Carrot Cake Trifle
A delicious way to serve carrot cake without worrying about cake decorating or fancy presentations, these Mini Carrot Cake Trifles make the perfect easy individual servings for Easter or any occasion that calls for carrot cake!
Carrot Cake Trifles Recipe
Trifles are such an overlooked dessert option, but they can be delicious and beautiful when done right!
Plus, they are super easy to assemble and you can skip all of the fancy decorating work that can come with serving a traditional cake for a special occasion.
This carrot cake trifle has the perfect balance of fluffy, warmly spiced carrot cake and tangy and velvety smooth cream cheese frosting layers. Hits of shredded coconut and walnuts add crunchy texture and pops of flavor with every bite.
While we didn’t add it for this recipe, I think it would be delicious to add some pineapple preserves or raspberry jam for a couple of layers to this trifle to add some tartness. (Our homemade Monkey Butter would also be delicious.)
Most Carrot Cake Trifles only have two layer types: the cake layers and a cream cheese pudding or cream cheese whipped topping layer. I wanted to make things a little more interesting, so our cream cheese layers alternate between a light and airy cream cheese whipped topping layer and a thicker cream cheese frosting layer.
You can use any carrot cake for this recipe – a boxed mix or your favorite from-scratch recipe.
You can use this recipe to prepare a large trifle or several mini dessert trifles. We had these cute mini trifle dishes so I opted for individual servings. You could also just use mason jars or drinking glasses to prepare individual servings, if desired.
Prepare Ahead Instructions: These carrot cake trifles can be prepared ahead by 2 days, but I think the day before is perfect. If you need to prepare further ahead, I would prepare each individual layer (the cream cheese frosting, the cream cheese Cool Whip layer and the carrot cake) and refrigerate separately to avoid the carrot cake from becoming too soft.
For even more fun Easter Ideas, check out our Easter Planning eBook, featuring 32 of our favorite Easter crafts, recipes and decor ideas – it’s free for e-mail subscribers:
Carrot Cake Trifle Ingredients
- Carrot Cake <– you can use your favorite from-scratch recipe or a prepared box cake
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 1/2 cups powdered icing sugar
- 8 oz Cool Whip
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
Tip: if you want to skip the cream cheese frosting layers and just have the cream cheese Cool Whip layers, increase the Cool Whip to 16oz.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Mini Trifle Dishes
- Electric mixer <– this is a great hand mixer if you don’t want to make the investment into a stand mixer
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
How to Make Mini Carrot Cake Trifles
Prepare the carrot cake and allow to cool completely.
Cut the carrot cake into 2″ squares. Set aside.
In a large bowl, add the butter and cream cheese.
Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and cream cheese together until completely combined and smooth, about 2 minutes.
Add in the vanilla extract and powdered icing sugar and beat until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes.
Remove half of the mixture to a second bowl and add in the Cool Whip. Stir until just combined.
Start assembling your mini trifles (or one large trifle). I’m not including measurements here because the number of glasses and sizes of your glasses will make a difference. Make each layer to your personal preference – you want to be able to see the layers when looking at the side of the glass and have a good balance of textures for each spoonful.
Spoon some of the Cool Whip mixture on the bottom of each glass.
Top with a sprinkle of shredded coconut, then add a layer of cake.
Spoon on some of the cream cheese frosting mixture (without Cool Whip) then top with walnuts and another layer of cake.
Repeat this sequence until the bowls are filled, ending with either a frosting layer or Cool Whip mixture layer.
Sprinkle on walnuts and shredded coconut.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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Carrot Cake Trifle
A delicious alternative to a classic carrot cake, these Mini Carrot Cake Trifles feature fluffy, warmly spiced layers of carrot cake nestled in between velvety smooth layers of cream cheese frosting with little hits of shredded coconut and walnuts for flavor and crunch.
Ingredients
- 13" x 9" Carrot Cake
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 1/2 cups powdered icing sugar
- 8 oz Cool Whip
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Prepare the carrot cake and allow to cool completely.
- Cut the carrot cake into 2" squares. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the butter and cream cheese.
- Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and cream cheese together until completely combined and smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Add in the vanilla extract and powdered icing sugar and beat until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes.
- Remove half of the mixture to a second bowl and add in the Cool Whip. Stir until just combined.
- Start assembling your mini trifles (or one large trifle). I'm not including measurements here because the number of glasses and sizes of your glasses will make a difference. Make each layer to your personal preference - you want to be able to see the layers when looking at the side of the glass and have a good balance of textures for each spoonful.
- Spoon some of the Cool Whip mixture on the bottom of each glass.
- Top with a sprinkle of shredded coconut, then add a layer of cake.
- Spoon on some of the cream cheese frosting mixture (without Cool Whip) then top with walnuts and another layer of cake.
- Repeat this sequence until the bowls are filled, ending with either a frosting layer or Cool Whip mixture layer.
- Sprinkle on walnuts and shredded coconut.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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I hope your family loves these little mini carrot cake trifles as a fun and easy dessert – whether you’re serving them for Easter, a birthday or just a special treat!
For more delicious desserts, check out our full collection here:
For more delicious cake recipes, check out our full collection here:
