Pumpkin Trifle with Spiced Cake, Cream Cheese Pumpkin Filling, and Gingersnap Cookies Recipe
This Pumpkin Trifle is a delightful Thanksgiving dessert combining the best elements of pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and spice cake all in one easy-to-make layered treat. Using a boxed spice cake for the base, it features layers of moist cake cubes, a creamy pumpkin and cream cheese filling, crunchy gingersnap cookies, and whipped cream, garnished with candied ginger for an extra festive touch. Perfect for serving a crowd, this trifle can be made ahead for convenience and is guaranteed to impress at your holiday gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Spice Cake
- 1 (15.25 oz.) box spice cake mix
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 3 large eggs
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling
- 16 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 (15-oz.) can pumpkin puree
- 1 cup granulated sugar (from the 1 1/2 cups total)
- 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract (from the 1 Tbsp. total)
Whipped Cream
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (remaining)
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract (remaining)
Other
- 2 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies (8 oz.), plus more for garnish
- Chopped candied ginger, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Bake Cake: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare the spice cake batter according to the package instructions using buttermilk, canola oil, and eggs. Pour the batter into a greased 9-by-13-inch baking pan and bake as directed on the package. Once baked, cool the cake completely on a wire rack, approximately 1 hour.
- Cube the Cake: After the cake has cooled, cut about half of it into 1-inch cubes, yielding roughly 6 cups of cake pieces. Reserve the remaining half of the cake for another use.
- Make Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling: In a large bowl, beat the room temperature cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add pumpkin puree, 1 cup sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat until fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Whip the Cream: Using a clean bowl and beaters, whip the heavy cream with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 1 1/2 minutes.
- Combine Filling with Whipped Cream: Gently fold 1 1/2 cups of the whipped cream into the pumpkin cream cheese mixture until blended.
- Assemble the Trifle — First Layer: In a large trifle dish, arrange half of the cake cubes (3 cups) evenly on the bottom. Spread half of the pumpkin cream mixture over the cake. Sprinkle half of the crushed gingersnap cookies on top, then spread half of the remaining whipped cream over the cookie layer.
- Assemble the Trifle — Second Layer: Repeat the layers with the remaining cake cubes, pumpkin cream mixture, crushed cookies, and whipped cream. Finish the top by garnishing with additional crushed gingersnap cookies and chopped candied ginger if desired.
- Chill or Serve: Serve the trifle immediately for best crunch, or cover and chill for up to 1 day. Add garnish just before serving to maintain texture.
Notes
- This trifle feeds approximately 12 people, making it ideal for a holiday gathering.
- You can bake the cake in advance and freeze it wrapped tightly for up to three months. Thaw completely before cubing.
- For best results, use room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth blending.
- If you don’t have a trifle dish, a large glass bowl with straight, tall sides works well.
- To soften cream cheese quickly, leave on the counter while baking, soak in warm water briefly, or microwave (unwrapped) for a few seconds.
- Candied ginger and crystallized ginger are the same; both add flavor and sparkle when garnishing.
- Leftover cake can be repurposed into cake balls for a fun snack.
Keywords: pumpkin trifle, Thanksgiving dessert, pumpkin spice cake, layered dessert, holiday trifle, pumpkin cheesecake dessert
