Christmas Trifle is a variation of the classic English Trifle recipe. It’s a versatile recipe that can use a variety of berries, cake, and even pudding.
It costs about $14.85 to make this trifle. The recipe makes ten servings, which works out to be about $1.49 per serving.
While looking at holiday desserts, be sure to check out my roundup of 40+ Best Christmas Cookies and Candies!
Trifles, like this Chocolate Trifle, are so fun to make. They look fancy and dress up any dessert table.
But truth be told, trifles look fussier than they really are to make. That’s why this Christmas Trifle is perfect for making during the busy holiday season. I use a cake box mix to make it even simpler to put together.
A trifle is a classic English dessert that is layered with homemade sponge cake, jam, custard, fruit, and cream. I cheated a bit with my version and opted for layers of cake, fresh fruit, Jello, pudding, and whipped cream.
This trifle is an easily customizable dessert. You can switch out the cake and Jello flavors as well as the fresh fruit.
The Christmas Trifle is perfect for your holiday dinner party because it is beautiful to look at, has a beautiful pop of red color, feeds a crowd, and is always everyone’s favorite dessert!
Ingredients and Cost
Per Serving Cost: $1.49
Recipe Cost: $14.85
- 16.25 oz box white cake mix – $1.17
- 3 large eggs – $0.30
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil – $0.16
- 6 oz box strawberry Jello – $2.00
- Water for Jello – $0.00
- 3.4 oz box vanilla pudding – $0.98
- 2 cups milk – $0.32
- 1 pint strawberries – $2.42
- 1 cup blackberries – $2.58
- 1 cup raspberries – $2.30
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream – $1.76
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar – $0.04
- 1 teaspoon vanilla – $0.31
- 1 Tablespoon Christmas sprinkles – $0.51
NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then follow the directions on the box to make the cake.
- Pour the cake batter evenly into the baking dish and bake.
- While the cake is cooling, make the vanilla pudding mix in a medium bowl. Set the bowl aside, allowing the pudding to set.
- Next, make the Jello in another bowl and allow it to set in the fridge. This will take about four hours.
- Cut the cake into 2-inch squares. Cover the bottom of a trifle dish with a layer of the cake squares.
- Spread a layer of the vanilla pudding over the top of the cake squares followed by a layer of a combination of the strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
- Then add a layer of Jello over the fruit. Repeat the layers.
- Using a handheld mixer or stand mixer make the whipped cream. Spread the cream over the top Jello layer.
- Finally, decorate with Christmas sprinkles and serve.
Recipe Variations
- Instead of boxed cake mix you can use store-bought pound cake cubes, angel food cake cubes, and/or vanilla wafers.
- You can use different flavors of pudding and Jello, too.
- Feel free to change up the fruit and berries in the recipe to use in-season fruit.
- Instead of freshly whipped cream you can use an 8 ounce container or Cool Whip.
Storage Tips
SERVE: It’s best to assemble the trifle right before serving because the layers become soft and less defined the longer it sits.
STORE: This will keep fresh in the fridge for up to two days. But note that the cake layers will become mushy.
FREEZE: The recipe does not freeze well so I do not recommend freezing it.
Cook’s Tools
- Liquid measuring cup
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Handheld mixer or stand mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Mixing spoons
- Trifle dish
- 9×13-inch baking dish
Recipe FAQ’S
A trifle works best in a trifle dish because of the straight sides. This allows the layers to be placed in evenly. However, if you do not have a trifle dish, you can always use a glass salad bowl.
A trifle can be stored in the fridge overnight. However, the cake pieces in a trifle will get soggy after about one day.
Typically a trifle has four layers. The cake, Jello, fruit, and whipped cream are layered to the top of the dish. The number of layers will depend on the dish you put it in, as some dishes are bigger than others.
More Christmas Desserts
- Shortbread Cookie Recipe
- Christmas Divinity Candy
- 3 Ingredient Fudge
- Soft Gingerbread Cookies
- Loaded Peppermint Cookies
- Christmas Tree Brownies
- Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- Peppermint Bark Cookies
- Cranberry Bliss Bars
- Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Christmas Trifle
Equipment
- liquid measuring cup
- measuring cups and spoons
- handheld mixer OR stand mixer
- mixing bowls
- Mixing spoons
- Trifle dish
- 9×13-inch baking dish
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE:
- 16.25 oz box white cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
FOR THE JELLO:
- 6 oz box strawberry Jello
- water for jello
FOR THE PUDDING:
- 3.4 oz box vanilla pudding
- 2 cups milk
FOR THE FRUIT LAYERS:
- 1- pint strawberries cleaned and cut into bite-sited pieces
- 1 cup blackberries washed and drained
- 1 cup raspberries washed and drained
FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM:
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
TOPPING:
- 1 Tablespoon Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
MAKE THE CAKE:
- Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Make the white cake mix as per the box instructions.
- Pour cake mix into a 13×9 dish and bake per box instructions. Allow the cake to cool completely.
MAKE PUDDING:
- Empty vanilla pudding mix into a medium mixing bowl and add the milk and mix as per the box instructions. Allow to set and put aside.
MAKE JELLO:
- Empty Jello packet into a medium mixing bowl and add water and mix according to box instructions. Allow to set in the refrigerator (approximately 4 hours).
ASSEMBLE TRIFLE:
- Once the cake has cooled completely, cut it into 2-inch squares and line the bottom of a trifle dish (or a glass bowl) with the cake squares.
- Spoon a layer of vanilla pudding over the top of the cake squares.
- Add a mix of the fruit (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries) in a layer over the vanilla pudding.
- Scoop out some of the Jello and add it in a layer over the top of the fruit.
- Repeat those layers with the remaining cake, Jello, fruit, and pudding.
MAKE WHIPPED CREAM:
- In a medium mixing bowl using a handheld mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, add the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Whip for about 3-4 minutes on high speed or until stiff peaks have formed.
- Spoon the cream as the final layer on top of the trifle.
FINISH AND SERVE:
- Decorate with the Christmas sprinkles.
- Scoop the trifle onto plates. Make sure your serving spoon reaches down through all the layers. Serve.
Notes
- It’s best to assemble the trifle right before serving because the layers become soft and less defined the longer it sits.
- That said, it can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2 days.
Nutrition
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