Sparkling Mini Eggnog Trifle: An Easy No-Bake Holiday Dessert Recipe
If you’re an eggnog enthusiast, prepare to fall in love with this delightful eggnog dessert! This festive, NO BAKE Mini Eggnog Trifle offers a perfect blend of indulgence and lightness, making it an ideal treat for the holiday season. Each individual serving boasts tantalizing layers of rich chocolate cake, a hint of warming rum flavor, creamy eggnog mousse, and a cloud of fluffy whipped cream. It’s a fantastic, family-friendly option (thanks to the use of rum extract instead of alcohol), incredibly quick and easy to assemble, and beautifully suited for Christmas gatherings, New Year’s Eve parties, or any festive celebration.
The true magic of this mini eggnog trifle, beyond its incredible taste, lies in its dazzling presentation, especially when adorned with sparkly edible gold candy pearls. This recipe is designed to be a showstopper, transforming your dessert table into a display of holiday cheer. Whether you’re planning an intimate New Year’s Eve dinner for two or a lively family gathering, these individual trifles offer a sophisticated yet approachable dessert solution. Inspired by my popular Death by Chocolate Trifle, this mini version brings all the joy of a classic trifle in a perfectly portioned, holiday-themed package. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that complements any celebratory meal, including a delicious Baked Cornish Hens recipe or other holiday entrees.
One of the many reasons to adore trifle, especially after a hearty holiday feast, is its relatively light and refreshing nature compared to denser desserts. While undeniably decadent, the airy layers of mousse and whipped cream ensure it doesn’t feel heavy. Although these individual eggnog trifles are a spectacular addition to your New Year’s Eve celebration, their festive appearance and comforting flavor make them suitable for any holiday gathering. We proudly served them as dessert for our Christmas dinner, and they were met with resounding approval, proving to be a huge hit with everyone at the table.
🥘 Essential Ingredient Notes for Your Eggnog Trifle
During the busy holiday season, between preparing elaborate meals and indulging in extensive Christmas baking, having a no-bake dessert option is a true lifesaver. This easy eggnog trifle recipe excels in both convenience and flavor, allowing you to whip up a gourmet-looking dessert without ever turning on your oven. By utilizing readily available store-bought cake and instant vanilla pudding, these trifles come together with minimal effort, saving you precious time and stress. They are not just easy; they are vibrant, festive, and truly embody the spirit of celebration!
To create these enchanting mini eggnog trifles, you will need the following simple yet essential ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in building the irresistible flavor and texture profile:
- Toffee bits: These tiny morsels are a game-changer, infusing the dessert with a delightful, buttery caramel flavor and a satisfying crunchy texture. I personally recommend using Skor bits for their rich flavor, but Heath or any other brand of toffee bits will work wonderfully to add that extra layer of deliciousness.
- Eggnog: The star ingredient! You have the flexibility to use light eggnog for a slightly less rich option, regular eggnog for traditional richness, or even a homemade eggnog for a truly bespoke flavor. Ensure it’s chilled when you begin the mixing process, as cold liquids are crucial for instant pudding.
- Whipping cream: For the best results and stable whipped cream, it’s imperative to use heavy whipping cream with a fat content between 33% and 36%. This higher fat content ensures your cream whips up beautifully to form firm peaks and holds its structure, creating that luxurious, airy topping.
- Chocolate Cake: While the recipe leverages store-bought cake for convenience, you can easily use your favorite homemade chocolate cake. The key is a moist, flavorful chocolate base that complements the eggnog layers.
- Vanilla Instant Pudding: This provides the base for our quick eggnog mousse. Instant pudding simplifies the process, delivering a smooth, creamy texture in minutes.
- Rum Extract: This non-alcoholic extract provides the classic rum flavor often associated with eggnog, making the dessert suitable for all ages.
For a comprehensive list of all ingredients and their exact quantities, please refer to the detailed recipe card below.
📖 Creative Variations & Easy Substitutions
This Mini Eggnog Trifle recipe is wonderfully versatile, allowing for numerous variations and substitutions to perfectly suit your taste preferences or whatever ingredients you have on hand. Don’t hesitate to get creative and make this holiday dessert truly your own!
