Does Pumpkin Pie seem a bit boring? Lose your mind and go crazy with Pumpkin Pie Trifle instead. It’s delicious and wonderful for a larger group too!
I’m sure you’ve had classic pumpkin pie before, but have you ever had it in the form of a trifle? The layers are so beautiful in comparison to your run-of-the-mill pie, plus it’s less hassle to make when you’re already preparing a feast. It’s a refreshing change and something a bit different that you can serve to your guests during holiday parties.
What Is A Pumpkin Pie Trifle?
The trifle has all the makings of a pie. It’s just layers of pumpkin pie parts. You start with a base, in this case: pie crust. If you are so inclined, feel free to use something else such as shortbread cookies. The end result won’t be any less delicious.
After you lay down your base, add the pumpkin pie filling. This is made in a similar manner as the pie itself and is baked without the crust. You could even make a double batch and serve a second pumpkin pie dessert in custard cups. Soooo fancy!
How To Create The Layers Of Trifle
I used frosting piping bags with frosting tips to separate the layers from each other, but if you don’t have any of that you can use a plastic baggie and snip one of the corners. You could also just spoon the whipped cream and pumpkin pie custard into your serving dish.
While we give you the easiest whipped cream recipe out there right in the recipe, may we suggest you try one of these whipped cream variations for a twist that will knock your guests socks off!
Three Ways To Create Your Pumpkin Pie Trifle
You can make the trifle in three different ways so choose whichever fits your cooking style best:
- Make an entire pumpkin pie and turn it into a trifle by separating the filling from the crust.
- Make the crust yourself the night before or buy pre-made crust from the store and bake it.
- Make the whipped cream and pumpkin pie filling and use shortbread cookies as the base.
Whichever way you make these trifles, they’ll be a super-memorable part of your holiday party!
More Great Dessert Recipes
Podcast Episode About Making Pumpking Pie Trifle
Listen to our editor, Christine Pittman, explain briefly about how to make this recipe, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Pumpkin Pie Trifle Recipe
Does Pumpkin Pie seeming a bit boring? Lose your mind and go crazy with Pumpkin Pie Trifle instead. You’ll love how easy it is.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup half and half
- 5 oz. pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 and 1/2 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 16 oz. heavy cream
- 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
- 1 prepared pie crust, baked (or packaged shortbread cookies)
- Cinnamon, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Mix together the half and half and pumpkin puree. Whisk in the eggs, brown sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Fill a pie plate with the mixture and place in a deeper baking dish. Put hot water in the deep baking dish so that it surrounds the pie plate. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- While baking, fit two plastic piping bags with your choice of frosting tips. Or cut a hole in the corner of a plastic zip-top bag.
- In a medium bowl, combine the heavy cream with the powdered sugar and mix with an electric mixer on high speed until cream thickens and ripples appear in bowl as you mix.
- Fill one bag with the whipped cream and set aside in the fridge until ready to use.
- In a small plastic bag, crush the baked pie crust or shortbread cookies using a rolling pin or your hands.
- Remove the pumpkin filling from the oven and let cool completely. Once cooled, spoon the custard in the second piping bag.
- Assemble the trifle. Start with a layer of crust and top the crust with the pumpkin pie filling. Top with the whipped cream and repeat until trifle cups are filled, ending with the whipped cream. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of the whipped cream.
- Serve immediately or place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Love this recipe? I’d appreciate it if you could scroll down and add a *5 star rating* to help others know they’ll love it as well!
This post originally appeared in November 2015 and was revised and republished in December 2023.
So there’s no sugar in the pumpkin filling, like a normal pumpkin pie? I did add about 1/3 c. to my filling.
Connie, I’m so sorry. Yes, there should be brown sugar in there. I’m not sure how it got missed. I will edit the recipe asap!
Note that the missing brown sugar has now been added to the recipe. Apologies for missing that out!
I made this for our dessert at Thanksgiving. It was delicious, smooth and creamy. Beautiful presentation, with all the flavors of the season. My family really enjoyed it and I would definitely make it again. I used gingerbread cake crumbles. Excellent!
Gingerbread crumbles sound excellent! So glad the family enjoyed.