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.
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?
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! 😊
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.
Oh my gosh! This looks amazing, but I don’t even know what half these words mean. Panettone? Is that a cake? Lol. But I’ll give it a try!
I didn’t have dark chocolate, so I used milk chocolate. It was sweet overload!
Milk chocolate is nice too! Just sweeten it to taste. Glad you liked it!
Sweet overload? Maybe too much sugar? I always stick to dark chocolate for that rich flavor.
2 hours only? Mine always needs longer, like overnight, otherwise the layers don’t really mesh. Still, the flavors sound balanced.
2 hours feels a bit optimistic 😅 I’ve found it needs way longer too—overnight usually makes the layers soak and mesh properly. That said, the combo of jam + strawberries + chocolate cream sounds really balanced.
I might have messed up the cream part… it didn’t whip up like I thought it would. Maybe my cream was too warm? Still tasted alright tho.
Is 500 g of panettone really necessary? That’s a lot! Maybe half would do? 🤔
This is a fancy dessert! But do you really need all that cream?
Too much cream, not healthy. I’d cut it down to half or even less.
I think the cream is what makes it so rich and delicious! You can’t skip that part!
Why do we need icing sugar in the cream? Seems unnecessary. I just used regular sugar and it was fine.
Icing sugar helps to sweeten the cream without making it grainy. Regular sugar won’t dissolve as well and could affect the texture. Trust me, it makes a difference!
But it seems like an extra step, doesn’t it? I mean, if regular sugar works, why complicate things? Just sayin’!
Not sure about this panettone thing. Isn’t it just for Christmas? My family thought it was weird.
Nah, panettone is just for Christmas! This recipe sounds odd. Who eats this stuff in summer?
I get where you’re coming from, but panettone is actually great anytime! This trifle sounds delicious!
Looks good but I dont get why people like panettone, its just dry bread right?
Idk about this. Panettone is bread, so why not use actual cake? Seems like a random mash-up to me.
Panettone isn’t exactly just “bread” like sandwich bread—it’s sweet, eggy, and airy, so it soaks up the cream/jam vibe in a trifle really nicely. A plain cake might work, but it’ll be different in texture and flavor. I get why it sounds random though 😅
I don’t get the hype around trifle. It’s just a big mess, right?
Wow, the combo of panettone + strawberries + chocolate sounds insanely good. The whipped cream with dark chocolate folded in is a great idea. I’m definitely making this for a dinner party.
Yes!! This sounds like a restaurant dessert. Panettone is such a good base for soaking up the jam and cream—also the dark chocolate in the whipped cream is chef’s kiss. For dinner party, I’d make it the night before.
Okay but panettone can get kinda dry—won’t it turn soggy? I feel like I’d need more jam or even a splash of something (like orange juice?) or else it’ll be meh. Still… I’d try it.
Great recipe, but I used strawberries from a can… still turned out pretty good!
Not a fan of panettone, is there a substitute? Maybe poundcake?
I liked it but my kids thought it was too sweet. Maybe less jam next time?
I totally agree! Less jam might help balance the sweetness. My kids also don’t like overly sweet things. Thanks for the tip!