This Christmas Trifle is a festive and easy holiday dessert layered with cake, creamy pudding and whipped topping. It’s a beautiful no-bake treat that’s perfect for Christmas parties and gatherings.
This Christmas Trifle is a stunning and festive dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. With colorful layers, it’s the perfect centerpiece for any holiday dessert table.
The best part is how easy it is to make. No special baking skills required! Each layer comes together quickly, creating a rich and creamy dessert that looks elegant but takes minimal effort.
This stunning Christmas Trifle is one of my favorite Easy Christmas Dessert Recipes. I also make Red Velvet Trifle Cups when I need individual servings but still want a layered dessert.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Dessert
- Easy to Assemble. This trifle looks impressive but is surprisingly simple to layer together, even for beginners.
- Perfect for a Crowd. It’s a great make-ahead dessert that serves many, making it ideal for parties or family gatherings.
- Customizable. You can switch up the cake flavor or pudding to suit your preferences or match your holiday theme.
- Festive and Beautiful. The colorful layers make it a show-stopping addition to your holiday dessert table.
- Make-Ahead Friendly. The flavors blend and intensify as it chills, so it tastes even better the next day.
Ingredients
- White Cake Mix and Red Velvet Cake Mix. Use any brand you prefer. You also need the ingredients to prepare both of the cake mixes based on the package instructions.
- Green Food Coloring. This will give the white cake the stunning green color for the festive colors.
- White Chocolate Pudding Mix. Make sure to use instant pudding. You can also use cheesecake flavor pudding.
- Cold Milk. I prefer to use whole milk for the richest flavor, but you can use reduced fat.
- Cream Cheese. Softened at room temperature. Use full fat brick style cream cheese.
- Powdered Sugar. Sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps. This will make sure the filling is smooth.
- Cool Whip. Instead of store bought, you can also use Homemade Whipped Cream.
Get the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Variations
- Cake. Swap the white cake for Green Velvet Cake Recipe. You can also use homemade Red Velvet Cake instead of a boxed cake mix. Also, try other cake combinations, pound cake or brownies to enjoy this year-round.
- Sprinkles. Top the cake with festive Christmas sprinkles.
- Nuts. Add chopped pecans, almonds or walnuts to the dessert.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Start by making the white cake mix based on the package instructions. Dye the batter green with the food coloring. Then bake the cake in a 9X13 pan and allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature.
Step 2. Next, make the red velvet cake based on the package instructions. Bake in a 9X13 pan and allow the cake to cool completely.
Step 3. One the cake has cooled, crumble into pieces. Save a small amount of the cake crumbles for the topping.
Step 4. Mix together the white chocolate pudding mix with the milk. Whisk for two minutes.
Step 5. Get out a separate bowl and add the cream cheese. Beat with a handheld mixer for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Then reduce the speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar. Finally, increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth.
Step 6. Next, add the pudding mixture to the cream cheese mixture. Carefully stir with a rubber spatula until combined. Then fold in the whipped cream into the mixture.
Step 7. Start assembling the trifle dessert. Add a layer of the red velvet cake crumbs to the bottom of a trifle dish or large glass bowl. Add just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Then pour the white chocolate custard mixture over the cake cubes.
Step 8. Then sprinkle the green cake crumbs and another layer of the pudding mixture in the trifle bowl.
Step 9. Keep layering the ingredients until you have used all the ingredients. Finally, top with the remaining cool whip and garnish with cake crumbs.
Storage
Refrigerate. Cover the trifle tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Make Ahead. You can assemble the trifle a day in advance to allow the flavors to blend beautifully before serving.
Avoid Freezing. Freezing is not recommended, as the texture of the cream and fruit will become watery once thawed.
Pro Tips
- Use a clear trifle dish. While any large bowl will work, a clear glass trifle dish or container beautifully showcases the dessert’s festive layers for a stunning Christmas pudding.
- Let the cake cool completely. Make sure the cake has fully cooled before layering to prevent the whipped cream and pudding from melting.
- Serve soon after assembling. This dessert is best enjoyed the same day for the freshest flavor and texture. You can refrigerate it for a few hours before serving, but don’t prepare it too far in advance or it may become soggy.
- Chill before serving. Refrigerate the trifle for at least 1 hour before serving to help the layers set and the flavors blend together.
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Make this luscious Christmas Trifle Recipe for the perfect dessert. Once you try it, leave a comment and star rating.
Christmas Trifle
Ingredients
- 1 box White Cake Mix
- 1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix
- *Ingredients to prepare both of the cake mixes based on the package instructions.
- Green Food Coloring
- 1 box White Chocolate Pudding Mix 3.4 oz or Cheesecake flavor
- 2 cups Cold Milk
- 8 oz Cream Cheese softened at room temperature
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 16 oz Cool Whip divided
Instructions
- Prepare the white cake mix batter based on the package instructions. Dye the batter green with the food coloring. Bake the cake in a 9X13 pan and allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature.
- Prepare the red velvet cake based on the package instructions in a 9X13 pan and allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature.
- Crumble each cake and reserve a small amount of the cake crumbles for the topping.
- In a small bowl, combine the white chocolate pudding mix with the milk. Whisk for two minutes and set aside.
- Place the cream cheese into a mixing bowl and beat the cream cheese with a hand held mixer for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar. Once all of the sugar is incorporated, increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 minute, or until smooth.
- Add the prepared pudding to the cream cheese mixture and gently fold and stir with a rubber spatula until completely combined.
- Then add in 8 oz Cool Whip to the bowl and fold it into the mixture until no white streaks remain.
- Place a layer of the red velvet cake crumbs in the bottom of a trifle dish or glass bowl. Add just enough to cover the bottom of the pan.
- Drizzle the white chocolate mixture over the cake cubes. Making sure to cover the cake.
- Top with the green cake crumbs and another layer of the pudding mixture.
- Continue to layer the ingredients in the glass dish until you have used all the ingredients.
- Top the trifle with the remaining cool whip and reserved cake crumbs.
- Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
So gorgeous and really easy to make. Taste great too!
Yummy flavors, but dry. I only used half of each cake and we all thought it still needed almost double the pudding. So if I make it again, I will probably just use 1 cake and double the pudding ingredients. Otherwise, yummy.
Sharweng -Thanks for the feedback and I’m glad you still enjoyed.