Black Forest Trifle: A Winter Dessert

My Nana is the queen of chocolate cake makers. Seriously. Her cake has the right amount of chocolate, sweetness, and moistness. That may be due to the fact of the coffee which gives a hint of its flavor in each bite. This was probably the first cake I ever made. It has been made for all kinds of occasions and situations. It is perfect. 

 And so when I needed a cake for my black forest trifle I knew exactly which recipe to use.

It is a generous recipe. It makes enough cake for a trifle for a dinner party, two individual trifles, and random snitching which may or may not have been a family affair. 

Nana's Chocolate Cake

1 3/4 c flour 
2 c sugar
3/4 c cocoa 
2 t baking soda
1 t baking powder 
1 t salt 

2 eggs 
1 c coffee
1 c sour milk
1/2 c oil
1 t vanilla 

Combine dry ingredients. Add rest and beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Pour into greased and floured pan. Bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes. 

And then for the trifle. A delightful and very forgiving dessert. It's best if you make the cake a day ahead of time and let it sit uncovered on the counter. Trifles are traditionally made with stale cake. 
This is a great fall or winter dessert as the cherries can be canned or frozen during the summer, please, promise me you'll do that next summer. You won't regret it. I'm already wishing I had done more. To taste summer and sunshine in the winter is a delightful sensation.


If you're like me, then the first step will be to empty your trifle bowl of the pine cones it held over the Christmas season and  wash it out thoroughly. If you don't have a trifle bowl, any large glass bowl will work just as well. Punch bowls or little jars for individual servings also work well. 

Black Forest Trifle (inspired by this) 


1 chocolate cake, torn into bite sized pieces
3-4 cups canned dark cherries in syrup, I pulled a couple bags of cherry pie filling from my freezer to put this together.
4 cups whipped cream 


Layer the cake, cherries and cream in your bowl of choice. Top with cherries and shaved chocolate for garnish. Chill in fridge until ready to serve. 

Enjoy with coffee and stimulating conversation! 

 P.S. Thank-you all for your comments about my new adventure, you have no idea how encouraging it is to read how you are cheering me on. So grateful for each of you!