This strawberry banana cheesecake trifle is the ultimate no-bake dessert for fruit lovers. It’s creamy, light, and loaded with layers of sweet pound cake, fresh strawberries, ripe bananas, and a fluffy cream cheese filling. I first made this for a summer family reunion, and it’s been on repeat ever since. It reminds me of my grandmother’s banana pudding and my aunt’s classic strawberry shortcake only it’s better because it combines them both. The result is a showstopping layered trifle that’s perfect for any occasion.
Whether you’re hosting a party or just craving something sweet and fruity, this strawberry banana cheesecake trifle delivers flavor, beauty, and ease.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Trifle
There are so many reasons to fall in love with this strawberry banana cheesecake trifle. For starters, it looks as good as it tastes. The layers of red strawberries, yellow bananas, and creamy filling are gorgeous in a glass dish. But the best part? It’s simple. No baking, no gelatin, no complicated steps. If you can whip cream and slice fruit, you can make this.
Plus, it’s inspired by fan-favorite treats like fried strawberry cheesecake sandwiches, offering all the flavor with none of the frying. Serve this at your next gathering, and you’ll be asked for the recipe before dessert is over.
Pure Comfort
There’s something irresistibly comforting about the creamy texture of cheesecake and the familiar sweetness of fresh fruit. Each bite of this strawberry banana cheesecake trifle delivers a satisfying combination of moist cake, tart strawberries, smooth cheesecake filling, and soft bananas. It’s cool, refreshing, and indulgent without feeling heavy.
Ingredients for Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Trifle
1 pound cake or angel food cake, cubed
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
2 ripe bananas, sliced
2 tablespoons lemon juice (to prevent browning)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar (for whipped cream)
Optional: 1/4 cup strawberry preserves
What You Need
Trifle bowl or large glass dish
Mixing bowls
Electric mixer
Rubber spatula
Cutting board and knife
Measuring cups and spoons
Refrigerator space for chilling
Time to Cook Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Trifle
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Yield: 10–12 servings
Steps to Make It
Step 1
Toss banana slices with lemon juice and set aside.
Step 2
Toss sliced strawberries with 1 tablespoon sugar if desired and let sit for 10–15 minutes to release juices.
Step 3
In a bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Step 4
In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream with 1/4 cup powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
Step 5
Fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to create a light cheesecake filling.
Step 6
Begin layering in your trifle bowl: start with pound cake cubes, followed by a layer of cheesecake filling, sliced strawberries, and sliced bananas.
Step 7
Repeat layers until the bowl is full. Top with whipped cream and garnish with extra strawberries and bananas.
Step 8
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Make It Perfect
Use firm but ripe bananas to ensure they hold their shape. Macerate the strawberries to enhance their natural sweetness and create a bit of syrup for drizzling. For a firmer texture, chill the cream cheese before mixing and use cold heavy cream. Want more strawberry flavor? Swirl in a layer of strawberry preserves between layers.
Mix It Up
Don’t stop at strawberries and bananas this base recipe can be adapted in so many ways. Add crushed vanilla wafers or shortbread for crunch. Use flavored cream cheese like strawberry or honey pecan. Or take inspiration from mini cheesecake ideas and serve individual trifles in small jars for easy portion control.
Perfect Partners
This trifle is delicious on its own, but it pairs beautifully with other fruity treats. Try serving it alongside homemade strawberry lemonade cookies or a cool glass of lemon iced tea. For a full dessert spread, include lighter bites like fruit skewers or a lemon sorbet.
Busy Day Hero
Trifles were made for meal prep. You can slice the fruit and cube the cake the night before. Mix the filling and keep everything chilled. On the day of, just assemble, chill, and serve. It’s a lifesaver when entertaining on a busy schedule.
Work Ahead
If you’re hosting a big crowd, double the recipe and make two smaller trifles. Keep all components chilled and assemble a few hours before serving. The flavors meld beautifully, and it only gets better the longer it sits (up to 24 hours).
Save Some For Later
Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. Store in a tightly sealed container. The bananas may soften, but the flavor deepens over time. For a midweek treat, spoon leftovers into individual cups and enjoy chilled.
Everyone’s Happy
This dessert pleases kids and adults alike. It’s fruity, creamy, and not overly sweet. You can adjust sugar levels to taste and even swap ingredients for dietary needs gluten-free cake, dairy-free cream, or low-sugar options all work well here.
Good For You Too
While this isn’t a low-cal dessert, it does contain fresh fruit, calcium-rich cream cheese, and the happiness of a crowd-pleasing treat. Want to make it lighter? Use reduced-fat cream cheese, low-sugar cake, or Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream.
Easy Clean Up
You’ll love that cleanup is minimal just one or two bowls, a whisk or mixer, and a spatula. No oven mess, no pans to scrub. This trifle is all reward and very little effort.
Switch It Up
Try a tropical variation with mango, pineapple, and coconut whipped cream. Or make it festive with red and green fruit for Christmas. Craving chocolate? Drizzle melted chocolate between layers or add chocolate chips to the filling. There’s no wrong way to trifle.
Simply Perfect
This strawberry banana cheesecake trifle is a true crowd-pleaser. It’s gorgeous, satisfying, and endlessly adaptable. Whether you’re serving it at a picnic, birthday party, or weeknight dinner, it’s always the right choice.
FAQs for Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Trifle
Can I make this a day ahead?
Yes! In fact, it tastes better after a few hours in the fridge.
Do the bananas brown?
Tossing them in lemon juice helps prevent browning.
Can I use Cool Whip instead of whipped cream?
Yes, just reduce the powdered sugar slightly if using sweetened whipped topping.
Do I need a trifle bowl?
No, any large glass bowl works. Mason jars also make adorable single servings.
Can I make this gluten-free?
Absolutely just use gluten-free cake or cookies as the base.
Conclusion for Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Trifle
This strawberry banana cheesecake trifle is a love letter to simple, satisfying desserts. With creamy cheesecake filling, fresh fruit, and soft cake in every spoonful, it’s the kind of recipe that becomes a family favorite from the very first bite. Make it once, and you’ll come back to it again and again.
Happy cooking with Rita chef ❤️!
Print
Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Trifle
- Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
Description
This strawberry banana cheesecake trifle combines fresh fruit, creamy whipped cheesecake, and soft pound cake into a layered no-bake dessert.
Ingredients
1 pound cake or angel food cake, cubed
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
2 ripe bananas, sliced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar (for whipping cream)
Optional: 1/4 cup strawberry preserves
Instructions
Slice bananas and toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
Mix sliced strawberries with a bit of sugar and let them sit to release juices.
In a bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.
In another bowl, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to create cheesecake filling.
In a trifle bowl, layer cake cubes, cheesecake filling, strawberries, and bananas.
Repeat layers until the bowl is full, finishing with a decorative top of whipped cream and fruit.
Chill the trifle for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
Use slightly stale cake for best texture. You can substitute Cool Whip for homemade whipped cream. This dessert is best made a few hours ahead and keeps well overnight.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 135mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: strawberry banana cheesecake trifle, no bake trifle dessert, fruit trifle recipe, layered cheesecake dessert