Chocolate and strawberry panettone trifle is what happens when classic Italian holiday bread meets rich, decadent flavors and fresh, juicy fruit. It’s one of those desserts that looks impressive in a glass bowl but comes together with very little stress. Perfect for entertaining, this layered showstopper brings together the familiar comfort of panettone with the elegance of a traditional trifle.
Panettone is often associated with Christmas mornings and festive gatherings, but this dessert proves it deserves a spot on the table all year round. Light, slightly sweet, and dotted with raisins or citrus peel, panettone provides a soft, cake-like base that absorbs flavor beautifully. When layered with silky chocolate cream and fresh strawberries, it transforms into something new and indulgent.
What makes this trifle especially appealing is the mix of textures. The panettone is soft and spongy, soaking up the flavors from the chocolate and berries. The chocolate layer brings a creamy, rich contrast, while the strawberries offer brightness and a hint of tartness. Add a layer of whipped cream, and you’ve got a balance of light and rich that keeps every spoonful interesting.
This dessert is also incredibly versatile. You can dress it up with chocolate shavings, sliced almonds, or even a drizzle of liqueur if you’re serving adults. Or keep it simple and let the core ingredients speak for themselves. The best part? It can be made ahead, giving you one less thing to worry about when hosting guests.
Chocolate and strawberry panettone trifle is ideal for the holidays, but it works just as well for birthdays, brunches, or any time you want a dessert that looks beautiful and tastes even better. It’s comfort food wrapped in elegance, with layers that surprise and delight with every bite.
Ingredients
- 500 g panettone
- 300 g strawberries fresh
- 500 ml double cream
- 100 g dark chocolate chopped
- 50 g white chocolate grated
- 4 tbsp strawberry jam
- 2 tbsp icing sugar
Instructions
- Cut the panettone into slices and arrange them in the bottom of a trifle dish.
- Spread the strawberry jam evenly over the panettone slices.
- Hull and slice the strawberries, and layer them over the jam.
- In a mixing bowl, whip the double cream until thickened, then add the icing sugar and continue to whip until stiff peaks form.
- Fold in the chopped dark chocolate.
- Spread the whipped cream mixture over the strawberries in the trifle dish.
- Sprinkle the grated white chocolate over the top of the trifle.
- Cover the trifle dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Serve chilled and enjoy!
Nutrition
I think 2 hours is not enough—should be like overnight so the panettone soaks up the jam. After 2 hours mine was kinda dry in the middle.
Huh, mine was fine with just 2 hours? I pressed the panettone slices down a little and made sure the jam layer was really even. Maybe your slices were thicker?
I agree—2 hours sounds short for panettone. I always do at least 4-6 hours (overnight if I can) or the middle stays a bit bready instead of jammy.
My whipped cream kinda collapsed 😕 I think I overwhipped or the bowl wasn’t cold. The flavor is good, but next time I’ll be more careful with the cream.
Mine did that once too. I think the chocolate might make it heavy… or I forgot to add sugar? Idk. Your plan sounds right though—keep everything cold and watch the peaks like you said.
Ugh, sorry that happened 😕 Overwhipping can definitely collapse cream. Next time try chilling the bowl/beaters really well and stop as soon as you get stiff peaks—once it goes past that it can turn grainy or weepy.
The white chocolate on top is a nice touch. I liked it a lot but my husband didn’t like the panettone.
Yummy! But I mixed up the chocolate and used white instead of dark by accident. Still tasted good tho. 4 stars!
I tried this recipe and it was a disaster! The whipped cream didn’t whip properly. What did I do wrong?
I like sweet desserts but I found the jam + strawberries + chocolate kinda overloaded. Next time I’ll reduce jam slightly or use less white chocolate.
Totally get that—jam + strawberries + both chocolates can hit “too sweet” fast. Reducing the jam a bit or swapping to more dark and less white is a great call. I might try 3 tbsp jam next time and see how it balances with the dark chocolate.
Good idea with panettone instead of sponge! Mine was a bit dry though—maybe my panettone slices were too thick or I didn’t chill long enough. Still tasty, just needs tweaking.
This trifle is heavenly! The chocolate and strawberries work so well together. I just wish I could eat it every day!
Easy to follow! Even I could make it! Just right for parties! 5 stars
So glad you found it easy! It’s such a fun dessert for gatherings. Can’t wait to make it myself!
I made this for my family, and they couldn’t stop eating it! Super easy too!
Why use both dark and white chocolate? It’s good, but kind of messy—white on top melts and streaks everywhere. Also, I ran out of jam so I eyeballed extra strawberry sauce.
IF you are going to print this recipe in the U.S. could you please use measurements that we have even HEARD OF. I have NO IDEA what 500g pannettone is. And then: 500m of Double Cream?????
I don’t know why everyone loves panettone. It’s just dry bread to me. This wasn’t even that good.
Yum! So good. I ate half of it before it even made it to the table 😅
Panettone? Never heard of it until now. Is it actually Italian? 🤷♂️
I made this for my daughter’s birthday and it was a total hit! The chocolate and strawberries go so well together!
How do you get panettone? I can’t find it anywhere! 🤔
You might try specialty grocery stores or check online! It’s such a tasty treat! 😊
I skipped the jam and used strawberry sauce instead. It was still good, but the sweetness balance was off—more like dessert soup at first. Would not do it again.
Panettone in a trifle feels fancy, but also kind of lazy (in a good way). If you cut it thick, it stays nice and doesn’t get soggy.
Chilling for 2 hours isn’t enough if you want full set. I left mine overnight and it was way better—more cohesive layers. Just a heads up.
Hmm, good point. I usually do 2 hours and it always feels a bit loose—maybe I’ll try overnight next time. Thanks for the heads-up!