Black Forest Trifle
Cherries, chocolate custard and kirsch soaked sponge topped with cream and chocolate curls, a trifle that tastes like black forest gateau.
Made with Victoria sponge base and Egg custard (creme anglaise). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min plus chilling
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.15 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Make your Victoria sponge and egg custard first (see the base recipes). Drain the cherries and keep 4 tbsp of the juice. Mix the juice with the kirsch.
- 2
Warm the custard gently for 3 minutes until just steaming. Take off the heat, add 80 g of the chocolate and the cocoa and stir until completely smooth. Leave to cool.
3 min - 3
Cut the sponge into 2 cm cubes and spread them in the base of a 2 litre glass trifle bowl. Drizzle over the kirsch mixture.
- 4
Scatter over most of the cherries, then spoon the chocolate custard on top, spreading it right to the edges. Chill for 2 hours.
120 min - 5
Whip the cream with the icing sugar to soft peaks and spread over the custard. Top with the remaining cherries and the last of the chocolate, grated into curls.
Tips
- For an alcohol free version, use all cherry juice. Some jars are packed in kirsch syrup, so read the label.
- Cool the chocolate custard before layering or the cherries will release juice into it.
- Use a vegetable peeler on a bar of chocolate at room temperature for pretty curls.
Storing and freezing
Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days, covered. Not suitable for freezing.
Questions
Can I use fresh cherries?
Yes. Stone 400 g and simmer them for 5 minutes with 2 tbsp sugar and a splash of water, then cool. Fresh cherries give a brighter flavour, but jarred morello are easier and tarter.
Is the kirsch cooked off?
No. The kirsch is not heated, so the trifle contains alcohol. Replace it with cherry juice for children or anyone avoiding alcohol.
Can I use a chocolate sponge?
Yes, if you have one to hand, but the plain sponge works well because the custard and cherries bring plenty of chocolate flavour. Soak either type in the kirsch mixture.
More made with victoria sponge base
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.