Name: Skinny Strawberry Shortcake Trifle: Easy Peasy and So Darn Good!
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 5 cups (~2 pints) fresh strawberries, sliced; 2 cups fresh blueberries; ½ cup store-bought prepared strawberry glaze, (see shopping tips); 1 (14oz) ready baked angel food cake, cut in half and into 1-inch cubes, (see shopping tips); 1 (8oz) container fat-free frozen Cool Whip, thawed; 2 snack packs of already prepared fat-free vanilla or tapioca pudding, (see shopping tips)

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Perfect to make all summer long! If you’re short on time, this big-on-flavor dessert will become your go-to. It's easy, quick, and absolutely delicious. This isn’t your ordinary strawberry shortcake either. I’m starting with a store-bought fat-free angel food cake, adding fat-free vanilla pudding, Cool Whip, lots of fresh sliced strawberries, and blueberries, and drizzling a store-bought strawberry glaze. So light, fluffy, and bursting with flavor! Each serving has 120 calories and 0 fat. Enjoy!

Note: this entire recipe can be cut down. Just use a smaller bowl and cut all ingredients in half.

“No Bake” Skinny Strawberry Shortcake Trifle, Ready in Minutes!

Why You'll Love My Skinny Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

Who says dessert can't be both delightful and guilt-free? You'll absolutely adore my Skinny Strawberry Shortcake Trifle because it delivers all the classic flavors of a beloved strawberry shortcake with a lighter, healthier twist. Imagine layers of fluffy angel food cake, sweet, juicy fresh strawberries, and a creamy, dreamy reduced-fat whipped topping – all coming together in a beautiful, easy-to-assemble trifle. It's the perfect dessert for any occasion, from a casual weeknight treat to a show-stopping party finale, offering a refreshing and satisfying sweetness without feeling heavy. This recipe truly lives up to its "easy peasy" promise, making it accessible for even the most novice bakers, and its "so darn good" taste will have everyone asking for more!

The Ingredients Behind My Skinny Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

Fresh Strawberries: These vibrant red berries are undeniably the star of our trifle, delivering an unparalleled burst of natural sweetness and a refreshing juiciness that defines the classic strawberry shortcake experience. We recommend using approximately two pints, or about 5 cups, of strawberries to ensure a generous, fruity presence throughout the layers. Slicing them allows for better distribution in the trifle and easier enjoyment in each bite. Beyond their irresistible flavor, fresh strawberries are a nutritional powerhouse, packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants, contributing a wholesome element to this delightful treat. Their soft, yielding texture when ripe provides a lovely contrast to the other components.

Fresh Blueberries: Adding a delightful contrast in both color and flavor, fresh blueberries bring a subtle tartness and a different kind of sweet pop to the trifle. Their deep blue hue makes the trifle visually stunning, while their small, firm texture provides a pleasant textural variation against the softer strawberries and cake. Much like strawberries, blueberries are renowned for their high antioxidant content, contributing further to the dessert's feel-good factor. Their slightly less sweet profile balances the overall sweetness of the dish.

Store-Bought Prepared Strawberry Glaze: This convenient ingredient is a brilliant shortcut and a secret weapon for amplifying the strawberry flavor and adding a lovely sheen to our fruit layers. A good quality prepared strawberry glaze offers a consistent sweetness and a slight gelatinous texture that beautifully coats the sliced berries, intensifying their natural taste and making them even more irresistible. It negates the need for simmering fruit and sugar, saving time and effort, and ensures a vibrant, glossy appearance for your fruit. Look for it in the produce section near other fresh fruit or in the baking aisle.

Ready-Baked Angel Food Cake: The very essence of lightness and airiness, ready-baked angel food cake forms the perfect, delicate foundation of our trifle. This smart shortcut significantly streamlines the preparation process, truly ensuring an "easy peasy" dessert. Its unique sponge-like texture is ideal for soaking up the delicious fruit juices and the creamy layers without becoming heavy or dense, which is key to a "skinny" dessert. Cutting the cake into 1-inch cubes creates perfectly bite-sized pieces that are ideal for layering evenly within the trifle dish and make for effortless serving and enjoyment. Importantly, choosing angel food cake drastically reduces the fat content compared to traditional shortcake biscuits or pound cake, making this a genuinely healthier indulgence.

Fat-Free Frozen Cool Whip (Thawed): This fluffy and light topping provides the dreamy, creamy element that beautifully ties the entire trifle together. Using an 8-ounce container of fat-free frozen Cool Whip (ensure it's completely thawed before using) allows for a rich and satisfying mouthfeel without the added calories and saturated fat typically found in traditional whipped cream made from heavy cream. It contributes a delightful coolness and a subtle, balanced sweetness that perfectly complements the vibrant fruit and delicate cake layers, providing that essential cloud-like texture.

