Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake (a.k.a Strawberry Trifle)

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Featuring layers of moist angel food cake, whipped cream, and strawberries, this Southern strawberry punch bowl cake (or strawberry trifle) is a perfectly fresh and sweet dessert to enjoy this summertime.

Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake

You may recognize this as a strawberry trifle but in my neck of the woods, we call it a strawberry punch bowl cake. And most folks I personally know keep a pretty glass bowl on standby just to be able to show off one of these delicious creations.

This Southern strawberry punch bowl cake is my husband’s absolute favorite. He wants this every year on his birthday, which is no small feat considering he was born in February. Easily made into a low-fat or lite dessert, it can actually be very diet-friendly when compared to your typical dessert. I love to make it in the summertime, but it can easily be made in the winter provided strawberries are available in your grocery store, to help stave off your cold-weather blues.

With layers of moist angel cake pieces, whipped cream, vanilla pudding, and fresh strawberries, I know this sweet dessert is going to be a hit when you make it for friends and family. If you’re looking for similar recipes to make this summer, check out my creamy dreamy trifle and my patriotic punch bowl cake.

Ingredients for Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake

Recipe Ingredients

  • Angel food cake mix 
  • Whipped topping
  • Milk
  • Instant vanilla pudding
  • Strawberries

Helpful Kitchen Tools

How To Make A Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake aka Strawberry Trifle

Preparing the Angel Food Cake.
Prepare and bake cake according to package directions.
Cut all of the brown off of your cake. This is purely for cosmetic purposes.
The brown part is perfect to give to antsy children as they watch you.
Or to feed the cook. You know we gotta keep our strength up…
Tearing the Angel Food Cake for Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake
Tear your angel food cake into small bite-sized pieces.
Bite-sizd pieces of angel food cake.
Like this.
Washing strawberries in sink.
Wash your strawberries. I just rinse them in a bowl of water.
Slice strawberries
Slice them all up.
Add milk to mixing bowl.
In your mixing bowl, pour your milk.
Add instant pudding to mixing bowl.
Then add the dry instant pudding.
Mix pudding.
Mix until well blended and starting to thicken.
You can use a whisk or electric mixer for this. Go with your mood.
Mixing whipped cream layer.
Add whipped cream.
Whipped topping in mixing bowl.
Mix again until well blended and looking like this.
 Dip your finger in it and taste it and make a note to make double next time so you can have a bowl of just this stuff.
By the way, this makes a great lite topping for cakes if you ever need one. You can use light whipped topping and sugar-free pudding and 2 percent milk – MUCH less guilt than icing!
Assembling trifle - angel food cake pieces as bottom layer.
Place a third of your cake bites in a simple glass bowl or a trifle bowl.
Assembling trifle - whipped cream layer.
Top with a third of your whipped topping mixture.
Assembling trifle.
Then add 1/2 of your sliced strawberries.
Repeat with a layer of cake, a layer of topping, a layer of strawberries, a layer of cake, a layer of topping, and a finishing strawberry to go on top!
A Beautiful Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake
Voila!
Isn’t that beautiful?
YUM! Bowl of Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake.

Yum yum YUM!

Storage

Store punch bowl cake leftovers tightly covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Recipe Notes

  • Decorate the top of your strawberry punch bowl cake with 3/4 cup of shredded coconut and 1/4 cup chopped pecans.
  • Instead of the angel food cake mix, you can use your favorite pound cake recipe or yellow cake mix.
  • If you want to add more fruit to your punch bowl cake, add one sliced banana and half a can of crushed pineapple on top of every layer of your fresh strawberries.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this strawberry trifle ahead of time?

Absolutely! This strawberry punch bowl cake actually tastes even better when it’s been refrigerated overnight, as the pudding/Cool Whip mixture has time to really soak into the angel food cake pieces. So yes, you can assemble your trifle up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate, covered, until you’re ready to serve.

How do I make my strawberry punch bowl cake diet-friendly?

To make this punch bowl cake recipe diet-friendly, use sugar-free pudding, fat-free or light Cool Whip, and skim milk. The cake is already low in fat and well, fresh strawberries are good for you!

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Mama’s Classic Strawberry Cobbler Recipe

Fresh Strawberry Muffins

Cream Cheese Strawberry Cobbler

That Strawberry Cake 🙂

Strawberry Ice Cream Pie

Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake

Featuring layers of moist angel food cake, whipped cream, and strawberries, this Southern strawberry punch bowl cake (or strawberry trifle) is a perfectly fresh and sweet dessert to enjoy this summertime.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake
Servings: 4
Calories: 376kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 angel food cake
  • 3.5-ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix this is the small box and I always use sugar-free
  • 2 cups milk can use skim
  • 8-ounce carton whipped topping can use light or fat-free
  • 1 pint fresh strawberries washed and hulled

Instructions

  • Using a knife, trim the brown from the baked cake, then tear the cake into small bite-sized pieces.
    1 angel food cake
  • Prepare the pudding as directed, using an electric mixer. Add in Cool Whip and mix until well blended and smooth.
    3.5-ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix, 2 cups milk, 8-ounce carton whipped topping
  • Place 1/3 cake pieces in a large bowl. Top with 1/3 pudding mixture and 1/2 strawberries. Repeat and top with the remaining pudding mixture. Garnish with a fresh strawberry. Refrigerate until ready to enjoy!
    1 pint fresh strawberries

Nutrition

Calories: 376kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

I used to think I was indecisive but now I’m not so sure. 

~anon

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100 Comments

  1. This cake looks so pretty I would hate to serve it, but I would have to have a taste. Yum!
    Bon appetit,
    Kippi #kippiathome

  2. Christy, this has got to be one of your best recipes. I have made it twice in the last week or so and it is so delicious. Not only is it delicious, it is a wonderful recipe my diabetic husband can enjoy when I use sugar free pudding mix and sugar free whipped topping.

  3. My mother made hot water sponge cakes the poor man’s angelfood she said, we would sometimes get a slice of cake, sliced lightly sugared strawberries and whipped cream or just whipping cream poured over. She never made a trifle, but would have used Bird’s lemon custard powder or made a plain vanilla or almond custard to go in it. In anycase it’s just plain good, and don’t blame Ricky a bit for wanting it for his birthday.

  4. Could I use the homemade custard recipe I use for banana pudding rather than box pudding? I think I would layer with the custard and then whipped cream rather than mixing it together. Thoughts? Thank you Christy. You always open minds for creative cooking.

  5. I made this cake today, instead of using vanilla pudding I used cheesecake flavor pudding and it was wonderful for the short time it lasted. Thanks for the recipe, really enjoy your site!

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