• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Nina Kneads to Bake
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cakes and Cupcakes

    St. Patrick's Day Trifle

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

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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.
    Jump straight to the 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!

    🥘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.

    📖Related recipes

    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate. A gold fork sits in front of the plate.
      Toffifee Cheesecake
    • A trifle in a clear trifle dish. Gingerbread men decorate the tip of the trifle.
      Gingerbread Trifle
    • A cupcake with it's cupcake liner opened. More cupcakes are in the background. Some on a gold plate.
      Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting
    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate. Two chocolate chips are on the plate, in front of the cheesecake.
      No Bake Chocolate Kahlua Cheesecake

    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

    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 hr
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 30 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!

    More Cake & Cupcake Recipes

    • A slice of cake being lifted from the rest of the cake. The cake sits on a white cake stand.
      Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Mousse Filling
    • A partial view of a whole cheesecake. The cheesecake is on a white cake stand.
      Classic Cheesecake with Fresh Fruit
    • A slice of cake on a white plate.
      Cherry Layer Cake {with Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting}
    • A slice of cake on a white cake. You can partially see the rest of the cake in the background.
      White Cake with Strawberry Filling

    Reader Interactions

    Did you try this recipe? Comment below to let me know ☺️ Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    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.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • A slice of pie on a white plate. Limes and the rest of the pie are in the background. In the foreground is a fork.
      Authentic Key Lime Pie {without condensed milk}
    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate. Strawberry sauce is on top of the cake, and it is spilling down the sides, onto the plate.
      Olive Garden Sicilian Cheesecake {with strawberry topping}
    • A cake slice being pulled from a cake with a cake server.
      Cheesecake Factory Italian Lemon Cream Cake
    • A cake on a white cake stand. A piece of cake has been cut so that the red velvet cake and cheesecake layers show.
      Copycat Cheesecake Factory Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake
    • A cake in a casserole dish with strawberries around it.
      Tres Leches Cake Recipe
    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate.
      Baked Lemon Meringue Cheesecake {with Lemon Curd}

    Winter Recipes

    • A slice of pie on a white plate. Red and green apples are behind the plate.
      Irish Apple Amber Pie
    • One brownie on a white plate. A raspberry sits on top of the brownie.
      Raspberry Truffle Brownies
    • A loaf of bread on a wire rack. Two slices are cut from the bread, and they lay in front of the loaf. A white kitchen towel is behind the loaf.
      Apple Butter Cinnamon Swirl Bread
    • Two brownies stacked on a white plate. The top brownie has a bite out of it. Three chocolate chips sit in front of the brownies. More brownies are in the back on a wire rack.
      Pecan Pie Brownies
    • A turtle cookie with some more scattered around it.
      Snappy Turtle Cookies
    • Four slices of stromboli on a rectangular white plate.
      Easy Pepperoni Stromboli

    Game Day Recipes

    • Five pretzels scattered on a table. The front pretzel has a piece torn from it, to show it's fluffy interior.
      Buttery Soft Pretzels
    • An above view of a homemade pizza.
      Homemade Pizza Dough
    • A philly cheesesteak with extra buns behind it.
      Philly Cheesesteak with Homemade Bun
    • A casserole plated with a serving spoon beside it.
      Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole
    • A side view of a casserole.
      Pizza Rice Casserole
    • Spahgetti and meat sauce on a plate with a forkful of spaghetti on a fork.
      Best Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy & Terms of Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact