Description
This festive Halloween trifle is a fun and spooky dessert perfect for Halloween parties. Layers of moist chocolate cake, vibrant orange vanilla pudding, and fluffy whipped topping come together in a delightful trifle dish, decorated with sprinkles and creepy candies like gummy body parts and chocolate eyeballs for a hauntingly delicious treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Cake Layer
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
Vanilla Pudding Layer
- 1 small box instant vanilla pudding
- 2 cups milk
- Orange food coloring (optional)
Whipped Topping and Decorations
- 8 oz container Cool Whip
- Sprinkles
- Chocolate balls wrapped like eyes
- Gummy body parts like brains, teeth, fingers, etc.
- Any decorations you like
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet: Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a small rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Cake Batter: In a large bowl, beat together the cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Bake the Cake: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a cooling rack. Let cool completely to room temperature before assembling the trifle.
- Prepare Pudding: While the cake is cooling, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and milk in a medium bowl until smooth. Add several drops of orange food coloring if desired and whisk until the color is well blended. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes or until the pudding has fully set.
- Prepare Whipped Topping and Pastry Bags: Remove the pudding and Cool Whip from the refrigerator. Fit two pastry bags with large round tips—fill one with pudding and the other with Cool Whip.
- Cut Cake Circles: Using the rim of your trifle dish as a guide, lightly press it onto the cooled cake and remove a circle. Trim if necessary so the cake fits neatly into the bottom of your trifle dish.
- Assemble the Trifle: Place the cake circles into the trifle dish forming the base layer. Pipe the pudding layer evenly over the cake. Next, pipe the Cool Whip topping over the pudding layer to create a fluffy, creamy layer.
- Decorate: Finish by decorating the top with sprinkles and themed Halloween candies such as chocolate eyeballs and gummy body parts to add spooky fun.
- Serve or Store: Serve the trifle immediately for best texture, or store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 day before serving to let flavors meld.
Notes
- Make sure the cake is completely cooled before cutting and assembling to prevent the pudding and whipped topping from melting.
- Using pastry bags for the pudding and whipped topping helps create neat, distinct layers but you can also spoon them carefully.
- Optional orange food coloring in the pudding adds a festive Halloween color but can be omitted if preferred.
- Decorate the trifle with any Halloween candies or decorations you like to customize your spooky dessert.
- This dessert is best served within one day to maintain freshness and texture.
