Easy Thanksgiving Pumpkin Trifle Recipe

This easy Thanksgiving pumpkin trifle is made with pumpkin bread. But use what you have on hand, to make this fun and easy pumpkin dessert.

This easy Thanksgiving pumpkin trifle recipe is made with pumpkin bread.

And no. You don’t need to make the pumpkin bread. Get a loaf from the store if you choose.

It has a pumpkin cream cheese layer and a brown sugar whipped cream layer.

The pumpkin bread layers are brushed with bourbon and because I like pecans, I added those also.

I might have added some chocolate toffee in the form of toffee bits for a bit of crunch. Well, I did add some. It is really good.

And then I just couldn’t help myself, but before I served this I kind of drizzled a little salted caramel sauce over the top.

Yeah. This is a really simple no bake recipe that is very over the top.

I remember my mother making my dad a trifle on his birthday-which was Christmas Day.

We always had lots of people over so a big, giant trifle served the crowd.

I don’t remember how she made hers, but I am guessing it was with Sara Lee pound cake.

Not a bad thing to make this with.

So you might be wondering since a trifle dish is large and is glass with tall sides-kind of like this- what happened to mine-which in actuality might be called parfaits.

So there are just two of us. And I thought individual servings much more appropriate for testing this.

Ideas for the cake layers in your pumpkin trifle dessert:

There are a million trifle recipes out there, but since I love pumpkin bread, that was what I used.

Sponge cake, spice cake, pound cake, angel food cake, gingerbread; any are perfect for this recipe.

In fact you can even use cookies, such as gingersnaps or biscoff or graham crackers.

What to layer your pumpkin trifle with?

Many like to layer their trifle with a pudding mixture, but I used a cream cheese mixture spiced with pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin pie filling.

A little maple syrup and brown sugar added in worked pretty well, too.

But think-butterscotch pudding or vanilla pudding spiked with bourbon or rum would totally rock.

And hey-who doesn’t like to rock?

Then using heavy cream, brown sugar and vanilla extract I made my other topping which made this Thanksgiving trifle a very festive dessert.

Yes, you could even use Cool Whip.

I’ve been known to use it in this! And it’s one of the most popular recipes here at TIHIC this time of year!

The best part of this perfect Thanksgiving dessert is that you can really use what you have on hand.

How To make a Thanksgiving trifle:

In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, combine 8 oz of room temperature cream cheese with 1 cup of pumpkin pie filling.

Mix until no lumps remain. Add in some pumpkin pie seasonings to jazz it up and a little maple syrup and brown sugar for sweetness.

Then it’s time to mix up your heavy cream mixture.

That is if you aren’t using Cool Whip!

Whip one cup of heavy whipping cream with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/2 t of vanilla extract.

Cut the pumpkin bread into 1″ slices and then cut the slices into 1″ strips.

In the bottom of a large glass bowl or in my case – 4 coupe glasses – place a dollop of whipped cream.

Top that with some pumpkin bread and then brush it with bourbon. Or coffee. Or rum! Top that with the pumpkin filling mixture.

Sprinkle on some glazed pecan pieces.

 

Add more pumpkin bread. Brush again.

Add some of the brown sugar heavy cream mixture. Sprinkle that with toffee.

Another layer of pumpkin bread brushed, top with pumpkin and then some whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Of course a few more sprinkles of pecans and toffee on top tastes pretty good, too!

If you screw up the order, it doesn’t matter. It will still taste amazing!

By the way, this tastes even better the next day, so just stick a piece of plastic wrap over the top and refrigerate.

Perfect for your holiday table during the holiday season!

This pumpkin spice trifle with its beautiful layers is a spectacular dessert.

Light enough to serve after Thanksgiving dinner, this pumpkin dessert would go well with pecan pie.

That is if you need two delicious desserts!

Need Some More?

Pumpkin Scones

Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Oatmeal

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