Joanna Gaines' Clever Baking Trick Turns a Broken Cake into a Crowd-Pleasing Trifle

When Joanna Gaines steps into the kitchen, fans know they’re in for a mix of beautifully-styled details and comforting recipes that feel like home. But her latest Instagram Reel shows off something even more refreshing than an aesthetically-pleasing creation: a reminder that even seasoned home cooks and TV hosts have their off days.

Instead of presenting a picture-perfect chocolate layer cake, which she set out to make, Gaines shared the reality of what happened when her dessert took a turn—and how she transformed it into something equally delightful.

Cake-Turned-Trifle

As “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra plays in the background, Gaines is seen baking rounds of chocolate cake, frosting them with thick, rich icing, and attempting to assemble the layers into a polished masterpiece. But true to the Sinatra song, things don’t always go as planned. The cake (literally) crumbles, frosting smears, and the project looks far from magazine-worthy. 

Rather than scrap it, she scoops the decadent mess into stemmed dessert dishes, tops each with a swirl of frosting, and finishes with a halved strawberry garnish. The result? Elegant trifles that prove a baking fail doesn’t mean failure at all.

Her caption summed up the moment with a dose of humor: “Nothing better than being humbled by a chocolate cake.”

Finding Beauty in Imperfection—in the Kitchen and Beyond

Part of Gaines’ charm lies in her ability to connect with fans on a human level. This Reel sent a message beyond delicious desserts: She didn’t try to cover up the fact that her cake crumbled. Instead, she embraced the mess, and showed her followers how creativity can turn a mishap into a beautiful new idea.

Cooking, after all, isn’t always about flawless presentation. Gaines’ choice to share the blooper highlighted that joy in the kitchen often comes from experimenting. By reframing the “failed” cake as a trifle, she demonstrated resilience and creativity, values that extend well beyond baking. It’s a healthy reminder that life, like dessert, doesn’t have to be perfect to be oh so sweet.

Joanna Gaines’ Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream

For those inspired to try the recipe behind the viral reel, Gaines originally set out to make a rich, layered chocolate cake. Her Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream recipe, for those who are wanting something more attainable, is featured on Magnolia’s blog. The cake starts with rich cocoa powder and brewed coffee for depth of flavor, combined with tangy buttermilk to ensure a moist crumb. Once baked and cooled, the rounds are frosted with her silky chocolate buttercream.

While Gaines’ own attempt didn’t go as planned this time, the recipe remains a tried-and-true favorite for anyone craving a classic chocolate layer cake. And if your version crumbles like hers did, you’ll know exactly how to pivot.

What Is a Trifle?

The dessert Gaines created out of her cake disaster is known as a trifle, a traditional English dish that layers cake, custard, fruit, and whipped cream in a clear glass dish. Its beauty lies in its adaptability: Nearly any cake, filling, or topping can be layered to create a dessert that’s visually stunning and delicious.

By scooping her chocolate cake into dessert glasses and topping it with icing and strawberries, Gaines tapped into this centuries-old dessert tradition. Trifles are often made, well, on purpose—but they’re evidently also the ideal way to repurpose cake.