Cubes of tender pumpkin cake layered with creamy pumpkin filling and drizzled
with caramel create this perfect-for-fall Pumpkin Caramel Trifle. It's
one amazingly tasty and beautiful pumpkin dessert, for sure!
Who loves creamy, comfort-food desserts? And who loves pumpkin? If your answer to both those questions is yes, this Pumpkin Caramel Trifle is a must-try for you!
Because Pumpkin Caramel Trifle is one of those creamy, gets-all-squishy-together desserts that just screams pure sweet treat comfort food delight. And with its pumpkin cake and creamy pumpkin filling layers, it's simply jam-packed loaded with fabulous pumpkin flavor.
And now, the caramel drizzle between those pumpkin cake and filling layers? -- Well, that just puts this creamy dessert over the top in terms of its deliciousness.
Cubes of tender pumpkin cake layered with creamy pumpkin filling and drizzled with caramel create this perfect-for-fall Pumpkin Caramel Trifle.
The pumpkin cake that serves as the foundation of the trifle is a slight modification to our Yellow Cake Mix Pumpkin Cake recipe. Using a boxed yellow cake mix as the cake's base makes it super easy to prepare. For the trifle's cake version, we added one more egg to the cake recipe. This creates a super light, airy, and spongy cake that beautifully absorbs the trifle's caramel drizzle and moisture from the creamy pumpkin filling.
Not only does Pumpkin Caramel Trifle taste amazing, it's one strikingly beautiful dessert, too. Well, at least until individual servings are scooped out, that is!
Yes, layered trifle desserts are gorgeous in their serving bowl, but then not so much once plated as a serving. Though those Pumpkin Caramel Trifle individual servings may look a tad messy, rest assured, they sure taste delicious!
What's to Love About This Recipe?
- Creamy comfort-food dessert - Pumpkin Caramel Trifle is one of those creamy, gets-all-squishy-together desserts that just screams pure sweet treat comfort food delight.
- Loaded with pumpkin flavor - With its pumpkin cake and creamy pumpkin filling layers, it's simply jam-packed with fabulous pumpkin flavor.
- Beautiful trifle layers - Its layers of cake, creamy filling, and drizzle of caramel on top make it one beautiful pumpkin dessert, for sure.
Pumpkin Caramel Trifle Ingredients:
Pumpkin Caramel Trifle is built with layers of tender pumpkin cake, creamy pumpkin filling, and caramel drizzle.
For the pumpkin cake layers, you'll need:
- Yellow cake mix
- Canned 100% pure pumpkin
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Milk
- Canola (or vegetable) oil
- Eggs
For the creamy pumpkin filling, drizzle, and topping, you'll need:
- Cream cheese
- Canned 100% pure pumpkin
- Confectioners' sugar
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Cool Whip
- Caramel ice cream topping
- Chopped pecans
How to Make Pumpkin Caramel Trifle:
There are three parts to making this tasty Pumpkin Caramel Trifle:
- Baking the pumpkin cake
- Preparing the creamy filling, and
- Assembling the trifle.
1. Bake the Pumpkin Cake
The pumpkin cake is a really easy
pumpkin cake made with yellow cake mix
as its base. Simply mix a box of yellow cake mix with canned 100% pure pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, eggs, milk, and oil. Then bake it up, and
voila!, -- you have a fabulous pumpkin cake to serve as the foundation of
the trifle.
2. Prepare the Creamy Filling
To prepare the creamy filling, combine cream cheese with some
confectioners' sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and a can of 100% pure pumpkin,
beating them together until the mixture is smooth.
Then fold in some Cool Whip until everything's fluffy and well combined.
3. Assemble the Trifle
To assemble the trifle, start by cutting the cooled pumpkin cake into 1-inch
cubes.
Then build layers of cake cubes and the creamy pumpkin filling in a trifle bowl,
drizzling caramel topping between each layer.
Drizzle the entire top of the trifle with caramel ice cream topping.
Then top it off with a sprinkling of chopped pecans.
Cover and refrigerate the trifle overnight to allow the layers and
flavors to meld.
Then you're ready to go with digging into the creamy deliciousness! Top individual
servings with a dollop of Cool Whip, if you'd like.
So if you love creamy, comfort-food desserts and pumpkin, Pumpkin Caramel Trifle is a must-try for you. Because it's one of those creamy, all-squishy-together desserts that just screams pure sweet treat comfort food delight.
