Thanksgiving Trifle
A beautiful and flavorful dessert made with layers of cake, pumpkin puree, cranberry sauce, and whipped cream, perfect for celebrating Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
For the Base
- 4 cups moist pound cake or sponge cake, cut into cubes Choose a cake that is simple and not overly sweet.
For the Pumpkin Layer
- 1 cup canned or homemade pumpkin purée Adds essential fall flavor.
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened Provides a rich, creamy texture.
- ½ cup sugar Adjust to taste based on sweetness of other ingredients.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Enhances flavor.
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon Classic fall spice.
- 1 pinch nutmeg Adds depth to flavor.
For the Topping
- 2 cups heavy cream For a velvety topping.
- 1 cup cranberry sauce Provides a tangy contrast.
Instructions
Preparation
- Begin by gathering all your ingredients. It’s helpful to measure out everything in advance.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the pumpkin purée, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together until smooth.
- In another bowl, use an electric mixer to whip the heavy cream and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
Layering
- In a trifle dish, place an even layer of cubed cake at the bottom.
- Spoon a generous layer of the pumpkin cream mixture over the cake layer.
- Add a layer of cranberry sauce over the pumpkin cream.
- Spoon a layer of whipped cream on top.
- Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, aiming for at least three layers, topping with whipped cream.
Chilling
- Cover the trifle with plastic wrap or a lid and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Serving
- When ready to serve, remove the cover and enjoy. Garnish with additional cinnamon or nutmeg if desired.
Notes
This dessert can be prepared a day or two in advance. For variations, consider using chocolate cake or adding spiced pears.