Description
This Carrot Cake Trifle is a dreamy dessert layered with spiced carrot cake, velvety cream cheese filling, and buttery caramel drizzle. Each bite combines soft, moist cake with cool, creamy frosting — a showstopper for Easter, fall gatherings, or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup crushed pineapple, drained
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 250 g (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ cups heavy cream (cold)
- Caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Crushed nuts or toasted coconut (optional)
- Orange candy curls, white chocolate shavings, or chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugars, oil, and vanilla.
- Stir in grated carrots and crushed pineapple.
- In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients together until just combined.
- Fold in chopped nuts.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely, then cut into small cubes.
- In a bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- In another bowl, whip heavy cream to soft peaks.
- Fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until light and airy. Chill until ready to assemble.
- In a trifle bowl or large glass dish, layer cubes of carrot cake, cream cheese mousse, and drizzle of caramel sauce. Repeat layers until you reach the top.
- Finish with a generous layer of mousse, a caramel drizzle, and garnish with candy curls or nuts.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving (or overnight for deeper flavor).
- Serve chilled with an extra drizzle of caramel if desired.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, let the trifle sit overnight in the refrigerator.
- Feel free to substitute the nuts with your favorite toppings.
- This dessert can be made a day in advance for convenience.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking and Layering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 100mg