Description
This Witches Brew Halloween Trifle is a spooky and festive dessert perfect for Halloween parties. It layers chocolate or red velvet cake, pistachio pudding, a cherry cream cheese mixture, and whipped cream, topped with creepy candy decorations like mint eyeballs, green mints, and Oreo cookie crumb “dirt.” The highlight is the homemade gummy worms prepared a day in advance to add a ghastly touch. Serve this impressive and fun trifle to delight guests with both its taste and Halloween-themed appearance.
Ingredients
Scale
Spumoni Trifle
- 1 8-inch chocolate cake or red velvet cake (store-bought, mix, or homemade)
- 2 99 g packages pistachio instant pudding
- 1 540 ml can cherry pie filling
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese (light cream cheese recommended)
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
Toppings
- 20-25 large green mints (Scotch green mints)
- 5 white mints for eyeballs (Scotch white mints) or jumbo candy eyes
- Black edible marker
- Red edible marker
- 5-10 small candy eyes
- Oreo cookie crumbs for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare the Worms: Make the gummy worms a day in advance and allow them to set overnight to achieve the best texture and look.
- Make Pistachio Pudding: In a large bowl, prepare the pistachio instant pudding according to package instructions and set aside.
- Whip the Cream: In a large mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add the white granulated sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
- Prepare Cherry Cream Cheese Mixture: Beat the cream cheese for 30 seconds until smooth. Add the cherry pie filling and beat until well combined and smooth. Stir in the sliced almonds gently.
- Assemble the Trifle: Break the cake into pieces and place at the bottom of a cauldron or trifle dish. Spoon half of the pistachio pudding over the cake layer. Spread the cherry cream cheese mixture on top of the pudding layer. Add all the whipped cream over this layer, followed by the remaining pistachio pudding.
- Decorate with Toppings: Using the black edible marker, draw black circles on the white mints to create eyeballs. Add red lines with the red edible marker to make bloodshot effects if desired. Alternatively, use jumbo candy eyes. Arrange the green mints, candy eyeballs, and the prepared gummy worms on top of the trifle.
- Finish with Oreo Crumbs: Sprinkle Oreo cookie crumbs under the worms and lightly over the top of the trifle to simulate dirt, enhancing the spooky effect. Serve immediately or chill until ready.
Notes
- The gummy worms require an 8-hour setting period, so prepare them at least one day in advance for best results.
- If you prefer less mint flavor infusion, add the mint decorations just before serving rather than ahead of time to prevent the flavor from seeping into the trifle.
- You can use a cauldron-shaped bowl for a fun Halloween presentation, but any large trifle bowl will also work perfectly.
- Light cream cheese is recommended to keep the mixture creamy yet not too heavy.
- Ensure whipped cream is beaten to stiff peaks for the best texture and stability in the trifle layers.
- Store any leftovers covered and refrigerated; consume within 2-3 days for freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
