Turn Boxed Yellow Cake Mix Into A Fancy Dessert With Just A Few Store-Bought Ingredients

Boxed yellow cake mix is perfect for when you want a simple yet tasty dessert. There are many amazing things you can make with boxed cake mix, including cookies, milkshakes, and even waffles. If you're looking for a more sophisticated dessert that doesn't require a ton of effort in the kitchen, we have the perfect option for you. Trifles are a classic English dessert that typically features layers of sponge cake, custard, and fruit, though the recipe is endlessly adaptable. If you want to stick with the basic recipe, all you'll need is a box of cake mix, plus vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and an assortment of berries (blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries often make an appearance in these desserts). 

Assembling a trifle couldn't be easier but be sure to alternate layers to create a good balance of flavors and textures. The yellow cake layer should go first to absorb all the delicious cream and fruit juice. A layer of fruit can go next, followed by the cream, pudding, or custard. Simply repeat these layers until you reach the top of the cup or bowl, and don't forget a generous topping of whipped cream to complete the dessert. Trifles may have been inspired by a dessert called "foole" that was popular during England's Elizabethan era. Foole was quite different from the trifles that are beloved today, as they were made with rosewater-flavored cream, with additional flavoring from sugar and ginger. It's believed that trifles evolved into their current form during the 1700s, at which point cookies were introduced. 

Making a trifle with boxed yellow cake mix is about as easy as you can get with a dessert of this pedigree, but there are some ways you can make the treat even better. Trifles are at their absolute peak when you give them time for all the ingredients to become fully enmeshed. To this end, it's recommended that you make the dessert a day ahead and allow it to chill in the fridge overnight. If you follow this method, hold off on adding the whipped cream layer until you're ready to enjoy the dessert to stop it from becoming too soft and mushy. You can preserve the dessert in the refrigerator by adding a layer of plastic wrap to the top of the cup or bowl.

When it comes to variations on the classic pairing of yellow cake, berries, and cream or pudding, you're only limited by your imagination and palate preferences. For instance, incorporating Mascarpone cheese, cocoa powder, and chocolate shavings creates a tiramisu-like treat. As for fruit selection, peaches, plums, bananas, and cherries often make an appearance in truffle recipes, as do tart and tangy cranberries (a fruit that can be used in all sorts of amazing ways). No matter what type of fruit you use, always choose fresh over frozen, as the water content in frozen fruit could cause the yellow cake to become too soggy.