- Chocolate Cake: The foundation of this trifle is its chocolate cake layer, and you have plenty of options here. Feel free to use any store-bought chocolate pound cake or loaf cake for ultimate convenience. If you prefer to bake, a homemade chocolate cake like an Old Fashioned Sour Cream Chocolate Cake, a Chocolate Sponge Cake, or a Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake would be absolutely delicious. Even a standard cake mix baked in a 9×13 pan works perfectly; simply use half of it for this recipe and freeze the remainder for future dessert cravings. For a truly effortless shortcut, grab a McCain’s Deep and Delicious cake from the freezer section, remove the frosting, and thaw – it works surprisingly well!
- Rum Extract: While rum extract provides a family-friendly flavor, you can certainly use actual rum if you’re serving an adult-only crowd. As a general rule, triple the amount of rum extract to achieve a similar intensity with alcoholic rum, and reduce the milk measurement in the pudding mixture by the same amount of rum added to maintain the correct consistency. For different flavor profiles, consider brandy extract, almond extract, or a good quality vanilla extract.
- Pudding Flavor: Experiment with different pudding flavors to subtly alter the trifle’s taste. Butterscotch pudding would offer a rich, complementary caramel note, while white chocolate pudding would create a sweeter, more delicate profile. You could also try a cheesecake flavored instant pudding for an extra creamy, tangy twist.
- Trifle Size and Presentation: This recipe makes beautiful individual mini trifles, but you’re not limited to them. You can easily scale up to make a whole, large trifle in a traditional trifle bowl for a grand centerpiece. Alternatively, create a combination of sizes, perhaps two mini trifles for the kids and a larger trifle in a medium glass bowl for sharing with friends or neighbors, as pictured below.
- Garnish Options: The edible gold candy pearls add a gorgeous sparkle, but there are many other ways to garnish your trifle. A simple dusting of cocoa powder, elegant chocolate shavings, a sprinkle of chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts), candied ginger, or additional toffee bits all make excellent toppings. You could also add a festive touch with fresh cranberries or pomegranate seeds for a burst of color.
🔪 Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Mini Eggnog Trifle
Creating these elegant and delicious mini eggnog trifles is a straightforward process, perfect for even novice bakers or those short on time during the holidays. Follow these simple steps to assemble your stunning no-bake desserts:
- Step 1: Prepare the Cake Base. Begin by cutting your chosen chocolate cake into small, approximately 1-inch cubes. Uniform pieces will create a visually appealing and evenly textured layer in your trifle glasses. If you opt to bake your own cake, ensure it is completely cooled before cutting; ideally, bake it a day in advance to prevent crumbling.
- Step 2: Create the Eggnog Pudding. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the instant vanilla pudding mix with cold eggnog, cold milk, and the rum extract. Beat these ingredients vigorously according to the package directions for your specific pudding mix, typically for about 2 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken. Once beaten, gently stir in the toffee bits, which will add a lovely crunch and flavor. Refrigerate the pudding for 5-10 minutes to allow it to firm up further, ensuring a stable layer in your trifle.
- Step 3: Whip the Cream to Soft Peaks. While the pudding chills, prepare your whipped cream. In a large, chilled bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream on medium speed for several minutes. Watch closely as the cream transitions from liquid to a frothy state, then to soft peaks. At this stage, gently fold in the granulated sugar.
- Step 4: Achieve Stiff Peaks. Continue beating the whipped cream on high speed. The goal is to achieve stiff peaks, where the cream holds its shape firmly when the beaters are lifted, without collapsing. Be careful not to over-beat, as this can turn the cream grainy.
- Step 5: Fold to Create Eggnog Mousse. Carefully take 2 cups of your freshly whipped cream and gently fold it into the chilled eggnog pudding mixture. Use a spatula to combine with a light hand, ensuring the air isn’t knocked out of the whipped cream. This creates a beautifully light and airy eggnog mousse. Set aside the remaining whipped cream; this portion will serve as the elegant topping for your trifles.
- Step 6: First Layer of Cake. Begin assembling your mini trifles by placing an even layer of the chocolate cake cubes (or pieces) at the very bottom of your chosen serving glasses. Press them down gently to create a solid base.
- Step 7: Add the Eggnog Mousse. Spoon a generous layer of the prepared eggnog mousse directly over the chocolate cake layer. Smooth it gently to create an even surface for the next layer.
- Step 8: Second Layer of Cake. Follow with another layer of chocolate cake cubes on top of the eggnog mousse. Be sure to leave enough space at the top of the glass for the final luscious whipped cream topping. Repeat this layering process for all remaining glasses until your mousse and cake are used up.
- Step 9: Add the Whipped Cream Topping. Take the reserved whipped cream from Step 5. For a professional and elegant finish, transfer the whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with a 1M star tip and pipe it beautifully onto the top layer of each trifle. If you don’t have a pastry bag or prefer a simpler approach, you can simply spoon generous dollops of whipped cream on top.
- Step 10: Garnish and Serve. The final touch that elevates these trifles to holiday perfection is the garnish. Sprinkle generously with edible gold sprinkles (pearlized gold sprinkles, as shown in the photo, add an extra touch of glamour). For added texture and flavor, you can also sprinkle a few extra toffee bits on top. Your dazzling mini eggnog trifles are now ready to be served and enjoyed!
💡 Top Tip: Choosing Edible Gold Garnish for Your Trifle
Adding a touch of sparkle with edible gold decorations is what truly makes these eggnog trifles stand out, perfect for festive occasions. You have a few options for achieving this glamorous effect:
You can use any brand or type of gold pearls, gold sprinkles, or edible glitter for the garnish. These can typically be found at craft and cake decorating stores, such as Michael’s in Canada, or conveniently ordered online through retailers like Amazon (for example, Wilton gold sugar pearls). The most important thing to remember when selecting your shimmering garnish is to always double-check the packaging to ensure they are explicitly labeled as “edible.” Many beautiful gold and silver dragees are sold for decorative purposes only and are specifically marked as “for decoration only” and NOT edible. Consuming non-edible decorations can be unsafe, so please be vigilant to ensure your dazzling dessert is also a safe one!
Whether you are planning an elegant New Year’s Eve dessert for your family, a romantic dinner for two, or need a show-stopping treat for any holiday party, these individual eggnog trifles are the ideal choice. Our family has a beloved tradition of enjoying a delicious selection of mini desserts and finger foods on New Year’s Eve, and this exquisite trifle fits seamlessly into that festive plan. It has quickly become a cherished family favorite, eagerly anticipated year after year.
And if your love for eggnog knows no bounds and you’re seeking more ways to incorporate its delightful flavor into your holiday baking, I highly recommend trying my Eggnog Cheesecake Bars for a rich and creamy indulgence, or my festive Eggnog Cookies with Baileys frosting! These recipes are sure to satisfy any eggnog craving.
👪 Serving Size & Adjustments
This delightful and creamy eggnog trifle recipe is designed to yield 4 generous individual servings, making it perfect for a small family gathering or a cozy dinner party. If you anticipate a larger crowd or wish to prepare fewer servings, you can easily adjust the recipe to suit your needs. Simply click on the serving size indicated in the interactive recipe card below and select your preferred number of servings. The ingredient amounts will automatically update, ensuring accurate proportions for a perfect dessert every time.
🌡️ Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
Proper storage is key to enjoying your mini eggnog trifles at their best. Ideally, it is recommended to prepare these delectable trifles the night before serving. This allows all the individual layers – the chocolate cake, the eggnog mousse, and the rum flavoring – ample time to meld together, deepening the flavors and softening the cake to a perfect, tender consistency. However, I do not recommend making them any earlier than one day in advance, as the textures can begin to degrade.
If you’re short on time, preparing them just a few hours prior to serving is also perfectly acceptable, especially if you want the cake to retain a bit more texture. Any leftover trifles can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To keep them fresh and prevent them from absorbing fridge odors, ensure they are in an airtight container. If serving in individual glasses, simply sealing the top of each glass tightly with plastic wrap will suffice. It’s important to note that, apart from the cake component, most of the other ingredients in this layered eggnog dessert, particularly the dairy-based mousse and whipped cream, do not hold up well to freezing. Freezing will likely alter their creamy texture, so it’s best to enjoy them fresh from the refrigerator within the recommended timeframe.
