Last Updated on September 23, 2023 by Ellen Christian
This Spiced Pumpkin Trifle was absolutely amazing! This is one of my favorite fall trifle recipes that uses chunks of spice cake, pudding, and whipped topping.
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Spiced Pumpkin Trifle Recipe
Aren’t recipe swaps fun? You never know what kind of interesting recipes you’ll have a chance to try. I did a recipe swap with a friend so we’d have a chance to try something different. We exchanged one of our favorite holiday recipes. She sent me her Spiced Pumpkin Trifle recipe and I sent her my Easy Candied Yam and Apple Recipe. I’ll have to make that one for you soon!
We don’t do a lot of desserts but the holidays are a time when we like to splurge a little bit. So, while this is definitely NOT what I’d call a healthy dessert, it is an amazingly yummy treat for the holidays.
You substitute homemade alternatives for any of the pre-packaged foods in her original spiced pumpkin trifle recipe. I kept it this way because this is how she prepares it.
What is a trifle?
A trifle is an English dessert. For a traditional trifle, you would use ladyfingers, some type of fruit, and a layer of custard. However, there are a lot of different ways to make a trifle.
I have never seen ladyfingers in the store. But, if you want to try to make them, try this recipe.
Otherwise, keep reading for a few alternatives to ladyfingers you can use with this spiced pumpkin trifle recipe.
What can I use as the base for a trifle?
This really was a delicious treat. To make it a bit healthier, you can substitute Angel Food Cake for the spice cake.
You can even try this pumpkin trifle with ginger snaps to save time. My Mom always made a pumpkin gingerbread trifle for the holidays that was so good.
Try making a trifle with leftover cake, leftover muffins, pound cake, Nilla wafer cookies, or any other cake-type dessert.
Can you make this ahead of time?
You can certainly make the cake portion of this spiced trifle recipe ahead of time. And, you can make the custard or pudding filling the day before.
But, I would not assemble it until right before you are going to serve it. You don’t want the cake to get soggy because the pudding has been sitting on top of it.
Just pre-make the ingredients and keep them separate. Then, right before you want to serve it, assemble the trifle and top it with whipped cream. That way it will be at its freshest.
What can I serve a trifle in?
We usually make this in a large trifle bowl because it looks so pretty on your holiday dessert table. But, if you don’t have a large trifle bowl, you can always make individual trifles in small trifle bowls or even in Mason jars.
They taste just as good and it will probably make portion control a bit easier.
Traditionally, a trifle would be served in a trifle bowl. And, the ladyfingers would be layered in the trifle with the fruit and custard in the center.
It looks gorgeous. But, it is quite a bit of work.
What is the filling in a trifle?
Traditionally, the filling in a trifle would be a custard. But, you can use other things to change the taste.
You can also make homemade vanilla pudding or even substitute Greek yogurt for pudding if you prefer.
Homemade whipped cream does take extra time to make but it tastes so good. Why not learn how to make homemade whipped cream.
Have you ever had a spiced pumpkin trifle?
More trifle recipes
If you want to make another type of trifle, here are a few more you can try. You really can make them in almost any flavor combination you like.
It’s also a wonderful way to use up the leftover cake that is almost stale. And, it doesn’t just have to be vanilla cake. You can use chocolate as well to make it even more decadent.
More pumpkin recipes
Finally, if you cannot wait for more pumpkin recipes, here are a few more that are popular in my house. Which will you try first?
Spiced Pumpkin Trifle Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package of spice cake mix (prepare using Wesson Oil)
- 4 boxes of vanilla pudding
- 2 1/2 cups of cold milk
- 1 can (15oz) pumpkin
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1 package of softened cream cheese (8oz)
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 (16oz) container of cool whip
- 1 can of Reddi-Wip
Instructions
- Prepare cake according to package directions. I usually use 2 8 inch rounds. After 10 minutes of cooling remove from pan and place on wire rack to cool. * I had to do this with a 13x9 cake cut into blocks because my trifle dish isn't wide enough to hold an 8" round cake.*
- When cake is cool enough to handle cut each round in half horizontally. Then cool completely.
- In bowl whisk together pudding mix and milk. Then stir in pumpkin and spices. Set aside.
- In another bowl beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until fluffy then mix in Cool Whip.
- In a round trifle dish place first layer of cake, 1/4 of cream cheese, and 1/4 of pumpkin mixture. Repeat until all cake, cream cheese and pumpkin mixture is gone.
- Decorate top with Reddi-Wip. Chill in fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 548Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 633mgCarbohydrates: 80gFiber: 1gSugar: 45gProtein: 8g
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
It's absolutely delicious! I'd never made a trifle before but it really wasn't hard at all and so good!
I hope you guys liked it! It is one of our favorite alternatives to Pumpkin Pie.