This Christmas Trifle Recipe Is The Ultimate Make Ahead Holiday Dessert Food

THIS CHRISTMAS TRIFLE RECIPE IS THE ULTIMATE MAKE-AHEAD HOLIDAY DESSERT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Prepare cake mix per package directions and pour into a 9-inch square baking pan. Bake per package instructions, then let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, in a 3-quart saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil on high, then simmer until most of the berries burst, 6 to 8 minutes, stirring often and mashing berries against side of pan to break up. Transfer to a bowl; refrigerate until cold.
• In another bowl, beat cream just to soft peaks; set aside. In another bowl with the same beaters, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the whipped cream. Transfer to the fridge until ready to assemble.
• Assemble the trifle: Scoop 1 cup of cream and set aside. Slice cooled cake into 1/2-inch slabs. Layer cake onto the bottom of a trifle dish to cover. Top with a layer (about 1 cup) of berry compote and a layer of whipped cream. Repeat layers of cake, compote, and cream and until dish is almost full. Top with reserved whipped cream. Let trifle sit at least 4 hours.
• Garnish with sugared cranberries and serve.

HOLIDAY ENGLISH TRIFLES

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a greased 13x9-in baking pan. Cool; cut into 1-in. cubes., In a small bowl, combine orange juice and sherry. In another bowl, whisk jam. In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Whisk in sour cream. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set., Divide half of the cake cubes among 15 parfait glasses or dessert dishes; drizzle with half of the orange juice mixture. Layer each with jam and pudding mixture. Top with remaining cake cubes; drizzle with remaining orange juice mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight., Just before serving, in a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Dollop over trifles and garnish with raspberries.

ALMOND SHERRY CHRISTMAS TRIFLE

Steps:

• Make cake layers:
• Preheat oven to 350°F with racks in upper and lower thirds. Butter sheet pans, then line bottoms with parchment paper and butter parchment. Dust with flour, knocking out excess.
• Break up almond paste with your fingers into a food processor. Pulse until coarsely ground, then add 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and process until very finely ground.
• Transfer mixture to a large bowl and whisk in yolks, milk, and extracts.
• Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they hold soft peaks. With mixer at low speed, add remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a slow stream. Beat at medium-high speed until whites hold stiff, glossy peaks. Fold one third of whites into batter to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Fold in remaining 3/4 cup flour.
• Divide batter between pans, spreading evenly, and rap pans against counter a couple of times to release any air bubbles. Bake cakes, switching position halfway through, until pale golden and springy to the touch, 16 to 18 minutes. Cool in pans until warm. Invert onto racks lined with parchment. Carefully peel off parchment from tops and cool completely.
• While cake layers cool, pulse preserves in cleaned food processor until smooth.
• Assemble trifle:
• Trim 1/2 inch from edges of 1 cake layer with a serrated knife to make a 14-by 9-inch rectangle, reserving trimmings; with short end nearest you, halve cake lengthwise. Brush top with some of syrup, then spread 1/4 cup preserves over each piece, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Beginning with a short end, roll up each piece tightly to form a log. Repeat with remaining cake layer. (You will have 4 logs total.)
• Spoon 1 cup custard into bottom of trifle dish.
• Cut 1 log into 5 rounds with serrated knife, then halve each round. Brush generously with syrup all over. Stand half-moons, curved sides up, around edge of trifle dish (at bottom), arranging them snugly and pressing against side to help them adhere. Tear reserved trimmings into pieces, then dip in syrup and arrange over custard in center of dish.
• Cut and brush remaining logs in same manner, arranging slices, curved sides down, against side of trifle dish above first layer (there may be some left over).
• Add remaining custard. Brush any remaining cake slices with syrup and arrange in center over custard.
• Chill trifle, covered, at least 8 hours.
• Make praline almonds:
• Have ready an unoiled sheet of parchment paper or lightly oiled foil.
• Heat almonds in a dry small heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until almonds are hot but not colored. Add confectioners sugar and cook, stirring and tossing, until almonds are lightly toasted and sugar glaze is caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes (not all sugar on almonds will melt completely). Immediately transfer to parchment, spreading in 1 layer. Cool completely.
• Make topping just before serving:
• Beat cream with Sherry and sugar until it just holds soft peaks. Spoon over top of trifle and sprinkle with praline almonds.

BEST HOLIDAY TRIFLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine cake mix, water, and egg in a large bowl using a fork. Pour batter into an ungreased 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 28 to 33 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Combine pudding with milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit and cool completely with a layer of plastic wrap directly touching the surface, to prevent a skin from forming.
• Meanwhile, mix pumpkin filling, brown sugar, rum, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and cloves together in a large bowl using an electric mixer on low speed until well blended, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Tear cooled cake into cubes or bite-size pieces. Arrange in a layer at the bottom of a large glass or trifle bowl. Pour 1/2 of the pumpkin mixture over cake; layer 1/2 of the whipped topping over pumpkin. Repeat layers.
• Pulverize 2 gingersnap cookies in a food processor or place in a plastic bag and crush using a rolling pin or mallet. Dust over trifle. Stand 8 whole gingersnap cookies up around the circumference of the trifle.
• Cover trifle with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 24 to 48 hours. Remove from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving.