Looking for a healthy dessert idea? This light summer dessert may look complicated, but it’s simple to make. Wow, your guests with this beautiful & light dessert recipe!
Why would I want to spend all that time assembling a dessert?!
This is what I thought when I saw these fancy trifle bowl desserts served at parties. Oh- I love eating them, but never wanted to be the one to make it.
I kept seeing the beautiful bowls at the store and decided I was finally going to tackle this light summer dessert – the trifle. How hard could it be?
Not hard at all, it turns out.
This pretty little dessert takes no time at all to make – I’ll walk you through step by step. But first…
What is a trifle?
The first trifle recipe dates all the way back to the 1700’s. During the mid-1700s cake (or biscuits), alcohol, and custard were combined in the trifle bowl as a way of using leftovers.
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Per What’s Cooking America, the recipe for trifle came to America via the British who settled in the South. It was popular among Southern planters who loved indulgent desserts. Southern hostesses prided themselves on their elegant table settings and considered a cut-glass trifle bowl to be mandatory. I can see why these bowls display the dessert perfectly.
The recipe I am sharing today is not a true trifle because it contains no alcohol or fruit juice soaked cake.
With summer right around the corner, I wanted to develop a beautiful, easy and healthy summer dessert for parties, BBQ’s, and get-togethers.
Using Greek yogurt flavored with store-bought lemon curd, this recipe cuts fat and calories from more traditional recipes which use cream cheese or custard. The flavor is light, lemony, and bright.
This is an easy summer dessert with few ingredients. This healthy dessert idea requires just 6 ingredients and comes together quickly.
Keep reading to see how to make a trifle the easy way:
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- Place crushed Nilla Waffers into bottom of bowl.
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- Arrange sliced strawberries around the outside of bowl.
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- Add pineapple chunks.
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- Drizzle flavored yogurt on top.
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- Use a ziplock bag with the corner cut (turning it into a pastry bag) to easily place the Cool Whip.
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- Use ziplock baggie filled with Cool Whip to carefully fill in the area on top of the strawberries first, then spread on the rest of the dessert.
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- Add second layer of strawberry slices.
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- Add more crushed Nilla Wafers and pineapple chunks.
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- Top with more yogurt, then whipped topping and garnish with fruit.
This is a fun dessert to make in individual serving sized containers like these I just picked up on Amazon:
You could use any kind of clear cup otherwise.
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- Layer crushed Nilla wafers in the bottom of each cup.
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- Arrange strawberries and add pineapple.
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- Pour yogurt mixture over the fruit.
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- Use a ziplock bag with the corner cut (turning it into a pastry bag) to easily place the Cool Whip.
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- Add more layers if desired.
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- Try with different fruits!
These dessert cups are perfect for little hands to assemble, making them a great way to get your kids in the kitchen!
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The perfect light and beautiful dessert to bring to your next party. Greek yogurt is flavored with lemon curd making a delicious sauce that is layered with Nilla Wafers, cool whip, and fruit.
Ingredients
- 1 box Reduced Fat Nilla Wafers, crushed (or angel food cake, sliced into chunks)
- 1 container fresh strawberries, sliced lengthwise
- 1/2 whole pineapple, sliced into bite-sized chunks (or canned chunk pineapple, drained)
- 1 16 oz. lite Cool Whip
- 1 32 oz. plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup lemon curd (such as Dickinson’s) (use 3/4 cup for more lemony flavor.)
Instructions
- Place Nilla Wafers into a ziplock bag and crush into large chunks with mallet or rolling pin.
- In blender or food processor, blend yogurt with lemon curd until well mixed. Set aside.
- Layer 1/2 Nilla Wafers on bottom of trifle dish, or divide 1/2 among small parfait cups.
- Arrange strawberries around bottom of dish.
- Add 1/2 of pineapple chunks.
- Drizzle with 1/2 yogurt mix. If making small cups, divide 1/2 of the yogurt among all the cups.
- Top with 1/2 Cool Whip. If making individual sizes, divide this equally amongst cups.
- Add another layer of strawberries around the outside of the serving dish.
- Layer with the rest of Nilla Wafers. Reserve a small amount for garnishing if desired.
- Add remaining pineapple chunks.
- Pour remaining yogurt on top of pineapple and strawberries.
- Top with the rest of the Cool Whip.
- Garnish with fruit, pineapple top, and crushed wafers if desired.
Have fun garnishing this beauty! I love topping desserts with the pineapple top. I think in this recipe it is perfection.
I’d love to hear what you look forward to serving this summer!
