Peppermint Cheesecake Trifle

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Red velvet cake layered with peppermint cream cheese filling, mint Oreos, Cool Whip and peppermint crunch candies fills this peppermint cheesecake trifle. This festive, layered, holiday dessert will serve (and wow!) a crowd.

A Christmas trifle should be on every Christmas dessert table. And yes, every Christmas has to have a dessert table. Or, like at my grandma’s house, a dessert porch. My grandma’s porch gets so cold that she uses it as a “fridge” for all the pies, cookies, and candies that our crazy baking family makes. And even though it’s ice cold to step out into to grab a peanut butter cookie, it’s so worth it.

This gorgeous Peppermint Cheesecake Trifle is a showstopper that your family will love!

peppermint cheesecake trifle in a dish

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • no-bake cheesecake filling with a strong zappy mint flavor
  • layered with a red velvet cake
  • a very Christmas-festive look. The cheesecake filling, let me just say, was the most amazing thing we’ve ever done to a trifle. All the flavors blended in perfectly into a cream-cheesy, red velvet trifle
  • perfect for a make ahead dessert
ingredients for peppermint cheesecake trifle on a table

How to Make a Trifle

So as you know, trifles are really super easy to make. You can see in the pictures how to layer it somewhat, but I’m going to walk you through it real quick just so you don’t miss anything.

  • First, the red velvet. You’ll want to bake the red velvet cake in just a normal 9×13 cake pan and cut it into chunks (bite size or a little bigger, you choose) and lay it on the bottom of the trifle bowl.
  • Then the creamy white layer comes. That fluffy white stuff isn’t just your normal whipped cream from a carton. It’s spruced up a bit. Using cream cheese, powdered sugar and a little bit of peppermint extract, this topping goes perfectly with your trifle. Put on a thick layer of this cheesecake filling, just make sure you have enough for at least 1 more layer.
  • Next is the Andes peppermint crunch baking bits and the mint Oreos. These help really bring out the peppermint flavor. And they add to the festive look. You won’t want to forget them!
  • After this is a layer of Cool Whip.
overhead view of peppermint candies with cool whip on top
  • Then, you’re ready to do it all over again, one more time! Don’t worry about the trifle bowl being big enough. Fit as much in there as you can.
two glasses of peppermint trifles with candy canes

Individual Trifles

If you have any extras, make small individual servings. This is perfect for parties because people can just pick them up without having to scoop into a big bowl.

Recipe Variations:

  • Use a gluten free cake mix or sugar free cake mix.
  • Try adding a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder (or hot chocolate mix) to the cream cheese layer if you love chocolate.
  • Use low fat or sugar free Cool Whip.
  • Add Peppermint Patties, Junior Mints or your other favorite mint candies.
overhead view of peppermint trifle

Can you make a trifle in advance?

Yes. This cake dessert can be made a day in advance. All the layers will have time to settle and the flavors blend. Don’t worry…it won’t get mushy!

close up of red velvet peppermint cheesecake trifle
close up of red velvet peppermint cheesecake trifle

Peppermint Cheesecake Trifle

4.36 from 73 votes
Red velvet cake layered with peppermint cream cheese filling, mint Oreos, Cool Whip and peppermint crunch candies fills this Peppermint Cheesecake Trifle.
Servings 20
Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

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Ingredients
 

  • 1 box Duncan Hines red velvet cake (baked in 9×13 pan according to box directions)
  • 15.25 ounces mint Oreos (quartered)
  • 10 ounces Andes peppermint crunch baking chips

Cream Cheese Layer:

Instructions
 

Prepare the layers:

  • Bake the red velvet cake according to package directions. You can do this in advance and even freeze the cake until you are ready to use it.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the softened cream cheese and butter. Whip together until they are well combined, about 1 minute. Add the peppermint extract and powdered sugar. Beat for an additional 1-2 minutes. Carefully fold in 8 ounces of the Cool Whip.

Assemble the trifle.

  • Cut the cake into small pieces or cubes. Put a layer of cake in the bottom of the trifle dish.
  • Spoon ½ of the cream cheese filling on top of the cake. Sprinkle with ½ of the Oreo cookies and Andes peppermint crunch chips. Put ½ of the remaining Cool Whip on top of the candy.
  • Repeat the layers: cake, cream cheese filling, cookies/candy (reserve a few peppermint pieces to decorate the top) and Cool Whip. Then top with the remaining peppermint chips if desired.
  • Depending on the size of your trifle dish, you may not be able to fit all of the ingredients in. We used all of our filling, but had about ¼ of the cake leftover. As you prepare the trifle, be sure to leave enough room so that you can have two of each layer and it will look so pretty!
  • Refrigerate until serving. This can be made a day in advance. You can also make individual servings.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe being divided into 20 servings, with 1 serving being about ¾ cup. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate.

Nutrition

Calories: 467kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 390mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 3mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 467
Keyword cake, christmas, holiday
About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl
9 years ago

If zappy isn’t a word, it needs to be! I think I’m going to start throwing it around too!! Haha. 🙂 This trifle is BEAUTIFUL! Trifles make such an elegant statement. And all the flavors! It’s really amazing – you guys are so on point all.the.time!

Sarah H
7 years ago

Lovely! I think next time I will use a little more cream (I used whipping cream instead of Cool Whip) and will cut the powdered sugar down by half. It’s plenty sweet with the cake, candies and cookies.

Christiane Tayler
1 year ago

5 stars
Took it to a church potluck and it was the hit of the dessert table! Look for the peppermint pieces with the seasonal candies at the store.

Brenda
4 years ago

Do the cookies get too soft if made a day ahead of time

Anonymous
5 years ago

I wanted to make this for a class potluck so I’d probably be doubling the recipe to make sure I have enough. If I switch the red velvet with vanilla or devils food cake would it still be okay?

Holly
6 years ago

5 stars
I made this as a last minute idea for something I could make ahead. Turned out my store didn’t have the right mint chips, so I crushed up peppermint m&ms. I also replaced the Oreos with knock-off thin mints. Delicious!! The cream cheese recipe was perfect, not too minty for my family who loved it! So easy, but looked like I made a lot of effort! 🙂

Nancy
8 years ago

I made this for our family Christmas dinner today and it was a huge hit! I couldn’t find the Andes crunch bits, so I used Andes candy and crushed peppermints. Next time I am going to double the cream and use less peppermint candies.

Krin
9 years ago

Just wanted to let you know I tried this recipe over the holidays and it was delicious!! A big hit at our family New Year’s celebration. So good, in fact, that I mentioned it on my new blog that I’m creating – http://krinspiration.com/2015/01/07/holiday-sweets/

Happy New Year!

Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling
9 years ago

What a delicious and GORGEOUS dessert for Christmas!!! I agree – trifles are amazing!

Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
9 years ago

Oh my gosh! I’m coming to your house for dessert! Save some for me!! 😀

Anonymous
9 years ago

If zappy isn’t it a word, it needs to be! I think I’m going to start throwing it around too!! Haha. 🙂 This trifle is BEAUTIFUL! Trifles make such an elegant statement. And all the flavors! It’s really amazing – you guys are so on point all.the.time!