7 Southern Punch Bowl Cake Recipes
This traditional Southern dessert is the perfect combination of elegance and ease.
If you are interested in making homemade Southern desserts but don't want to spend all day in the kitchen, then Southern punch bowl cakes might be for you.
This collection of 7 Southern Punch Cake Recipes will show you the virtues of this classic Southern dessert. Layered punch bowl cakes are elegant and impressive, but assembling them couldn't be easier. Traditionally, to make Southern punch bowl cake, prepared or store-bought cake is cut up and layered with a pudding mixture, various types of fruit, and whipped cream.
There are variations between the different recipes, but these punch bowl cakes all have two things in common: they are delicious and impossibly easy to make.
7 Southern Punch Bowl Cake Recipes
Table of Contents
For more Southern desserts, be sure to download a free, printable copy of Heavenly Southern Desserts: 9 Easy Cake Recipes
Traditional Punch Bowl Cake Recipes
- Lovely Layered Punch Bowl CakeYou will be shocked at how easy it is to prepare this Southern recipe for Lovely Layered Punch Bowl Cake. Angel food cake is layered with vanilla pudding, pineapple, bananas, strawberries, and more to make this Southern punch bowl cake.
- Southern Strawberry Coconut Punch Bowl CakeTo make this easy Southern recipe, angel food cake is combined with strawberries, coconut, and a filling made from whipped topping, sour cream, evaporated milk, and sugar. Everyone will love this classic take on punch bowl cake.
- Strawberry Angel Punch Bowl CakeThe filling for this Southern dessert is made from a combination of cream cheese, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and frozen strawberries. The filling is then layered with cake, coconut, and nuts.
- Strawberry Punch Bowl CakeIt only takes five ingredients to make this sumptuous Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake. Prepared cake, vanilla pudding, whipped topping, and strawberries make up this elegant but simple Southern dessert.
Other Recipes for Punch Bowl Cake
- Southern Potluck Punch Bowl CakeMake a portable version of punch bowl cake with this recipe for Southern Potluck Punch Bowl Cake. Instead of using one large punch bowl, the cakes are layered in mason jars for the cutest dessert you could possibly imagine.
- Triple Chocolate Punch Bowl CakeUnlike most Southern punch bowl cake recipes, this recipe features everyone's favorite sweet treat: chocolate! Double-chocolate cake is layered with chocolate pudding and whipped cream before getting topped with fresh strawberries.
- Classic Punch Bowl CakeOur test kitchen version of Paula Deen's punch bowl cake is sure to please. Store-bought pound cake is layered with pudding and fruit to make this irresistible punch bowl cake.
What's the Difference Between a Punch Bowl Cake and a Trifle?
Merriam-Webster defines “trifle” as “a dessert made of layers of cake, jam or jelly, and custard and topped with whipped cream.” Since punch bowl cakes and trifles can both be described by this definition, the true distinction comes down to regional differences in vernacular.
In colonial America, the punch bowl was a status symbol and the size of the bowl corresponded with a family’s societal importance. However, as glass punch bowls became more affordable, they became more common household items. Punch bowls played a large part in Southern culture, in that there was usually a punch bowl present at every social gathering from weddings to family gatherings to baby showers. Since it became so common for a household to own a punch bowl, these vessels became a sort of multi-purpose dish for both punch and desserts.
In the dessert recipe itself, there is essentially no true difference between a punch bowl cake and trifle. Rather, the “punch bowl cake” is a regional term that acknowledges the history behind the Southern punch bowl as well as its cultural significance in the South.
Find even more homemade cake recipes in our collection of 31 Traditional Southern Cake Recipes
What does your family call this dessert - punch bowl cake or trifle? Let us know in the comments!
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jamesdkrantz 08183 56
Feb 21, 2018
I only ever knew it as a Trifle and that is what it will always be. Punch Bowl Cake sounds lazy and more like you are just dumping things into a punch bowl. The one thing about Trifles I hate is all the work it takes to put together, but the end results is what makes it worth it.
versatileer 480255 3
Jun 05, 2017
This is Punch bowl cake for both me and my family. And might I add, very delicious indeed.
bettyurick 7046090
Jun 04, 2017
I would call the Lovely Layered Punch bowl Cake a Trifle only because it sounds like something fancy.
sugarsweet7202 053 2595
Jun 03, 2017
We've always called it a Trifle Cake. I've never heard of punch bowl cake. Our punch bowls look much different!
KathrynAllison
Jun 02, 2017
I've always referred to these types of desserts as trifles. In fact, I've never heard the term punch bowl cake until now!
sbcashortie 300284 9
Jun 01, 2017
Everyone I know calls it trifle. I had never heard it called punch bowl cake before!
jadoredior
May 30, 2017
I didn't know this was a thing, but I'm glad to know there is more than one use for a punch bowl. Also, we call them trifles.
sywhite1026 311601 5
May 30, 2017
I will try it, new to the site loving it so far !
writer61 3874853
May 29, 2017
I've always identified the dessert as a Trifle, usually made with berries in season.
lcarr
May 27, 2017
Punch bowl cake or trifle, who cares! You can call them Stuff I stacked, I dont care. I love them regardless of what you want to call them. The possibilities are virtuously endless when it comes to desserts like this. These recipes are great. My favorite is the Strawberry punch bowl cake.
bkick1
May 25, 2017
In Canada it is called Trifle. It's a great way to keep the kitchen cool in the summer and yet serve an elegant dessert.
elizamattfacebook 7635983
May 25, 2017
Definitely trifle for me - I'm English and live in Canada.
sabialigator 19194 85
May 23, 2017
that would be called Trifle in our house (Canada)
aketch
May 22, 2017
We call it trifle and we love it. The fruit, cream, cake and brandy combination are just delicious. We usually make it during holidays like Easter and Christmas. It is a practical dessert, because it feeds a large crowd.
nataliegrace
Mar 29, 2017
Wow, these punch bowl cakes are beautiful! I would definitely be impressed if I saw one of these at a party. I can't believe how easy they are to make!
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