If you are looking for a dazzling dessert that will brighten your holiday spread and impress your family and friends, this Christmas Trifle Dessert Recipe is your go-to treat. Layers of festive red velvet and vibrantly green-tinted white cake come together with a luscious cream cheese and whipped topping blend, creating a perfect balance of flavors and textures. It’s a simple yet stunning dessert that celebrates the colors and spirit of the season while delivering rich, creamy sweetness in every bite. I absolutely love making this recipe because it’s easy, fun, and the result is always a crowd-pleaser that feels extra special during Christmas gatherings.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this recipe plays a crucial role in creating the irresistible layers of flavor and texture. Using classic box cake mixes saves time but also guarantees a moist, tender crumb, while a few simple additions turn these mixes into a festive masterpiece.
- White box cake mix: A neutral and fluffy base perfect for adding color and flavor contrast.
- Red velvet box cake mix: Brings that unmistakable rich red color and subtle cocoa flavor that screams holiday.
- Green food coloring: Essential for transforming the white cake batter into a vibrant green hue, making the dessert visually exciting.
- Cream cheese (softened): Adds a tangy richness that complements the sweetness and gives creaminess to the filling.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Provides sweetness and a silky texture for that dreamy filling.
- Whipped topping: Lightens the cream cheese mixture for a fluffy, airy cream layer that balances the dense cake.
How to Make Christmas Trifle Dessert Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Cakes
Start by preheating your oven to 350º Fahrenheit. This ensures your oven is just right for baking perfectly moist cakes. Follow the directions on both the white and red velvet cake mix boxes to prepare your batters – it’s super simple and straightforward.
Step 2: Color the White Cake Batter
Now for a little holiday magic: add 10 drops of green food coloring to the white cake batter. Stir gently to achieve a cheerful, even green color. This colorful twist makes your trifle instantly festive and irresistible.
Step 3: Bake the Cakes
Grease two 9×13 inch pans, then divide each batter into its own pan. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Once baked, let the cakes cool completely – this step is important to avoid melting the creamy layers in the final assembly.
Step 4: Make the Creamy Filling
In a medium bowl, blend together softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and whipped topping until smooth and fluffy. This mixture is the heart of the trifle, providing that dreamy, luscious contrast to the cake layers.
Step 5: Assemble Your Christmas Trifle Dessert Recipe
Crumble both cakes into medium-sized pieces, reserving about 1/4 cup of each color for garnish later. In a large serving dish or trifle bowl, layer the green cake crumbs, then spread a generous layer of your cream cheese mixture, followed by the red velvet crumbs and more cream. Continue alternating until all components are used.
Step 6: Finish with a Festive Touch
Top your trifle with the reserved crumbs from both cakes for a delightful, colorful finish that invites everyone to dig in.
How to Serve Christmas Trifle Dessert Recipe
Garnishes
To take this dessert from delicious to dazzling, try decorating with a few fresh cranberries, a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy, or some festive red and green sprinkles on top of the cake crumbs. These little touches bring additional texture and vibrant holiday charm.
Side Dishes
This Christmas Trifle Dessert Recipe is quite rich, so pair it with light sides like fresh citrus slices or a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette to balance the palate and keep the meal feeling fresh and bright.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve this trifle in a clear glass bowl to showcase the beautiful layers, or portion individual servings in mini trifle cups or stemmed glasses for a charming presentation at your holiday party. Adding small festive flags or candy canes as stirrers can add even more cheer.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After enjoying your Christmas Trifle Dessert Recipe, cover the leftovers tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days, allowing you to savor the delightful layers at your leisure without losing any flavor or texture.
Freezing
While trifle is best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze the cake layers separately if you want to prepare ahead. However, the assembled dessert should not be frozen as the cream layers might separate and alter texture. For the best experience, assemble the trifle on the day you plan to serve.
Reheating
Since this dessert is served chilled, reheating is not necessary. Simply allow refrigerated leftovers to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving to bring out the flavors more fully.
FAQs
Can I use homemade cake instead of box mixes?
Absolutely! Homemade cakes can make your Christmas Trifle Dessert Recipe even more special. Just make sure they hold their shape well when crumbled and are not too dense or dry for best layering.
Is it possible to make this dessert vegan or dairy-free?
You can substitute dairy ingredients with plant-based alternatives, like vegan cream cheese and whipped toppings, and choose vegan cake mixes to accommodate dietary preferences while still enjoying the festive layers.
How long does it take to assemble the trifle?
Once your cakes are baked and cooled, assembling the trifle should take about 10-15 minutes. It’s a quick and fun process that’s great to involve kids in during holiday prep.
Can I prepare the filling ahead of time?
Yes! The cream cheese mixture can be made a day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Just give it a quick stir before using to keep it light and fluffy.
What’s the best way to serve this at a party?
Serve chilled in a large trifle bowl or in individual clear cups for easy distribution. Provide spoons and napkins nearby to keep things neat and let guests enjoy the layers with every bite.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Trifle Dessert Recipe truly captures the essence of holiday joy and flavor in one bowl. Its vibrant layers, creamy filling, and ease of preparation make it a holiday staple that’s sure to bring smiles around the table. I hope you give this recipe a try and create sweet memories with every spoonful.
Print
Christmas Trifle Dessert Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This festive Christmas Trifle Dessert features layers of vibrant green and red velvet cake combined with a creamy sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese mixture, topped with whipped topping and colorful cake crumbs, making it a perfect show-stopping holiday treat for 12 servings.
Ingredients
Cake Layers
- 1 white box cake mix (prepared according to box directions)
- Green food coloring (about 10 drops)
- 1 red velvet box cake mix (prepared according to box directions)
Cream Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 8 ounce tub whipped topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350º Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the correct temperature for baking the cakes evenly.
- Prepare Cake Mixes: Follow the box directions to prepare the white and red velvet cake batters separately in two bowls.
- Color the White Cake Batter: Add 10 drops of green food coloring to the white cake batter and mix well to create a vibrant green color.
- Transfer Batters: Grease a 9×13 inch cake pan and divide the batters into separate parts to bake each color layer.
- Bake the Cakes: Bake the cakes at 350º F for 23 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool Cakes: Let the cakes cool completely before handling to prevent melting or breaking apart the cream layers.
- Prepare Cream Mixture: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and whipped topping until smooth and fully combined.
- Crumble Cakes: Crumble both the green and red velvet cakes into pieces, reserving 1/4 cup of each color to use as topping later.
- Assemble the Trifle: In a large trifle dish or bowl, alternate layers of crumbled cake and the cream mixture, starting and ending with cake layers for a beautiful layered effect.
- Top and Serve: Sprinkle the reserved cake crumbs over the top to decorate and add texture. Chill if desired before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- You can substitute homemade cakes if preferred, but box mixes help simplify the process.
- For a more intense green color, adjust the food coloring drops accordingly.
- Make sure cakes are fully cooled before crumbling to avoid melting the cream layer.
- Chilling the trifle for a few hours improves flavor melding and texture.
- This dessert can be prepared a day in advance and kept refrigerated.
