The Best Trifle Bowls For Building The Perfect Dessert

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When it comes to desserts that both look elegant and taste absolutely delicious, trifles might just take the cake – pun very much intended. To capture the colorful brilliance of this age-old dessert delicacy to the fullest, though, you need a proper trifle bowl or two (or six) to serve it in. I put together this post to help explain what purpose a trifle bowl should serve and pinpoint five of the very best trifle bowl purchases on the worldwide web.

About Trifle Bowls

First of all, what is a trifle and why does it need a special bowl? I have no idea why one meaning of “trifle” is “a small or trivial matter,” because the dessert (which is what we’ll be talking about here) is simply incredible.

What’s a Trifle?

A trifle is a layered dessert that generally consists of sponge cake soaked in some sweet liquid, fruit, cream, and custard. The layers are often separated with jelly or jam. Various trifle recipes make changes to these layer combinations, with a common change being the substitution of chocolate or coffee for the fruit. The sweet liquid dousing the sponge cake layer is often an alcoholic beverage such as brandy liqueur.

Trifle is a very, very old British dessert and has gone through a lot of changes throughout the ages. For example, it used to be made with the cream-and-acid condiment known as syllabub. The dessert has also gone by many names, such as Tipsy Squire or Tipsy Pudding (due to the common addition of liqueur).

Pro Tip: Knowing how to make a trifle is also useful for when a cake you’re baking falls apart, because you can repurpose the cake pieces into a great trifle.

What is a Trifle Bowl?

A trifle bowl is a clear, round bowl or cup that allows the colorful dessert known at trifle to be admired in all its layered aesthetic glory. The bowl is often elevated by a glass stem like a large wine glass. The wall of a trifle bowl is generally vertical or has a very slight outward angle. A trifle bowl is pretty much the same as a larger parfait glass.

How to Use a Trifle Bowl

If you’re making a trifle, follow the recipe to add layers one at a time to your trifle bowl. You’ll generally have to smooth out each layer after it’s added and top the layer with an ingredient like jelly to keep it separate from the next layer.

Trifle bowls are also great vessels for other kinds of layered recipes, like pasta salad or Mexican dip. They can even be used as an attractive display case for foods like muffins or cheese. Basically, any colorful food will look great in a trifle bowl.

Best Trifle Bowls

In the table below, I’ve separated my five favorite trifle bowls into five categories to help you decide which one is best for you. Below the table, I’ve written a short paragraph about each one.

CategoryNameVolume/DiameterPrice Range
TexturedNo products found.3.9 qts./9.5”$$$
BudgetNo products found.3 qts./8.25”$
ClassicMiranda Trifle Bowl3 qt./7.75”$$$
Ash and WoodHandcrafted Ash Wood & Glass Serving Bowls1.7 qt./9.75”$$$
SetTable Art Vista Footed Dessert Bowls11 oz./4.75”$$$

1. Textured Trifle Bowl: Godinger Lumina Trifle Bowl

by No products found.

No products found.

This is another aesthetically pleasing trifle bowl, although the looks of this one are more elegant and refined than rugged or modern. The bubble-like pattern on the textured bowl definitely draws the eye, and makes for a great centerpiece at an upscale banquet. The gracefully curved glass stem is sturdier than it looks, too.

This model goes especially well with the Godinger Lumina drinking glasses in the same line, which have the same texture on the exterior.

2. Budget Trifle Bowl: Anchor Hocking Trifle Bowl

by No products found.

No products found.

You can always rely on Anchor Hocking to produce sturdy glass kitchenware for a low price, and this piece is no exception to that rule. It doesn’t look as fancy as the other trifle bowls on this list – it doesn’t have a glass stem, a wooden ring, or a pattern on the outside. It has a sturdy build, though, and the glass is free from any of the potentially harmful additives like lead or BPA often found in cheap glassware.

This model also comes with a plastic lid, which is a nice addition if you plan on transporting your trifle or if you anticipate having leftovers that you want to finish later. You can always use cling wrap to cover your trifle bowls, but the lid is a nice time-saver.

3. Classic Trifle Bowl: Miranda Trifle Bowl

by Crate & Barrel

Miranda Trifle Bowl

This trifle bowl doesn’t have any designs on it to draw attention away from the dessert itself. Instead, it’s just a plain glass bowl with ever-so-slanted sides perched atop a thick, durable glass stem. The glass used is thick and won’t break easily, and the bowl itself is very deep. This model is totally no-frills, and that’s what makes it a great buy for anyone who wants to show off their presentation skills when it comes to trifles or other layered recipes.

4. Ash and Wood Serving Bowl: Handcrafted Ash Wood & Glass Serving Bowls

by Pottery Barn

Handcrafted Ash Wood & Glass Serving Bowls

The ash wood ring around the base of this model gives it a distinguished look that puts in above all its competitors in terms of modern aesthetics. I own one of these and I make sure to pull it out whenever I can at dinner parties.

This one lacks the glass stem of most trifle bowls, instead sitting directly on the counter or table. It doesn’t slip around, though, thanks to the wooden ring. It’s also much shorter and wider than most trifle bowls, which makes it great for displaying other types of foods such as casseroles or salads.

5. Set of Trifle Bowls: Table Art Vista Footed Dessert Bowls

by Bed Bath & Beyond

Table Art Vista Footed Dessert Bowls

There’s just something nice about getting your own personal bowl of sweet treat when dessert is served, and this set of four mini trifle bowls will allow you to give that feeling to your guests. The bowls have a glass stem like a classic trifle bowl, but the glass has a purple tint and a diamond-cut texture that gives the pieces of the set a distinct flair.

Trifle FAQ

Now that you know what trifle is and what bowls you should get to make it, let’s answer some questions you may still have!

Is strawberry trifle made with angel food cake or pound cake?

Both angel food cake and pound cake are good at soaking up the strawberry juice, but I prefer to use pound cake because I like the flavor combination of butter (which is used heavily in pound cake) and strawberries. Angel food cake is considerably lighter since it is an unshortened cake with no fat, so it is lower in calories and will result in a purer “strawberry-y” taste when used in strawberry trifle.

How many layers does a trifle have?

A classic trifle has three layers: liqueur-soaked cake, fruit, and creamy custard. The layers are often separated by a thin spread of jelly or jam. Of course, it’s up to you if you want to add more layers, and the trifle will generally look more impressive the more layers you can include. You can repeat layers, too.

Can trifle be made the day before?

Yes! In fact, the taste of trifle is usually improved when you give it some time to sit and soak in its own juices. That being said, I’d recommend serving the trifle within 24 hours of preparing it. If you wait longer, the cake will likely become soggy rather than just moist.

What can I use if I don’t have a trifle bowl?

If you can’t use a trifle bowl, any glass bowl with deep sides will do. It won’t look quite as nice as a bowl specifically meant to display trifle, but you know what they say about desperate times…

Just a Trifle Thought

I’ll be honest: I didn’t even know what a trifle was (in the culinary sense) until several months ago. Since then, though, I’ve become a huge fan of the dish. I appreciate the taste and how quick it is to make, but I am simply awed by how pretty a trifle can be if you use a proper trifle bowl. Don’t take my word for it, though – get ahold of a quality trifle bowl and get cookin’!

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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