4th of July dessert, but I also added some patriotic treat toppers to mine. Just makes them a little more special. 🙂
HOW TO MAKE 4TH OF JULY TRIFLES
Ingredients needed:
- all purpose flour
- brown sugar
- softened butter (I use regular salted butter.)
- chopped pecans (You can use walnuts if you prefer.)
- heavy cream (or whipping cream)
- powdered sugar AKA confectioners sugar
- vanilla extract
- cream cheese (Regular and light cream cheese both work well. I haven’t tried it with fat free cream cheese.)
- sweetened condensed milk (not to be confused with evaporated milk)
- berries of choice (I used strawberries and blueberries.)
Instructions:
- CRUNCHY OAT CRUMBS – Mix together all the ingredients, then press them into a 9″ pan. Bake till golden brown, then crumble while still hot. Set aside to cool completely.
- FILLING – Beat the whipping cream, then add the powdered sugar and vanilla, set aside. In another bowl, beat the cream cheese till smooth, then gradually beat in the sweetened condensed milk. Occasionally scrape the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula. Fold in the sweetened fresh whipped cream.
- ASSEMBLE – Rinse and chop your berries. Layer the crumbs, filling, and berries in small jars or clear dessert cups. They are ready to serve immediately, or you can chill them for up to an hour. After that the crumbs start to soften.
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER 4TH OF JULY RECIPES!
- Blueberry Cherry Muffins
- Popcorn Balls with Marshmallows
- Lemon Berry Stars
- 4th of July Scones
- 4th of July Brownie Bites
- Berry Cheesecake Pie
Berry Cheesecake Mini Trifles
Equipment
Ingredients
Crumb Crust:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup soft butter
- ¼ cup finely chopped pecans
Filling:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Additional ingredients
- 2 cups fresh strawberries sliced
- 2 cups fresh blueberries sliced
Instructions
- For crust: Mix all ingredients in a small bowl till crumbly.
- Press into a 9" square pan and bake at 375° for about 15 minutes or till golden brown.
- Crumble while hot and set aside. Cool completely.
- For filling: Beat cream with a hand mixer till soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat till stiff. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese till smooth. Gradually beat in the sweetened condensed milk. Beat till well combined.
- Fold in the whipped cream.
- To assemble: Set aside about 1/2 cup of the crumbs, and about a third of the strawberries and blueberries for garnish.
- In 10-12 small mason jars or clear plastic cups, layer: crumbs, filling, blueberries, crumbs, strawberries, filling. Top off with reserved crumbs and berries.
- Chill for 30-60 minutes. (Or you can just serve immediately.)
Hey Kara,
Just wanted to let you know I’ve featured your trifles on my July 4th round up….
http://www.craftyallieblog.com/2015/06/amazing-july-4th-show-your-spirit-ideas.html
Have a great week!
~Allie
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Your 4th of July Trifle looks delicious. I think this would make a great dessert for me to take to my family’s annual barbeque! Pinned.
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If you make it, be sure to let me know how you like it! (And thanks for the pin.) 🙂
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