Thanksgiving Trifle (Easy No-Bake Recipe)

Tips & Tricks

• This trifle is a hostess’ dream for holiday entertaining because you can make it ahead. You have a couple of options:
  • You can make the trifle completely several hours ahead and refrigerate it until ready to serve.
  • Or, you can make the pumpkin cream and refrigerate it. Cut the cake pieces and cover with saran wrap. And about an hour before your party you can assemble the trifle, breaking and layering the cookies as you go.
• Start with a prepared pumpkin spice cake. You can make it from a box mix a day ahead or purchase one from the bakery; just make sure it’s not frosted. You could even use pumpkin bread for this recipe.
• Make the pumpkin cream first and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour so it can firm up. This makes it easier to work with when you’re layering ingredients in the trifle dish. While the cream is chilling, cut cake into 1-inch cubes and set aside. If you don’t have a hand mixer to combine the cream ingredients, you can use a whisk and stir briskly.
• Make sure you use canned pumpkin and NOT pumpkin filling.
• When you make this trifle in advance the cookies will soften, which is great! They take on that dipped-in-milk texture that goes so well with the cake and cream, and creates a complete dessert experience.
• If you want to keep the crunchy texture just make this a couple of hours ahead and you should still be fine. Don’t forget, you can always add broken cookies to your individual serving for that crunchy texture, too.

How to Make It

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You’ll need a clear trifle bowl for a classic presentation. In a pinch you can use a small punch bowl or glass baking dish. Just know you won’t be able to see the pretty layered effect.

I say this is no-bake because I used a pumpkin bundt cake from the bakery section. If you want to make your own cake I suggest my easy pumpkin spice bundt cake recipe and leave out the white chocolate chips and glaze.

1. Add a layer of cake in the trifle dish using half the cake pieces.
2. Top cake layer with broken cookie pieces Use about 8-10 cookies and break them into 1-inch pieces. You can use more or less to suit your taste.
3. Spread half of pumpkin cream on top of the cookie layer.
4. Repeat with another layer of cake and cookies and top with the remaining pumpkin cream layer. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. Add the cookie topping just before serving. Top with cookie crumbs and pieces. Push whole cookies into the cream, on their side in a circular pattern.

PARTY TIP: Make the pumpkin cream using half the recipe measurements. Serve it as a sweet dessert dip at parties along with fresh fruit and cookies for dipping.

More Trifle Recipes

There are not many desserts that make as impressive a presentation as a trifle. Here are some other recipes to try throughout the year of parties.

• You’ll love this taste of the South Pecan Pie Trifle!
• Make our quick and easy chocolate trifle recipe for year round entertaining. 
• This tiramisu chocolate trifle is perfect for year round dinner parties.
• Nothing beats a Red, White, and Blue Trifle for summer and 4th of July parties.

And even though this 4-layer pumpkin cake isn’t a trifle it has a similar flavor profile and it’s fantastic!

If you’re looking for a traditional pie, my easy pumpkin pie recipe is my go-to.