Some might call this dessert Strawberry Vanilla Trifle if they were feeling fancy. My family lovingly calls it Strawberry Junk. Strawberry Junk is a heavenly combination of cloud-like angel food cake, tart fresh strawberries, creamy homemade vanilla pudding, and fluffy whipped cream. A bowl full of Strawberry Junk is the perfect way to send off summer.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutesminutes
Cook Time 15 minutesminutes
Total Time 45 minutesminutes
Servings 12
Ingredients
1angel food cakestore-bought or made from mix
2lbsstrawberries
1lemon
2Cwhole milk
½C+ 2 Tb sugar
4tspcornstarch
3egg yolks
3tspvanilla extract
¼tspsalt
2Tbbutter
2Cheavy cream
½Cpowdered sugar
Instructions
To make vanilla pudding*
Combine ½ C milk, cornstarch, egg yolks, and salt in a large liquid measuring cup or bowl with a spout for easy pouring. Bring 1 and ½ C milk and ½ C sugar to simmer over medium heat. When bubbles just start to form around the outer edge, remove from heat and pour into bowl with remaining milk and cornstarch. Pour the hot milk very slowly and stir the entire time to prevent from making scrambled eggs.
Once all the milk and sugar is combined into the cornstarch mixture, return the entire mix back to the stove over medium heat. While stirring constantly, bring the mixture to a boil and boil for about 5 minutes. The desired thickness is a bit looser than your standard pudding cup as it will thicken as it cools. Remove from the heat once thickened and add 2 tsp vanilla and butter. Don't add the vanilla while the pudding is being heated or the vanilla flavor will just cook off.
Pour the finished pudding into a bowl to cool. Place plastic wrap over the top and press the wrap down so that it is in contact with the pudding. This will prevent a skin from forming on the pudding. Place in the freezer for one hour to chill.
To sweeten strawberries
Remove stem, hull and quarter strawberries. Place in a large bowl and add the juice of one lemon, being careful to remove any seeds and 2 Tb of sugar. Toss gently to combine and set aside while you prepare the other components.
To make whipped cream
Pour cold heavy cream into a large mixing. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, whip the cream starting on medium speed and increase to high speed once the cream has thickened slightly. After about 1 minute, turn the mixer off and add ½ C powdered sugar and the remaining 1 tsp of vanilla. Turn mixer back on low first to blend in sugar and then increase speed to high until the cream forms stiff peaks or about 2 more minutes. Be careful not to overwhip or you'll end up with something more like butter than whipped cream.
To assemble Strawberry Junk
Prepare angel food cake if making from a box mix and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, tear into large chunks. Place chunks on the bottom of a large trifle dish or a 9 x 13 baking pan.
Top angel food cake evenly first with the strawberries and accumulated syrup. Next spread the cooled vanilla pudding across the strawberries being sure to gently move around the cake and strawberries so the pudding can move down through the layers. Last, top with whipped cream.
Place in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours, but it's even better if you let it rest for 6-8 hours before serving so the cake can soak up all the strawberry and vanilla flavors.
Notes
* You can substitute a good quality instant pudding like Ghiradelli for homemade pudding if you want a shortcut.