Eggnog Trifle

This holiday season, I’ve got so much to be thankful for.  My health, my family (of four!), our new house near the farm, and this hobby I’ve been able to turn into a career.  Like, really, how cool is that?!

A Festive Dessert for Your Holiday Table

There’s something about eggnog that just feels like the holidays. It’s rich, creamy, and wonderfully nostalgic, bringing back memories of festive gatherings, cozy evenings, and all the little traditions that make this time of year so special. 

And if you love experimenting in the kitchen, eggnog is such a fun ingredient to play with! Its creamy texture and warm, spiced flavor make it perfect for everything from French toast and pancakes to cookies, cakes, and pies. It’s a simple way to add a little extra holiday cheer to some of your favorite recipes.

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Key Ingredients 

The full list of ingredients and amounts are in the recipe card below, but I wanted to draw attention to a few of them.

• Cream Cheese – You’ll need two of the 8 oz bricks of cream cheese. You can use the regular or the 1/3 less fat cream cheese.
• Eggnog Yogurt – If you can’t find eggnogyogurt, vanilla will work great, too.
• Eggnog – See notes below on variations!
• Vanilla Pudding Mix – Be sure to grab the large box of instant pudding mix. You can use vanilla, cheesecake, or white chocolate!  You can use cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix, but you’ll have to cook it according to the box instructions. Then let it cool completely before adding to the trifle!
• Heavy Whipping Cream + Powdered Sugar + Vanilla – Nothing beats homemade whipped cream!! Short on time? You could use either one large tub or two of the small 8 oz tubs of Cool Whip. But I do prefer the homemade stuff for this recipe. 
• Ginger  Cookies – I like to use a mix of gingerbread cookies and gingersnaps. I always find gingersnap cookies in the cookies/crackers aisle at the grocery store. If you want to add some gingerbread men (like I did in my photos), you might be able to find them in the section with the Little Debbie & Hostess snacks. And if you can’t find them, but are adamant you want gingerbread men, I’ve got a recipe you can use!

How to Make Eggnog Trifle

Don’t have a trifle dish? No worries. Any large bowl will work!

Start by blending the cream cheese until it’s nice and smooth, then mix in the yogurt. Add the eggnog, milk, and pudding mix, stirring everything together until you have a creamy, smooth filling. Pop it in the fridge while you prepare the whipped cream.

Whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla until fluffy and thick.

Now comes the fun part: assembling your trifle! Spread a layer of the eggnog pudding mixture in the bottom of your trifle bowl, then arrange gingersnaps or gingerbread cookies around the edges for a pretty presentation.

Add a layer of whipped cream, followed by a sprinkling of crushed cookies for a little crunch.

Continue layering the pudding mixture, cookies, and whipped cream until everything is used up.

Finish with a generous layer of whipped cream and a handful of crushed cookies on top.

Give your trifle some time to chill in the refrigerator before serving. You´ll need at least 12 hours, so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time. The layers will settle together, making every spoonful creamy, crunchy, and full of festive holiday flavor!

Trifle Variations

Make ‘em mini!  Make individual trifles in little cups or mason jars.

• Different Flavors! Try this trifle with different varieties of eggnog, such as cinnamon, vanilla, or other seasonal flavors.
• You can also experiment with different extracts, like almond, rum, or extra vanilla, to add another layer of flavor.
• Swap regular milk for oat milk or almond milk if you prefer, keeping in mind that different milks may affect the pudding’s texture.
• Don’t be afraid to switch up the cookies! Gingersnaps and gingerbread cookies give this dessert a classic holiday flavor, but speculoos cookies, vanilla wafers, shortbread, or even chocolate cookies can put a fun new spin on every layer. Mix and match to create your own favorite holiday combination!
• Lighten it up!  Use low-fat eggnog, light cream cheese, sugar-free pudding mix, and light whipped topping

How to store leftovers?

Due to the dairy in this dessert, it will need to be refrigerated. As it sets, the cookies will soften (and personally, I love that!). You can store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can I make a smaller batch? 

Absolutely. Simply halve the recipe – amounts are listed in the notes at the bottom of the recipe card.

Can I freeze leftovers?

I wouldn’t recommend freezing leftover trifle. The cream cheese, yogurt, pudding, and whipped cream can change texture when thawed, potentially becoming watery or grainy. The gingersnaps or gingerbread cookies will also soften considerably.

If you want to make this dessert ahead, you can prepare the pudding filling and whipped cream separately, then assemble the trifle closer to serving time for the best texture.

More of my favorite no-bake desserts

• No Bake Oreo Pie
• No Bake Cherry Cheesecake
• No Bake Pumpkin Pie
• No Bake Turtle Cheesecake