This layered dessert, featuring a surprisingly simple eggnog mousse, offers a delightful combination of rich chocolate and festive eggnog. Its ease of creation, primarily relying on instant pudding and fresh whipped cream, makes it a stress-free option during busy times. The judicious addition of the light and airy whipped cream serves a dual purpose: it perfectly balances the sweetness from the pudding, eggnog, and toffee bits, preventing the dessert from being overly cloying. More importantly, it contributes significantly to the trifle’s luxurious texture, transforming it into a light, fluffy, and utterly delightful experience with every spoonful.
🍽️ Essential Equipment for Perfect Trifles
To assemble these stunning Mini Eggnog Trifles, you don’t necessarily need specialized equipment, though certain items can certainly enhance the experience. I often prepare this elegant Eggnog Dessert using stemless wine glasses (affiliate link). This is a practical choice because many households already own them, eliminating the need to purchase additional specialized glassware. However, the beauty of trifles is their versatility in presentation! Feel free to use parfait glasses, charming mason jars, elegant dessert shot glasses for smaller portions, or almost any type of clear glass you desire to showcase the beautiful layers.
But if you truly want to make a statement and elevate the fun factor, I highly recommend investing in these individual trifle bowls (affiliate link)! They are perfectly sized for single servings and add an extra touch of sophistication to your dessert presentation. The stemless wine glasses mentioned are typically 16 oz/2 cup portions, providing a satisfying individual serving. Regardless of your chosen glassware, an electric mixer (affiliate link) is indispensable for whipping the cream and pudding to their ideal consistencies. For additional equipment suggestions and visual aids, please refer to the recipe card below.
❔ Frequently Asked Questions About Eggnog Trifle
Historically, a trifle is a traditional English dessert characterized by distinct layers of thick custard, fresh or preserved fruit, sponge cake (often soaked in sherry or fruit juice), fruit jelly, and a generous topping of whipped cream. A parfait, on the other hand, is a French dessert that classically involves a rich, frozen custard made from egg yolks, sugar, and cream, often flavored with fruit purees or liqueurs, served in a tall glass. However, in contemporary North American culinary practice, the lines between these two desserts have blurred significantly. Both “trifle” and “parfait” have largely become interchangeable terms, referring to almost any layered dessert presented attractively in a clear glass or glass bowl. While their origins and traditional preparations differ, modern dessert trends mean they are often used to describe similar layered creations.
For optimal flavor development and texture, it is generally recommended to make your eggnog trifle the day before you plan to serve it. This allows the various layers, particularly the chocolate cake, to absorb moisture from the eggnog mousse and rum flavoring, resulting in a more cohesive and tender dessert. The flavors also have a chance to meld and deepen overnight, creating a more harmonious taste. However, if you are preparing it a day in advance, a crucial tip is to wait until just before serving to add the final whipped cream topping. Unstabilized whipped cream can lose its airy texture and weep moisture over time, especially when stored for extended periods. Adding it fresh ensures a light, fluffy, and visually appealing finish.
When preparing this Eggnog Trifle, it is essential to use cold eggnog, primarily because it is being combined with instant vanilla pudding mix and cold milk. Instant pudding relies on cold liquids to set properly and quickly. Using warm or even room-temperature eggnog could prevent the pudding from thickening to the desired firm consistency, resulting in a runny mousse layer. Always ensure your eggnog and milk are well-chilled straight from the refrigerator for the best results.
When prepared the day before serving, the cake layers in your eggnog trifle will absorb some of the moisture from the creamy eggnog mousse. This absorption is actually desirable, as it softens the cake, integrating it beautifully with the other layers without making it overtly soggy. The trifle is designed to have a moist, tender cake component. It won’t become truly “soggy” in a negative way overnight. However, if stored for several days beyond that, the cake could potentially become too saturated, impacting the overall texture. Enjoying it within 1-2 days of preparation ensures the perfect balance of moist cake and creamy mousse.
