Christmas Trifle

The holidays are a time to pull out all the stops in the kitchen, and that certainly includes desserts. If you’re looking for a festive treat, this Christmas trifle is the perfect fit. Even better? It comes together with ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry around the holidays.

A Christmas Day trifle is a beautifully layered treat that I love to make when I need Christmas desserts to feed a crowd. Every serving will be jam-packed with eggnog flavor, complemented by pops of cherry and banana. Because the layers are pretty enough, you don’t have to spend all day decorating as you would with Christmas cookies and cakes. On your dessert table, pair this dessert with other Christmas trifle recipes like peppermint bark trifle and pumpkin-butterscotch gingerbread trifle.

Christmas Trifle Ingredients

• Crushed pineapple: Pineapple adds plenty of great flavor to this Christmas Day trifle. Using crushed pineapple maximizes the flavor and adds moisture.
• Bananas: Just one of the fruits incorporated in this trifle recipe, bananas are dipped in pineapple juice for extra flavor.
• Maraschino cherries: Both red and green maraschino cherries are used in this trifle. They add a pop of fruity flavor while also providing a festive decoration.
• Eggnog: Instead of cold milk, whisk the instant pudding mix with cold eggnog. This results in the perfect Christmas-time filling. Store-bought eggnog will work, but if you have homemade eggnog, it’ll add an extra-special touch!
• Instant vanilla pudding: Instant vanilla pudding serves as the base of the filling in this trifle. Be sure to choose instant rather than cook-and-serve pudding.
• Angel food cake: Chunks of angel food cake are layered throughout this Christmas trifle. You can use homemade angel food cake, grab a store-bought cake or whip up a box mix.
• Frozen whipped topping: Thawed whipped topping adds creaminess and volume to Christmas desserts like trifles.
• Walnuts: Garnish the top of this Christmas Day trifle with walnuts. You could also use pecans or pistachios, or skip nuts altogether if preferred.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the fruit

Drain the crushed pineapple, reserving the juice. Dip the bananas in the pineapple juice. Drain and discard the juice. Set aside the pineapple, bananas, three red cherries and three green cherries.

Step 2: Make the pudding filling

In a bowl, whisk the eggnog and vanilla pudding mixes for two minutes or until slightly thickened.

Step 3: Layer the trifle

Place half the pudding in a 4-quart serving or trifle bowl. Layer with half each of the bananas, pineapple and cherries. Add half each of the cake cubes and whipped topping. Repeat the layers. Garnish the top with walnuts and reserved cherries.

Recipe Variations

• Skip the eggnog: If you’re not a fan of eggnog, you can certainly still add this Christmas trifle recipe to the menu. Instead of eggnog, use cold milk for the pudding mixture. That way, you’ll have a vanilla-flavored filling.
• Use another cake: Angel food cake is a wonderful choice for this Christmas Day trifle recipe. However, you can swap in a pound cake or even a simple vanilla cake. Keep in mind that the texture will be different depending on the type of cake you use.
• Add more fruit: Crushed pineapple and sliced bananas flavor this trifle. If you want more fruit, consider adding mandarin oranges or even more cherries to the layers.

How to Store Christmas Trifle

Because this Christmas dessert trifle makes use of eggnog and vanilla pudding, it should be stored in the refrigerator. Store the covered trifle dish in the fridge, or transfer any leftovers to an airtight container.

How long does Christmas trifle last?

Stored in the refrigerator, this Christmas Day trifle will last up to three days. Keep in mind that the longer the trifle spends in the refrigerator, the soggier the cake layers will become.

Can you make Christmas trifle ahead of time?

This is a great no-bake Christmas dessert to make ahead of time (if you opt for store-bought angel food cake). It can be prepped Christmas morning so it’s ready in time for Christmas Day dinner. You could also choose to prep it on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Trifle Tips

What can you serve with Christmas trifle?

This Christmas trifle recipe is stunning on its own, but it can be dressed up even further. Try serving it with a spoonful of dark cherry syrup for added flavor. You could also serve it with shortbread cookies or crushed meringues for a bit of crunch.

Can I make individual Christmas trifles?

While a large Christmas Day trifle is sure to impress, you can also create smaller, individually portioned Christmas dessert trifles. Instead of layering the ingredients in a trifle dish, use small clear glasses or jars.