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Gingerbread Trifle Recipe

4.8 from 139 reviews

This Gingerbread Trifle is a festive and decadent layered dessert combining the warm spices of gingerbread with creamy vanilla pudding, fluffy whipped cream, and rich caramel sauce. Perfect for holiday gatherings, this no-bake treat features layers of crushed gingerbread cookies, spiced pudding, caramel drizzle, and whipped topping, all beautifully assembled in a trifle dish and chilled to set.

Ingredients

Scale

Whipped Cream Topping

  • 2 cups heavy cream, very cold
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Vanilla Pudding Mixture

  • 2 (3.4-ounce) boxes vanilla pudding mix, plus ingredients called for on box (usually milk)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Other Ingredients

  • 4 cups crushed gingerbread cookies, divided, plus more for topping
  • 2 cups store-bought or homemade caramel sauce
  • 8 whole gingerbread cookies (for lining the sides of the trifle dish)

Instructions

  1. Make Whipped Cream: In a large bowl, use a handheld mixer on high speed to beat the very cold heavy cream, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon until stiff peaks form, creating a light and fluffy whipped topping.
  2. Prepare Pudding: In a medium bowl, prepare the vanilla pudding according to the package instructions (typically by whisking pudding mix with cold milk). Once set, stir in ground ginger and ground nutmeg to infuse the pudding with warm spice flavors.
  3. Assemble Trifle Layers: Spread about half of the crushed gingerbread cookies evenly into the bottom of a trifle dish. Pour half of the spiced pudding mixture over the crushed cookies. Drizzle a generous amount of caramel sauce on top. Spread half of the prepared whipped cream topping over the caramel layer. Arrange the whole gingerbread cookies along the sides of the trifle dish. Repeat the layering with the remaining crushed cookies, pudding, and whipped cream. Finish by sprinkling more crushed gingerbread cookies on top for garnish.
  4. Chill to Set: Refrigerate the assembled trifle until thoroughly chilled and set, for at least 3 hours or overnight, allowing the flavors to meld and the dessert to firm up slightly before serving.

Notes

  • Use very cold heavy cream to achieve better volume when whipping.
  • Store-bought caramel sauce can be replaced with homemade caramel sauce for a richer flavor.
  • The gingerbread cookie layers can be crushed to your preferred texture, either coarse or fine.
  • Chilling overnight enhances flavor melding and texture.
  • This dessert is best served chilled but not frozen.

Keywords: Gingerbread dessert, Holiday trifle, Layered dessert, Christmas dessert, No-bake trifle