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Individual Red Velvet Trifles with Cherry Compote (Make-Ahead Dessert)

Individual red velvet trifle cups layered with cherry compote and cream cheese frosting. Pretty enough for Valentine’s, easy enough for everyday, and fully make-ahead friendly.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
cooling time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Dessert
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp red gel food coloring
Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 2 cups cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 –2 drops red/pink gel food coloring optional
Cherry Compote
  • 2 cups frozen cherries
  • 1/2 cup sugar

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line or grease a baking dish.
  2. In a bowl, mix buttermilk, oil, and gel food coloring.
  3. In another bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, and salt 3–4 minutes until fluffy.
  4. Add the buttermilk mixture to the eggs, then add flour and baking soda and fold gently.
  5. Pour into the prepared dish and bake 40–45 minutes. Cool fully (at least 2 hours).
  6. Meanwhile, simmer cherries + sugar 15 minutes. Cool completely.
  7. Crumble cooled cake into fine crumbs.
  8. Whisk cream cheese and powdered sugar (+ food coloring) until smooth.
  9. Layer 2 TBSP crumbs into each cup, pipe frosting, add 1–2 TBSP cherry filling. Repeat layers and finish with frosting + crumbs.
  10. Chill until serving. Makes 6 individual trifles.

Notes

Add food coloring slowly, a few drops at a time, until your desired color is reached.