31 Trifle Recipes To Make All Holiday Season Long
Don't sleep on these spectacular retro desserts.
This holiday season, we're sure your holiday to-do list is long. But what if you're looking for a show-stopping dessert centerpiece that doesn’t take a ton of effort this season? Let us jog your memory about trifles, the retro layered desserts that deserve a spot on any modern Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert table. They come together fast (store-bought ingredients go a long way here), can serve a crowd, and best of all, can be made ahead so you can spend more quality time with your friends and family. Check out our 31 holiday trifle recipes for ideas, then get creative.
Though trifles are traditionally made from layers of sponge cake, pudding, and fruit, we like to think outside the box with our fillings. If you can layer it in a trifle dish, we’re counting it! Try swapping sponge cake for things like chocolate chip cookies, like in our cookie dough trifle; ladyfingers, like in our raspberry tiramisu; brownies, like in our peppermint bark trifle; or graham crackers, like in our s’mores trifle. Feel free to try out your favorites too.
The sky really is the limit when it comes to flavors for trifles, but there's one in particular we think deserves a shout out: banana pudding. It’s the epitome of trifle perfection—luscious layers of pudding, whipped cream, ripe bananas, and wafer cookies come together for a truly delightful dessert. We love it so much, we’ve made a number of twists on it, everything from a a Nutella banana pudding to a Reese's banana pudding to a red velvet banana pudding. We haven’t tried a version yet that wasn’t even more incredible than the last, so go wild.
Want more easy holiday sweet ideas? Check out our favorite no-bake desserts, our best Thanksgiving desserts (that aren’t all pie!), and our top easy Christmas desserts too.
Perfect Banana Pudding
Banana pudding is one of our all-time favorite desserts. It's a classic Southern recipe, and for good reason. Luscious layers of vanilla pudding, whipped cream, ripe bananas, and wafer cookies are completely impossible to resist.
Get the Banana Pudding recipe.
Biscoff Trifle
You may be most familiar with these cookies as a beloved Delta in-flight snack. In fact, Biscoff’s partnership with the airline is what first introduced American consumers to the cookie in the 1980s. We love eating them all year long, but especially around Christmastime. So we decided to celebrate speculoos with this showstopping holiday trifle.
Get the Biscoff Trifle recipe.
Aperol Spritz Trifle
This trifle draws inspiration from everybody’s favorite summer cocktail: the Aperol Spritz. This popular beverage fuses effervescent Prosecco, a bittersweet and bright Italian aperitivo, and fresh orange. We include all three of those ingredients in this layered dessert. It’s like an adult version of an orange Creamsicle!
Get the Aperol Spritz Trifle recipe.
Raspberry Tiramisu
We love a classic tiramisu and couldn’t imagine it getting much better—until raspberries entered the picture. We use a little orange liqueur instead of rum to amplify the bright flavors too.
Get the Raspberry Tiramisu recipe.
Cookie Dough Trifle
This no-bake treat is every cookie dough lover's dream. The best part? The cookie dough is eggless, flour-free, and 100% safe to eat. YOU'RE WELCOME.
Get the Cookie Dough Trifle recipe.
Triple-Chocolate Trifle
Layers of complementary flavors make this trifle really pop. The tahini brings a subtle nutty flavor, while the dark rum adds warmth. Unlike a typical chocolate mousse, olive oil is used here in place of cream, further exaggerating the chocolate flavor. Yum!
Get the Triple-Chocolate Trifle recipe.
Tiramisu
Italian tiramisu is admittedly a bit of a process to make, but it's so worth it. Set yourself up for success by keeping your workspace as tidy as possible, particularly when dipping your ladyfingers in the rum and coffee.
Get the Tiramisu recipe.
Strawberry Shortcake Trifles
Deconstruct dessert with this fun riff on strawberry shortcake. It's a the perfect summer treat, and bonus: It's easy to take on the go for a picnic or BBQ!
Get the Strawberry Shortcake Trifles recipe.
Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding Recipe
It’s hard to match the boxed stuff, but whipped cream, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla bean get pretty darn close in this homemade banana pudding. The result is heavenly, almost ice cream-like. Make it the night before, then enjoy it cold, right out of the cooler.
Get the Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding recipe.
S'mores Banana Pudding
We took our love of s'mores and layered it into our favorite banana pudding. Filled with marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate, and lots of whipped cream, it's a dreamy dessert any time of year.
Get the S'mores Banana Pudding recipe.
Gingerbread Trifle
Cutest Christmas dessert of all time? We think so! Feel free to use store-bought or homemade gingerbread people here. Hot tip: This is also a great way to use any left over from making a gingerbread house.
Get the Gingerbread Trifle recipe.
Cranberry Coconut Trifle
Here at Delish, we love a good dessert trifle. This one is loaded with fun flavors; coconut, cranberries, and lime come together for a dessert that feels both tropical and familiar at the same time. It's the perfect end to a non-traditional holiday meal.
Get the Cranberry Coconut Trifle recipe.
Caramel Apple Pudding
In the summer, banana pudding is our go-to for potlucks and big family gatherings. Now that the temperature (and the humidity) is dropping, we were in need of a new, more fall-friendly version. Enter: caramel apple bread pudding.
Get the Caramel Apple Pudding recipe.
Peppermint Bark Trifle
Layers of brownie, candy canes, white chocolate, and heavy cream make up this festive trifle we can't get enough of. Just like our favorite peppermint bark, this dessert proves chocolate and candy canes belong together.
Get the Peppermint Bark Trifle recipe.
Rum & Coke Cakes
Soft, spongy chocolate cake topped with fluffy whipped cream, drizzled with rich caramel, and drenched with a toppled nip of rum? You've just got to try this rum & Coke-inspired treat to believe it.
Get your Rum & Coke Cakes recipe.
Red Velvet Trifle
The best gift you can give to guests is red velvet and ganache. The best gift you can give to yourself? Making this trifle ahead so you can spend more time with friends and family.
Get the Red Velvet Trifle recipe.
Gingerbread Butterscotch Trifles
Lick your spoon clean: Made with stevia sweetener, this spiced, layered trifle is absolutely guiltless. You might just want to put the butterscotch sauce on everything.
Nutella Banana Pudding
Sure, banana pudding is great. But NUTELLA banana pudding? That really takes things over the top. We also swapped out traditional Nilla Wafers for Oreos for an extra-chocolatey spin you'll love.
Get the Nutella Banana Pudding recipe.
Spider Pumpkin Trifle
Layers of pumpkin mousse, chocolate cake, and Cool Whip will delight all your Halloween partygoers. Use a plastic spider if you've got one, but we think a few gummy spiders would be even better. 😋
Get the Spider Pumpkin Trifle recipe.
Chocolate Cream Pie in a Jar
A little graham cracker crust on the bottom, plus layers of whipped cream and chocolate pudding, make this damn decadent. The best part? With minis, there's no need to share!
Get the Chocolate Cream Pie in a Jar recipe.
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