Caramel Apple Trifles
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These festive Caramel Apple Trifles bring all the cozy fall flavors of caramel apples into an easy-to-assemble layered dessert that is as gorgeous as it is delicious. Great for parties, holiday gatherings, or just to satisfy that fall apple craving.
There’s just something special about the flavor combination of caramel and apples during the fall, and this simple Caramel Apple Trifle captures all those great flavors. With tender spiced apples, soft cubes of cake, creamy whipped topping, and a drizzle of sweet caramel, each spoonful is a sweet little taste of fall.
Whether you’re planning the perfect Thanksgiving dessert table or just want a fun way to enjoy apples in season, these trifles are a quick, simple recipe that always tastes great. Make them in a trifle bowl for a gorgeous dessert centerpiece, or in smaller cups for personal sized individual servings. Everyone always loves these!
Why You’ll Love This Apple Caramel Dessert
- Easy Recipe – Easy to assemble with simple ingredients.
- Party Ready – Great for fall entertaining, Thanksgiving, or for any apple dessert craving.
- Festive – These adorable mini apple trifles are a perfect apple dessert for gatherings and holiday parties.
- Easy to Customize – Can be made in mini mason jars or a large trifle bowl.
Apple Trifle Ingredients
This recipe uses simple, basic ingredients. See the Tips or Substitution section for alternatives.
- Apples – I like Granny Smith, but other firm, tart apples can be used
- Lemon juice – Use fresh squeezed for the best flavor
- Nutmeg and Cinnamon – You can also sub an equal amount of Homemade Apple Pie Spice Mix
- Brown sugar – light or dark will both work
- Pound cake – Use a store bought cake for ease, or make your own Homemade Pound Cake, but make it in a loaf pan instead of a bundt pan.
- Cool whip – or similar whipped dessert topping
- Caramel sauce – use store bought or make your own Homemade Caramel Sauce
Equipment Needed To Make
Equipment
- Sharp knife
- Trifle cups
Substitutions & Alterations
Cake: Use spice cake, white cake, angel food cake, or leftover muffins instead of yellow cake.
Apples: Use a firm and tart apple to offset the sweet caramel. And stay away from soft apples that become too mushy when cooked. I like Granny Smith, but Braeburn, Cortland, or Cosmic apples work too. You can also swap the apples with pears, or a combination of the two, for a twist.
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Whipped topping: Use whipped cream in place of cool whip
Toppings: Add some crushed pretzels, gingersnap pieces, or pecans for crunch.
How to Make Easy Apple Trifle
This is a simplified Step by Step Instructions overview – Full recipe in recipe card below.
Step 1 – Prepare the apples. Add the lemon juice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar and cook 10 minutes.
Step 2- Add cake cubes to trifle cups or plastic cups.
Step 3- Add cooled apple mixture to trifle cups or plastic cups.
Step 3 – Tope with topping and repeat layers one time. Tope with a caramel drizzle Serve.
Time-Saving Tips to Make the Best Caramel Apple Trifles
- Make the apple filling ahead of time to save prep time.
- Use a store bought pound cake, like the one from Sara Lee, to really speed things up.
- Chill the trifle before adding topping at least an hour before serving for best flavor blending.
- Use clear glasses or jars for individual servings.
- Double the recipe for a large crowd; it scales easily.
How to Serve Caramel Apple Trifle
This truffle makes an amazing centerpiece dessert, or you can make individual serving cups!
- If desired, add a few chopped nuts or a cinnamon sprinkle on top.
- Serve with a scoop of ice cream if you like. I recommend a simple vanilla or pumpkin swirl, but it’s also really good with snickerdoodle ice cream too.
- Serve this delightful dessert with Apple Cider Mimosas or Gingerbread Hot Chocolate.
How to Store Leftover Trifle
If possible, store leftover ingredients separately in airtight containers for 2-3 days.
If you have extra prepared trifle cups, wrap the tops tightly with plastic wrap, refrigerate, and eat within a day or two.
More Caramel Apple Recipes
- Caramel Apple Cupcakes
- Caramel Apple Dip
- Caramel Apple Cobbler
- Caramel Apple Wraps
- Caramel Apple Nachos
Caramel Apple Trifles
Ingredients
- 3 granny smith apples
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 4 tbsp. brown sugar
- 12 ounces pound cake you could also use any cake- white, angel food, etc
- 8 ounces cool whip
- 6 tbsp. caramel sauce – use Homemade Caramel Sauce or store-bought
Instructions
- Peel and chop the apples into small cubes. Add to a medium saucepan.
- Add the lemon juice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
- Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, to dissolve the sugar and soften the apples. Let this cool most of the way before continuing.
- Cut the pound cake into cubes, and add the cool whip to a piping bag.
- To assemble, add a layer of pound cake cubes.
- Then, add a layer of the apples.
- Add 1-2 tbsp. caramel sauce, and add a layer of cool whip.
- Repeat these layers once more, and top with a drizzle of caramel.
Notes
Nutrition
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