Recipe FAQs:
- Does Pumpkin Caramel Trifle have to be refrigerated overnight before serving, or can I serve it sooner? - Well, it's best to let this Pumpkin Caramel Trifle chill out overnight to allow the layers and flavors to meld. And truly, it's at its best once it's stood that long. That being said, it can be served the same day it's made if need be. Allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 to 6 hours before serving. But wait until the next day if possible! -- The result is absolutely worth the wait.
- Can I use a different cake mix besides a yellow cake mix to make Pumpkin Caramel Trifle? - We like the flavor of the cake best when made with a yellow cake mix. You can also use a Butter Golden cake mix just fine.
- How long can Pumpkin Caramel Trifle be stored in the refrigerator and still be good? - Pumpkin Caramel Trifle is at its best when enjoyed within 2-3 days of being made, but can keep in the refrigerator just fine for about 5 to 6 days.
- Can I substitute homemade whipped cream for the Cool Whip in this Pumpkin Caramel Trifle recipe? - Absolutely, you can use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip to make this tasty pumpkin trifle dessert.
Check out these other super delicious pumpkin desserts:
Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love
to have you back soon!
Yield: 12-16 servings
Pumpkin Caramel Trifle
Cubes of tender pumpkin cake layered with creamy pumpkin filling and drizzled with caramel create this perfect-for-fall Pumpkin Caramel Trifle. It's one amazingly tasty and beautiful pumpkin dessert, for sure!
Prep time: 35 MinCook time: 28 MinInactive time: 8 HourTotal time: 9 H & 3 M
Ingredients
Pumpkin Cake:
- 1 (15.25 oz.) yellow cake mix
- 1 c. 100% pure pumpkin
- 1/2 c. milk
- 1/3 c. canola or vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Creamy Filling:
- 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 c. confectioners' sugar
- 1 3/4 c. 100% pure pumpkin (a 15 oz. can)
- 3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 12 oz. Cool Whip (1 & 1/2 8 oz. containers)
Drizzle & Topping:
- 3/4 c. caramel ice cream topping, divided
- 3 T. chopped pecans
Instructions
Prepare the Pumpkin Cake:
- DO NOT FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CAKE MIX BOX. FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS INSTEAD.
- Place dry cake mix in a mixing bowl. Add pumpkin pie spice and stir to combine.
- Add pumpkin, milk, oil, and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down sides at least once.
- Pour batter into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Bake at 350℉ for 28-30 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely.
Prepare the Creamy Filling:
- Beat softened cream cheese with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Add confectioners' sugar, pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice. Beat at medium speed until well combined and smooth.
- By hand, fold in Cool Whip until well combined.
Assemble the Trifle:
- Cut cake into 1-inch cubes.
- In a trifle bowl or other glass bowl, arrange 1/2 the cake cubes into a layer. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons caramel topping.
- Spread half the creamy filling evenly on top of the cake cubes layer. Drizzle with 1/4 cup caramel topping.
- Repeat the layers with remaining cake cubes, creamy filling, and caramel topping.
- Sprinkle the top with chopped pecans.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to meld.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
- You'll need to purchase 2 (15 oz.) cans of 100% pure pumpkin for this recipe, and will have a little left over from one of the cans. One full can is used for the creamy filling, and part of the other can is used to make the pumpkin cake part of the trifle.
- Top individual servings with a dollop of Cool Whip, if you'd like.
Affiliate links are included in this post. As an Amazon.com associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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ReplyDeleteOh my goodness me, this is a beautiful looking dessert what a fabulous idea for this festive season. #FullPlateThursday
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ReplyDeleteThis looks luscious! Thanks for sharing at the Lazy Gastronome's What's for Dinner party! Have great week!
ReplyDeleteYou just continue to turn out these amazing desserts and it's another week where I'm featuring you when my party opens!
ReplyDeleteLooks so yummy. I am going to make it for the holidays. I am happy to feature this lovely dessert at Love Your Creativity.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful dessert!! And it sounds so good! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner Party! Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting. We will be back next week.
DeleteWhat a stunning Autumn dessert. Trifles are always so beautiful on the tablescape and this one steals the show.
ReplyDeleteThank you, we love hearing that our readers enjoy the recipes.
DeleteTammy we are glad that you like the trifles. It is one of our favorites and we hope it will be one of your favorites.
DeleteTracey, here in Australia we serve pumpkin as a savoury vegetable and not as a dessert, but I am absolutely enticed by all of the sweet pumpkin recipes. This one looks amazing... and I love trifle ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this recipe at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I'm delighted to be featuring it at the party this week and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne
Kerryanne, thank you for the feature. Pumpkin is a versatile ingredient for us.
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