Easy Christmas Trifle Recipe

Name: Easy Christmas Trifle Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 package red velvet cake mix ((plus ingredients needed to bake it)); 2 packages JELL-O vanilla instant pudding (3.9 oz. each); 4 cups cold milk; 8 oz. cool whip (thawed); Green food coloring

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Cook Time 30 mins

This easy Christmas trifle won't stress you out but will save your holiday entertainment. Layers of red velvet cake, pudding, and whipped cream come together quickly and make this gorgeous and delicious holiday treat.

Easy to make and so festive!

A glass with dessert trifle sitting on a table with Christmas decorations

This Christmas trifle is quick and easy but it looks like you've spent hours making it.

I had fun using gingerbread cookies and sprinkles to decorate it, but you can certainly make it your own.

Red velvet cake mix and vanilla pudding tinted with green food color are so festive and will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth.

Doesn't it look just so Christmassy and inviting? Dig into this delicious dessert this festive season! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

For more Christmas recipes, be sure to check out my Edible Christmas Candles and Homemade Christmas Baileys.

Why it Works

Although I prefer homemade cake to control what goes into it, I used a boxed mix for this recipe. Christmas cooking is already so demanding and stressful, so why not make baking a little easier, right? The little ones certainly don't care if it's made from scratch or not.
Because we use a boxed cake mix, you can easily make this gluten-free if you or someone in your family has an intolerance.
This is such a great make-ahead dessert! Perfect for the busy holidays!
If you are entertaining a crowd, this Christmas trifle will easily serve 10!
You can serve it in one dish or as individual servings!

A phot o if trifle in a large serving dish and another as individual servings

🛒Ingredients and Notes

Red velvet cake: I use a box mix for this recipe to make this a really easy and convenient dessert. If you have a killer recipe for a red velvet cake, by all means, use that!
Instant Pudding: I used vanilla flavored pudding, but you can use chocolate if you prefer a double chocolate trifle!
Green food coloring: I used this gel food coloring, as it is more concentrated than liquid food coloring.

🔪Step by Step Instructions

Four steps showing layering of the trifle in a glass

Prepare the batter and bake in a 9x13-inch pan as directed on the package. Cool completely.
Beat pudding mixes and milk in a medium bowl with whisk for 2 minutes. Mix in green food coloring until the desired shade is reached.
Cut cake into ½-inch cubes. Distribute two layers of the cake, pudding, and the whipped cream evenly into individual glasses or layer half each of the cake, pudding, and the whipped cream in a trifle bowl; repeat layers.
Decorate as desired.

💡Recipe Tips

Use white chocolate instant pudding mix instead of vanilla.
If you like, omit the food coloring and use pistachio pudding instead. It won't be as vibrant in color, but it will still look great!
Let the cake cool completely before building your Christmas trifle. If it's still warm, the pudding will slide off the pieces and end up in the bottom of the bowl.

Variations

There are plenty of ways to adapt this trifle for any occasion.

You can really use any boxed cake mix with any flavor pudding, different color of the coloring, or even swapping out whipped topping for frosting or something else - the world’s your oyster!

Well, the world’s your trifle at least! For example:

A yellow cake mix with pink coloring in the pudding, with mini eggs and chopped chocolate sprinkled through the layers for Easter.
Funfetti cake mix with no coloring (but sprinkles between each layer) and candles on top for a birthday
Chocolate cake mix with red-colored pudding and plastic spiders and other Halloween decorations for a Halloween treat - and, of course, hidden candies between the layers.
Chocolate cake with chocolate pudding and chocolate frosting instead of whipped cream for the chocolate-lover - and don’t forget to decorate with different types of a chocolate bar!
White cake with pink or blue coloring for a gender reveal (or half pink and half blue!)
Vanilla cake (all at the bottom) with blue coloring in both the pudding and whipped cream (with either jello, candy, or plastic sea creatures - think Swedish fish - scattered throughout the layers) for an ocean-lover. Don’t forget to put some of the sea creatures around the outside of the trifle bowl to serve as a sort of aquarium!

❓FAQs

Can you make it ahead of time?

Yes, this easy Christmas trifle is a great make-ahead dessert! You can bake the cake ahead of time and keep it wrapped tightly in the fridge or freezer.

You can build the whole trifle without the cream and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just add the cream and any decorations a few hours before serving.

How long does it keep?

If you are lucky enough to have any leftovers, keep them covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. The cake will become softer, and the pudding will be a little looser, but it will still be good to eat.

Can you freeze it?

It's best not to freeze this easy Christmas trifle. The pudding can separate, and the texture of the jello can change significantly. If you really need to freeze it, then it's best thawed and enjoyed within a week. It will still taste good, but the texture won't be the same.

More Delicious Recipes to Try

Try more delicious Christmas desserts:

A closeup of the triffle in a glass with Christmas decorations and lights in the background.

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