Already Prepared Fat-Free Vanilla or Tapioca Pudding (Snack Packs): These convenient snack packs are another fantastic shortcut that adds a layer of smooth, luscious creaminess and a hint of classic vanilla flavor to the trifle. If you opt for tapioca pudding, you'll also get a fun, slightly chewy texture that adds another dimension of interest. Using two individual snack packs eliminates the need for cooking or chilling homemade pudding, saving significant time. Opting for fat-free versions keeps the dessert light and aligns with the "skinny" theme. The pudding helps to bind the layers, provides additional moisture, and contributes a subtle, comforting sweetness that enhances the overall flavor profile of this delightful trifle.

How to Make Skinny Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

Step 1: Laying the Foundation with Angel Food Cake

Begin your trifle masterpiece by placing half of your 1-inch cubed angel food cake pieces evenly on the bottom of a large serving bowl or trifle dish. This creates the essential light and airy base for your dessert, ready to soak up all the fantastic flavors.

Step 2: Adding a Burst of Fresh Strawberries

Next, sprinkle about 2 cups of your sliced fresh strawberries directly over the layer of angel food cake. Ensure they are distributed as evenly as possible to guarantee a sweet, juicy strawberry in every bite. This layer introduces the vibrant main flavor and adds a beautiful splash of color.

Step 3: Introducing Creamy Pudding Goodness

Now, gently dollop one of your fat-free vanilla or tapioca pudding snack packs all over the top of the strawberries. You don't need to spread it perfectly; the goal is to get the creamy pudding interspersed among the berries, adding a smooth texture and a hint of classic flavor.

Step 4: Incorporating Blueberries and a Glaze Drizzle

Evenly sprinkle about ½ cup of your fresh blueberries over the pudding and strawberries. Their slight tartness and firm texture offer a delightful contrast. Immediately after, drizzle ¼ cup of the store-bought prepared strawberry glaze over the blueberries. This glaze not only adds extra strawberry punch but also gives your fruit a beautiful, glossy finish.

Step 5: Spreading the Light and Fluffy Cool Whip Layer

Gently spread ½ of your thawed fat-free Cool Whip evenly over the strawberry glaze and blueberries. This creates a soft, cloud-like layer that brings a delightful creaminess and lightness to the trifle, making it feel indulgent without the heaviness.

Step 6: Repeating for Glorious Layers

Now, you'll repeat all the steps from Step 1 through Step 5. That means adding the remaining half of your angel food cake, then another layer of sliced strawberries, the second pudding snack pack, the remaining blueberries and strawberry glaze, and finally, the rest of your thawed fat-free Cool Whip. This layering technique is what gives a trifle its signature impressive look and ensures every spoonful is packed with a mix of textures and flavors.

Step 7: Decorating for a Stunning Presentation

Once your layers are complete, it's time to make your trifle truly show-stopping! Decorate the very top of your Skinny Strawberry Shortcake Trifle with your remaining sliced strawberries and blueberries. Arrange them artfully to create a visually appealing design that promises the fresh deliciousness within.

Final Touches and Storage

Chill Before Serving: For the best possible taste and texture, it’s crucial to chill your assembled trifle for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the cake to absorb some of the fruit juices and creaminess, resulting in a more cohesive and refreshing dessert.

Storing Leftovers: If you're lucky enough to have any leftovers, simply cover the trifle dish tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. It will remain delicious for a couple of days, making it a fantastic make-ahead option for parties or a delightful treat to enjoy throughout the week.

Helpful Tips About this Recipe

Makes 16 servings (each serving about ¾ cup)

Food Facts
Although shortcake is most commonly made with a rich biscuit, it can also be made with cake. The classic American shortcake is a large sweet biscuit, split in half, then filled and topped with sliced fruit, usually strawberries and whipped cream.
A trifle usually consists of sponge cake or ladyfingers, doused with sherry, covered with jam and custard, topped with whipped cream and garnished with fruit, nuts or chocolate.

Shopping Tips
Marie’s Glaze for Strawberries comes in a container and found in the produce section (near the strawberries) in most supermarkets. Store leftover glaze in the refrigerator for several weeks.

Ready baked angel food cake can be found in the produce section this time of year, usually displayed with fresh strawberries. It might also be in the bakery aisle.

Already prepared fat-free vanilla or tapioca pudding is usually displayed in the aisle where boxed dry pudding mixes are sold. It’s available in a 4-snack-pack size. You can substitute fat-free chocolate, if desired. If you can’t find it make your own with a dry package of instant vanilla pudding. Prepare it with fat-free milk.

Prep Tips
This dessert can be made a day in advance.

The easiest way to thaw Cool Whip is in the refrigerator. When you get home from the market, store in the fridge until ready to assemble the trifle.

WW Freestyle SmartPoints 3-Blue
WW SmartPoints 3-Green

SKINNY FACTS: for 1 serving (each serving about ¾ cup)
121 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat. fat, 0mg chol, 2g protein, 28g carbs, 2g fiber, 45mg sodium, 10g sugar

FACTS: for SmartPoints
96 calories, 0g sat. fat, 6g sugar, 2g protein