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    Home » Recipes » Cakes and Cupcakes

    St. Patrick's Day Trifle

    Published: Mar 16, 2020 Modified: March 9, 2022 by NinaR

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    This St. Patrick's day trifle has layers of green velvet cake and whipped cream cheese with a hint of Irish cream liquor. This easy dessert is perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

    A trifle in a clear trifle dish.

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    Jump To Recipe
    • ☘️An easy trifle
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • ✔️Expert tips
    • 💭FAQs
    • 📖Related recipes
    • 📋 Recipe

    ☘️An easy trifle

    Trifles make such an easy dessert. They look amazing and feed a crowd! You can definitely say that trifles are a favourite of mine - see Lemon Lovers Trifle, Red Velvet Cheesecake Trifle, and my Black Forest Trifle.

    I have seen a lot of St. Patrick's Day trifles with vanilla cake and green pudding layers. I wanted to change that up a bit, so I decided to make green velvet cake alternating with whipped Irish cream cream cheese layers. This St. Patrick's day trifle is sure to be a winner at your table!

    Looking for another easy St. Patrick's Day dessert? Try my mint chocolate crepe cake, Irish whisky cake, Guinness chocolate cupcakes, or mini Baileys cheesecakes!

    🥘Ingredients

    Ingredients for green velvet cake

    Ingredients needed to make the cake portion of this trifle.

    Ingredients for whipped Irish cream cream cheese frosting

    Ingredients needed to make the frosting portion of the trifle.

    Ingredient notes

    • Buttermilk - For an easy buttermilk replacement - add 1 teaspoon of either vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup.   Add enough milk to reach the 1 cup measurement.
    • Green gel food colouring - Gel food colouring gives a more vibrant colour than liquid food colouring.
    • Irish cream liquor - This can easily be left out if you don't want alcohol in your trifle.

    🔪Instructions

    Start by making the cake first. This recipe makes 2 eight inch cakes. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt together and set aside.

    Beat butter and sugar together in a separate bowl. Add the eggs in one at a time and mix well after each one. Then add in oil, vinegar, vanilla extract, buttermilk and green gel food colouring.

    Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Divide into 2 prepared cake pans. After the cake has baked and cooled, cut it into cubes.

    To make the whipped cream cheese, whip the cream cheese until smooth. Add heavy whipping cream and whip until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and Irish cream liquor. Whip until it is all well combined.

    St. Patrick's Day Trifle recipe steps.

    Put a layer of cake cubes at the bottom of a trifle dish. Spoon ⅓ of the whipped cream cheese on top. Repeat the steps 2 more times and then decorate the top with remaining whipped cream cheese frosting and sprinkles, if desired.

    To see more step by step photos, view the web story for this St. Patrick's day trifle.

    ✔️Expert tips

    • If you want to use liquid food colouring instead, increase the amount of food colouring to 2 teaspoons.
    • For an easy buttermilk replacement - add 1 teaspoon of either vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup.   Add enough milk to reach the 1 cup measurement.
    • Use any kind of Irish cream liquor that you want. If you don't want to add in the liquor for whatever reason, you can leave it out. The trifle will still taste yummy!

    💭FAQs

    Can this be made ahead?

    The cake can be made a day ahead. Wrap it with plastic wrap and leave it at room temperature.

    Can this be frozen?

    I would not freeze the whole trifle. The cake portion can be frozen though. Wrap it with a layer of plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Leave it on the counter overnight to thaw.

    What can I use for a trifle bowl?

    If you can't find a trifle bowl, use any bowl that is deep with tall sides. Preferably it should be clear so you can see the layers of the trifle. Single mason jars could also work with this recipe.

    A trifle in a clear trifle dish.  There are layers of green velvet cake and whipped Irish cream, cream cheese frosting.

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    Let's Bake Together!

    Step-by-step instructions are all written in my recipe below. If you liked it, please rate me 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!

    If you tried this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram. You can also find me on Facebook and Pinterest.

    📋 Recipe

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    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

    Save Recipe

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    A trifle with alternating green cake and whipped cream cheese layers. The trifle is in a clear trifle dish.

    Green Velvet Cheesecake Trifle

    Nina
    This St. Patrick's day trifle has layers of green velvet cake and whipped cream cheese with a hint of Irish cream liquor. This easy dessert is perfect for St. Patrick's Day!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 1 hour hr
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine North American
    Servings 16 servings
    Calories 535 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Green Velvet Cake

    • 2 ⅔ cups all purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
    • 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup vegetable oil
    • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup buttermilk room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon green gel food colouring

    Whipped Cream Cheese

    • 8 oz cream cheese
    • 1 ¾ cups heavy whipping cream
    • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoons Irish cream liquor

    Instructions
     

    Green Velvet Cake

    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line and grease two 8 inch cake pans; set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt together. Set aside.
    • In a large bowl, or in a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar until smooth and well combined.
    • Add eggs and beat well after each addition. Add oil, vinegar, vanilla, buttermilk and food colouring. Beat until combined.
    • Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. You will see small lumps and that is okay.Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cake rest for 10 minutes in the pan, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cook completely.

    Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

    • While the cake is cooling, make the whipped cream cheese. Whip the cream cheese until it is smooth. Add in heavy whipping cream and whip until soft peaks form.
    • Add powdered sugar and Irish cream liquor and whip until fluffy and smooth.
    • To assemble, cut the cakes into 1 inch cubes. Layer ⅓ cubes into the bottom of a trifle dish. Top the cake cubes with ⅓ of the whipped cream cheese. Repeat layers 2 more times and end with the whipped cream cheese. Decorate the top of the trifle with whipping cream and sprinkles. Store the trifle covered and in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Notes

    1. If you want to use liquid food colouring instead, increase the amount of food colouring to 2 teaspoons.
    2. For an easy buttermilk replacement - add 1 teaspoon of either vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup.   Add enough milk to reach the 1 cup measurement.
    3. Use any kind of Irish cream liquor that you want.  If you don't want to add in the liquor for whatever reason, you can leave it out. The trifle will still taste yummy!

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 16gCalories: 535kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 5gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 186mgPotassium: 103mgFiber: 1gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 813IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram!Mention @ninakneadstobake or tag #ninakneadstobake!

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    Reader Interactions

    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Nina! I am a self-taught baker and have a love for baking and trying new techniques. Here you will find easy step-by-step sweet and savoury recipes, with lots of tips.

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