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. I trim the cake for company, but for family I just tear it all in small pieces. This is because I eat all the trimmings when I have company. I love angel food cake.:)

  2. yum yum!! I haven’t tried one like this but I do mine using the strawberry & blueberry pie filling. I bet one with fresh strawberries is FINE, will definitely have to try it. And with angel food cake too… I make one at Christmas each year and told them that next year I’m trying it with angel food cake… sounds great!

  3. This is a wonderful dessert if you have folks who have to watch their sugar intake! You will not feel cheated at all!

  4. Do you have to refrigerate so the pudding sets up, do you refrigerate this at all, or just make it and serve it up.

  5. I ran across this site and I tell you I am happy about it. I made the punch bowl cake for our annual prayer luncheon and it was a big hit. I am planning on making it for my grandchildren’s luncheon on this Saturday. I love the fact that you make it easy by showing the steps and how it should look. God Bless You.

  6. I made this for Easter lunch and it was loved by all – even my husband who thinks he only likes the real thing – SUGAR! Wonderful for those who don’t need / or can’t have sugar! Thanks Christy!

  7. This looks like one of the yummiest things I’ve ever seen. Chances are good I’ll have a trifle bowl under the Christmas tree and if I do, I’m considering making a version of this with canned peaches instead of strawberries since it’s the middle of winter in the middle of Alaska and we don’t have a lot of strawberries around!

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