Yes, you can absolutely lighten up this Eggnog Trifle recipe without sacrificing too much flavor or enjoyment. To reduce the calorie and fat content, consider using a fat-free or sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix. You can also opt for a light eggnog and use a whipped topping alternative (like a light Cool Whip) in place of heavy whipping cream. If you prefer baking your own cake, preparing a homemade cake, such as a sour cream chocolate cake, allows you to control the ingredients. For further sugar reduction in a homemade cake, try replacing half the amount of granulated sugar with a monk fruit sweetener or another preferred sugar substitute.
In conclusion, if you’re on the hunt for the perfect Christmas dessert, or searching for dazzling New Year’s Eve dessert ideas to elevate your holiday party, this Mini Eggnog Trifle is an impeccable choice. It truly shines when you’re short on time or simply don’t feel like baking, yet still desire a show-stopping treat that impresses.
My son, a self-proclaimed eggnog fanatic, enthusiastically declares that “eggnog lovers will LOVE this dessert!” What’s more, even I, who typically remain neutral about eggnog, found myself absolutely adoring it. This is a testament to its broad appeal. So, whether your family is eggnog-crazy or just appreciates a beautifully crafted dessert, these mini trifles are bound to be a popular and memorable addition to your holiday spread!
🎉 More Irresistible Holiday Dessert Recipes
- Black Forest Yule Log Cake
- Gingerbread Fruit Christmas Wreath
- Blueberry Gingerbread Cake (with cookie butter filling)
- Cranberry Christmas Bread Pudding
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📋 Mini Eggnog Trifle Recipe
Equipment
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individual trifle bowls (or stemless wine glasses)
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electric mixer
Ingredients
- 150 gram chocolate pound or loaf cake store-bought or home-made 5-6 ounces * about ½ a 9×13 cake (I freeze the other half for future use)
- 102 gram of box vanilla instant pudding 3.5 ounce box
- ¾ cup 1% milk
- 1 cup eggnog * I use the light eggnog
- 2 tablespoons toffee bits * I use Skor, but you can use Heath or any brand
- 1 teaspoon rum extract
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
Garnish
- gold edible candy mini pearls *See NOTES for details
- toffee bits
Instructions
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Chop your chocolate cake into uniform ½-1 inch pieces. For the best results, ensure the cake is completely cooled if you’ve baked it yourself; baking it a day in advance is ideal for perfect slicing.150 gram chocolate pound or loaf cake store-bought or home-made
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In a medium mixing bowl, combine the instant vanilla pudding mix with the cold eggnog, cold 1% milk, and rum extract. Beat thoroughly as per the pudding package directions (usually 2 minutes) until the mixture is well combined and begins to thicken. Stir in the toffee bits, then refrigerate the pudding mixture for about 5-10 minutes to allow it to set firmly.102 gram of box vanilla instant pudding, ¾ cup 1% milk, 1 cup eggnog, 2 tablespoons toffee bits, 1 teaspoon rum extract
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Meanwhile, in a large, chilled bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream on medium speed for several minutes until soft peaks begin to form. Once soft peaks are visible, switch to high speed and fold in the white granulated sugar. Continue beating on high until stiff peaks form, ensuring your cream is stable and holds its shape.3 cups heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
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Gently take 2 cups of the prepared whipped cream and carefully fold it into the chilled eggnog pudding mixture. Stir until just combined, creating a light and airy eggnog mousse.
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Set aside the remaining whipped cream. This will be used as the decorative garnish and topping for your mini trifles.
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Begin assembling by layering a portion of the chocolate cake cubes on the bottom of each serving glass. Follow with a layer of the luscious eggnog mousse mixture.
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Add another layer of chocolate cake, making sure to leave sufficient room at the top of the glass for the final whipped cream topping. Repeat this layering process for all of your individual glasses until all components are used.
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Using a pastry bag fitted with a 1M star tip, elegantly pipe the reserved whipped cream onto the top layer of each trifle. Alternatively, you can simply spoon on the whipped cream for a more rustic look.
Garnish
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To complete your festive mini trifles, sprinkle them generously with additional toffee bits and the dazzling gold edible candy pearls. This final touch adds both crunch and sparkle, making your dessert truly irresistible!gold edible candy mini pearls, toffee bits