If you liked this recipe, you might enjoy these as well:
40+ Recipes With Strawberries
Frozen Yogurt With Fruit
Fruit Waffle Cones
FREE Kids Cooking eBook!
Do you want your children eating a more varied diet, but wonder how to get more fruit and veggies into their meals & snacks? This eBook is a fun filled way to get kids eating better while having age appropriate fun!
Daniela Anderson says
What a lovely summery dessert! I love desserts that are easy to make and do not need loads of ingredients. Strawberries are my absolute favourite fruit, they go so well with the silky whip. Delish!
Create Kids Club says
Thank you Daniela! I, too, love easy recipes!
Pam Wattenbarger says
I love making trifle for dessert. They’re so pretty but they are also simple to make, which is nice.
Create Kids Club says
I was surprised by how simple it was, Pam!
Julia says
I’ve never made trifle myself. But I love your idea of using Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese. Sounds light and delicious!
Create Kids Club says
The yogurt was delicious mixed with the lemon curd. I could have just eaten that 🙂
irishbakingadventures says
Beautiful stunning recipe and your step by step is brilliant..I love Trifle it’s so summery. You make it look so easy
Create Kids Club says
Thank you!
VeenaAzmanov says
I love making a trifle but I have not made or eaten one is years!! It’s been so long that your detailed post was a great refresher. I love the fresh fruits and it’s all came together so beautifully.
Create Kids Club says
Thank you Veena!
Dene' V. Alexander says
The ingredients you have chosen to use for this trifle are great! I purposefully purchased a trifle dish just so I could create one for a get together recently. I know which trifle I’ll be making next!!
Create Kids Club says
That trifle bowl is the whole reason I decided to tackle the recipe! It is just so pretty 🙂
Dancing with Fireflies says
Oh I really like the tiny cup version. I bet that would be a fun brunch idea for Mother’s Day. Thanks!
Create Kids Club says
It sure would be! My kids liked the little cups the best, too 🙂
Farrah says
Layered desserts always look so pretty! I love all the fruits in this! <3
Create Kids Club says
I agree, Farrah!
Christine McMichael says
I love lemon curd, but I’m thinking this strawberry lemon curd trifle will be EXCEPTIONALLY perfect for summer! Can’t wait to make this!
Create Kids Club says
Yeah! So happy to hear that, Christine!
Madi says
I love the combination of flavors! Strawberries and lemons are so perfect together!
Create Kids Club says
They really do go great together, don’t they?!
Priya Srinivasan says
oh wow this looks amazing, you are killing me with gorgeous pictures, i just want to stuff my face into one of the trifle bowls!!! definitely bookmarked for a weekend party!
Create Kids Club says
Thank you Priya! That made me laugh!! 🙂
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
Beautiful dessert. I’ve always wanted to make a trifle but never have. It looks so doggone good I don’t know if it’d make it to the party. I’d just want to get a huge serving spoon and go at it!!
Create Kids Club says
Ha! I do have to admit that since I made this to photograph and didn’t have a party to attend, I may have grabbed a spoon and had a delicious afternoon snack… 🙂
Soniya says
This is such a amazing recipe …loved the combination of lemon and strawberry!! Fabulous!
Create Kids Club says
I love that flavor combo as well, Soniya! I could have just eaten the lemon curd flavored yogurt and been happy too 🙂
Renz says
I am especially loving the little cups ideas. With my baby shower coming up soon this would be perfect to serve in this South Florida heat.
Create Kids Club says
First, congratulations Renz! Those cups would make adorable additions to your baby shower. I wish it would warm up around here soon 🙂
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I have always seen the beautiful trifles and wished someone would make it for me. They just look so beautiful that I want to eat them right away. I guess I would make a single serve version for myself on Mother’s day and treat me 🙂
Create Kids Club says
I think a single serving would be quite delicious! And due to the simple ingredients, that would be really easy to do!
Adriana Martin says
Beautiful idea for Memorial Day celebrations. Great flavor combinations and those berries to die for =)
Create Kids Club says
I agree, Adriana! It was so easy, I will be making it frequently, maybe starting with Memorial Day 🙂
tara | treble in the kitchen says
I love to bake and I love desserts, but I have NEVER made a trifle!! LOVE all the fresh fruit in this 🙂
Create Kids Club says
When you don’t feel up to baking, this is a great option! Super easy and quick!
Kelli (The Healthy Toast) says
I love lemon anything, and it’s even better when it’s this easy to prepare!
Create Kids Club says
I am all about simple recipes! And spring and summer put me in the lemon flavored food mood! 🙂