Loaded with fresh fruit, layers of sweetened cream and tender shortcake, these pretty little Triple Berry Mason Jar Trifle is a great dessert to make with the family.
Prep Time40 minutesmins
Cook Time8 minutesmins
Chilling Time10 minutesmins
Total Time58 minutesmins
Course: Chilled Dessert, Dessert, Fruit Dessert, Spring Dishes, Summer Dessert
Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Macerate the fruit:
Save out a few of each berry so you can garnish the finished trifles. Place the blueberries, raspberries and sliced strawberries into a medium mixing bowl. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the granulated sugar over the berries and toss them with a spoon to coat them. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and set the berries aside until it's time to assemble the trifles.
Make the shortcakes:
Whisk together the flour, the rest of the granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
Slice the cold butter into small cubes. Stir the butter cubes to the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients so that the mixture looks coarse. If any large pieces remain, use your fingers to squeeze and flatten them.
Add in the half-and-half and use a spoon to toss and combine the mixture.
Dust a work surface with flour and pour out the flour-butter mixture. Sprinkle the top with a bit more of flour and knead by hand for just 2 or 3 minutes until it has just come together into a dough (add a sprinkle more flour to the work surface or dough to keep it from getting too sticky.)
Roll the dough out to a ½-inch thickness. Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut circles from the dough. (If you don't have a cookie cutter this small, look around your kitchen: measure the lid from a large spice bottle or top of a glass bottle and you'll probably find one that's 2 inches. If not, draw a 2-inch circle on a piece of parchment paper, cut it out and use it as a template.)
Place the shortcake dough circles on the prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Pop the tray in the fridge for 10 minutes to chill the dough circles.
Bake them in the preheated oven for 8-9 minutes, until they are puffed and just beginning to brown. Remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Assemble the trifles:
Place one shortcake round in the bottom of each mason jar. If the shortcakes are a little too big to fit in the jar, use your cookie cutter or a sharp knife to trim a little off the outside.
Add 2 tablespoons of the macerated berries including some of the sugary juices to each jar. Top the berries with about 1 tablespoon of whipped cream (eyeball it if you're using spray whipped cream from a can.)
Place another shortcake round on top of the cream, top with 2 more tablespoons of berries and juices. Finish the top of the trifle with a generous dollop (or squirt) of whipped cream. Add the berries you held aside to the tops to make them look even prettier!
Serve immediately. The trifles may also be assembled and refrigerated for up to an hour before serving. Makes 6 servings.
To make your own sweetened whipped cream:
Chill a bowl and whisk attachment for your mixer in the freezer for 10 minutes, then assemble them on your mixer. Pour in 1 cup of heavy cream or whipping cream and turn the mixer on high.
Whip the cream for a minute or two, then add in ¼ cup of confectioner's sugar. Continue whipping the cream on high speed for another 2-4 minutes until it is thick and has peaks. Use the whipped cream immediately or keep it covered in the fridge until you need it.
Notes
Make-ahead options. The trifles should be assembled no more than an hour before serving, but here are two things you can do ahead of time: you can bake the shortcake rounds up to three days in advance. If you are making your own whipped cream you can do this a day in advance.