Mini Trifle Desserts: great recipes for a crowd

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with Tim’s side of the family and because I love dessert- I’m always happy to volunteer to bring them. This also means bringing enough for 40 hungry people who also love dessert! A couple years ago I landed on this amazing idea that feeds the crowd, makes no mess, and is self serve: Mini Trifle desserts! I got the original idea from Nana of course and from there have made them my own. Bonus: they are easy and best to make a day ahead. Even better!

These desserts can be made in a large bowl for beautiful presentation- but to make them self serve, I bought mini plastic cups like these (6-8 ounces is perfect). I saw these fancy gold ones and thought they were fun too. A see-through cup is super important because we are going to have beautiful layers of deliciousness in our mini trifles!

This year I planned 4 different trifle desserts that would hopefully cover everyone’s favorite flavors. If you know me-you know fruit and lemon top my list! I also did a chocolate one in honor of all chocolate lovers. And then in keeping with the Christmas season I did a peppermint trifle also.

Step 1: Get your cups ready

Step 2: Buy your ingredients and get going

My top tip: buy as much as you can pre-made because it just makes your life easier. And be sure to make them a day ahead so the flavors can meld together. Super important according to my Mom!

Each trifle usually includes similar type ingredients:

• a pudding or mousse: I go as easy as possible using a box mix or making up my favorite lemon curd recipe (find it here).
• a crumb, cake, or cookie layer: think vanilla wafers, graham cracker crumbs, oreos, crumbled up brownies (bake a box mix), chunked pound cake or angel food cake
• the actual fruit or candy: use fresh fruit, lemon zest, chopped heath bar, chopped chocolate bar or other topping!
• whip cream: I sometimes use Cool Whip and sometimes make my own whipped cream. Cool whip definitely looks a bit prettier and is more stable. 

When you are picking and choosing ingredients for your mini trifles think colors and presentation-because with using the clear cups the fun is having each layer different!

Once you figure out what ingredients are in each trifle, you are ready! Now it’s time to layer. I set out all my different ingredients in bowls and put these together assembly line style. Ok you are ready.

Step 3: Layer your trifles

• Crush your crackers or crumbs or crumble/cut your cake or brownie and put a small amount in the bottom of each cup. Remember you have at least 4 layers of deliciousness so don’t overdo any one layer. 
• Next layer mousse or pudding or lemon curd (I use Sally’s recipe for lemon curd). Push it down onto the crumbs. 
  -Side note: when I made the Peppermint dessert I was ‘winging it’ without a recipe and didn’t realize I needed to mix the mini marshmallows into the peppermint candy/whip cream mixture. It turned out fine but would be much better with them mixed together first!
• Third layer up is usually cool whip/whip cream! Spread it, pushing down a bit so flavors get to blend and meld together. Add enough to close to top of the cup because all that’s left is the garnish top layer!
• Garnish with fresh fruit (washed and dried) or lemon zest or more cookie crumbs or heath bar bits. Honestly-anything works because that’s the fun of it, you can tailor to your individual likes and preferences!

I’m going to add each recipe I made this Christmas below but the sky is the limit for different ingredients used. Try mine if you want and then tweak them to fit your own favorites!

If you want to make one giant trifle, find a tall edged serving bowl like this and just continue layering over and over till at the top! Then you can serve onto plates or bowls.

You know the best part of these Mini Trifle Desserts? Once you set them out there is no mess, no fuss, no cutting or serving. Everyone can grab 1, 2, or all 4!

And there you have it!
Easy! Yummy! Colorful!
Let me know in the comments which ones you tried and also any flavor combinations you tried that you think I might love! If you’re in the mood for dessert check out my Apple Crisp Dessert or my Mini Poppyseed Bundt Cakes. Both of those would also feed a crowd and be a hit.

xo, Sarah

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