It’s Christmas time… or should I say…trifle time?
Food & Drink | December 5, 2025By Brianna Lane
Christmas is the time of celebration, family, presents, and, of course, food. When I think of Christmas, the one thing I cannot go without is something called trifle. Now, what is a trifle?
Well, a trifle is traditionally an English dessert dish filled with cake soaked in brandy or white wine, strawberries, and whipped cream (and more if you want!). Now, that sounds great and all, but have you really ever tried the Aussie version of a trifle?
Oh my goodness! You are missing out if you haven’t. It’s one filled with sweetness, love and kid-friendly too. Once you have it once, you will never go back to a Christmas without one (at least I know I haven’t). I even went to my family-in-law’s house and made it myself, simply because I couldn’t do a Christmas without it! It’s the one time in the year that it’s okay to mix as many sweet things as possible and stuff it down without any judgment! Anyway, enough bluffing, let’s get to making it.
What you’ll need: Serves eight people
1 box of Strawberries – sliced
1 carton of Custard
1 box of red Jelly – preferably red jelly for the aesthetics, but any colour really works – premade before starting this recipe in a rectangular container, then cut into squares.
Cherries – any are fine, but for the best results, use fresh cherries to garnish
1 whole Jam roll cake – sliced
1 bottle of Whipped cream
410g (1 tin) of Peaches – tinned
Method:
- Get a clear bowl ( a pretty one would be great) and place jam roll slices around the inside of the bowl. Ensure it is done in a neat, aesthetically pleasing order. Leave about six slices of the jam roll remaining.
- Once the jam rolls are placed around the bowl, begin placing strawberries at the top of the bowl, on top of the jam rolls and in between spaces. Make sure you leave some strawberries for the top of the trifle.
3. Pour about 2 cups of custard around the bottom of the trifle on top of the jam roll and strawberries. This will allow the mixture to soak into the cake, strawberries and peaches.
4. Add peaches on top of the strawberries, and add a little bit of the peach syrup too. Use about half of the tin.
5. Now add the jelly into the middle of the trifle, using at least half of the squared jelly. Be sure to mix with the mixture lightly, but not too much.
6. Now place the remaining amount of jam roll cake on top of the custard mixture with the jelly and repeat steps 2-5.
7. After you have repeated steps 2-5, place the trifle in the fridge for about 2 hrs to allow the mixture to soak into each other. If you are in a hurry, though, that is also okay; it can be served now. If being served now, ensure to get to step 8 for decorating.
8. In a swirling motion, spray whipped cream on top of the trifle until you reach the middle, then make a lovely little mountain of whipped cream.
9. Now its time for the garnish! Place the cherries wherever you feel they are needed and serve! Enjoy the smiling faces of everyone taking in the trifle.
