A trifle is a dessert dish made from thick (or often solidified) custard, fruit, sponge cake, fruit juice or, more recently, gelatin, and whipped cream. These ingredients are usually arranged in layers with fruit and sponge on the bottom, and custard and cream on top.

The earliest known use of the name trifle was for a thick cream flavored with sugar, ginger and rosewater, the recipe for

Some trifles contain a small amount of alcohol such as port, or, most commonly, sweet sherry or Madeira wine. Non-alcoholic versions may use sweet juices instead, as the liquid is necessary to moisten the cake layers.

One popular trifle variant has the sponge soaked in jelly (liquid-gelatin dessert) when the trifle is made, which sets when refrigerated. The egg and jelly bind together and produce a pleasant texture if made in the correct proportions.

A trifle is often used for decoration as well as taste, incorporating the bright, layered colours of the fruit, jelly, egg, and the contrast of the creamy yellow cream.

Trifles are often served at Christmas time, sometimes as a lighter alternative to the much denser Christmas pudding.

A Creole trifle (also sometimes known as a 'Russian cake') is a different but related

A recent variation is the chocolate trifle, usually made with chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and skor bars.

In France, a dessert similar to trifle is known as diplomate (French) which explains the production of such trifle-like in New Orleans. In Italy, a dessert similar to trifle is known as zuppa inglese, meaning English Soup.