An English trifle inspired by Cruella DeVil

There’s just something about a trifle in the summertime when you have the juiciest berries of the season. I served this for dessert at Disney Dinners: 101 Dalmatians because i wanted something black and white and red (true Cruella colors) with chocolate chip Dalmatian spots and devil’s food cake, I mean DeVil’s food cake.

The dark chocolate cake balances the sweetness from the chocolate chips. I used my favorite chocolate cake recipe (which just so happens to technically be devil’s food cake), which I baked the day before. I froze one layer to use for later and used half of the other layer to make these six trifles.

Be sure to toss the strawberries with a bit of sugar before you start so they get all jammy. Just look at how gorgeous these strawberries are!

The cream layer for this dessert is a whipped cream cheese. Be sure to have your cream cheese at room temperature. Never, ever try to blend cold cream cheese. It will turn out like cottage cheese. That’s my #1 tip for this recipe: room temperature cream cheese.

I served these individual trifles in martini glasses because it felt so Cruella! She’s all, Anita, dahhhhling, and my mom pointed out that she felt like a martini kind of gal. I couldn’t agree more! You could use mason jars, juice glasses, wine glasses, whatever you like, or you could make it in a deep bowl as one large trifle.

Cruella Trifle
Devil’s food cake (about 1/4 of a cake is needed; I used my favorite dark chocolate cake)
1 lbs strawberries
1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate chips (or mini if you prefer)

1. Rinse and hull strawberries and pat dry. Quarter and toss with 1/2 Tbsp of sugar. Set aside.
2. Crumble devil’s food cake.
3. Whip heavy whipping cream in a metal bowl with a whisk until stiff peaks form.
4. Beat cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until smooth. (Make sure cream cheese is completely softened before you start. Cold cream cheese does not incorporate correctly.) Gently fold in whipped cream until incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips.
5. Layer cake, cream, and strawberries in a martini glass. You could do whatever layers you want but I did cake, cream, cake, strawberries, a spoonful more of cream, and a sprinkling of cake on top. Chill for at least two hours before serving.