Learn how to make this colossal caramel apple trifle recipe that tastes absolutely delicous and it is very simple to make. Your family will love it!
Once a month, we have Family Night at our church. Committees rotate turns preparing food for church members, and a nominal amount is charged for dinner. There is always some seriously good food on those evenings, not to mention the good fellowship.
This past Wednesday was our turn to help prepare the food, and I made a dessert. I had been waiting for an opportunity to make this ever since I saw it on Pinterest.
If you've been on Pinterest, you've seen this, too. Betcha put it on one of your boards, didn't ya? Well, I pinned it, and I went to the website to get the recipe. And yes, this recipe does make a colossal amount of dessert. Perfect to feed our church family.
What you need
1 package (18 ¼ ounces) yellow cake mix, 3 eggs, and whatever amount of oil the package says that you need
3 packages (3.4 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding mix, 6 cups cold milk, 1 teaspoon apple pie spice ( I mixed up my own), 1 jar caramel ice cream topping, 1 ½ cups chopped pecans, toasted
2 cans (21 ounces each) apple pie filling, and 2 cartons (16 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
How to make
- Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased 9 inch round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, whisk milk, pudding mixes, and apple pie spice for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set.
- Cut one layer cake if necessary to fit evenly in an 8 quart punch bowl. Poke holes in cake with a long wooden skewer; gradually pour a third of the caramel topping over cake.
See my holes? This is not a punch bowl. This is a trifle dish that I borrowed from my sister-in-law. The cake fit perfectly into the bottom. I did make another one that I put into my punch bowl, and I did have to cut a smaller circle in order for the cake to fit into the bottom.
- Sprinkle with ½ cup pecans and spread with half of the pudding mixture.
- Spoon one can of pie filling over pudding; spread with one carton of whipped topping.
- Top with remaining cake and repeat layers. Drizzle with remaining caramel topping and sprinkle with remaining pecans. Refrigerate until serving.
The recipe says this makes 42 servings. I made 2 of the trifles, and we had some left over.
And I got lots of compliments on the dessert. Perfect on a fall evening to feed a bunch of hungry people.
I'm going to try to make a sugar-free version of this trifle, and I'm going to cut the recipe in half. When making it again, I would make thinner layers of the cake by using 4 cake pans rather than 2. That would give you more beautiful layers. I'll let you know if the sugar-free version turns out ok.
📋 Recipe
Caramel Apple Trifle
Ingredients
- 1 package yellow cake mix 18 ¼ ounces)
- 6 cups cold milk
- 3 packages instant vanilla pudding mix 3.4 ounces each
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 12 ¼ ounces caramel ice cream topping 1 jar
- 1 ½ cups chopped pecans, toasted
- 2 cans apple pie filling 21 ounces each
- 2 cartons frozen whipped topping, thawed 16 ounces each
Instructions
- Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased 9 inch round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, whisk milk, pudding mixes, and apple pie spice for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set.
- Cut one cake layer if necessary to fit evenly in an 8 qt. punch bowl. Poke holes in cake with a long wooden skewer; gradually pour a third of the caramel topping over cake. Sprinkle with ½ cup pecans and spread with half of the pudding mixture.
- Spoon one can of pie filling over pudding; spread with one carton of whipped topping.
- Top with remaining cake and repeat layers. Drizzle with remaining caramel topping and sprinkle with remaining pecans. Refrigerate until serving.
Deb
Made it for the Lutheran Men's supper last night at church and everyone loved it! Plus, I had my son in law's grandmother's punch bowl to put it in. beautiful! Really enjoy your blog ( from another South Carolinian!)
Jessica
Wow! This looks amazing and absolutely perfect for a get-together. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I'll have to keep it in mind next chuch potluck 🙂
Jean Windham
What a beautiful trifle. It looks so yummy. I am sure all the church members enjoyed them too. I want to try to make it but will half the recipe. Great job as usual. What a great cook.
Confessions of a Plate Addict
OK....now I need to get a trifle dish! This looks fabulously yummy...and pretty! Hope you are having a great weekend!...hugs...Debbie
CAS
I'm pinning this right now & will be waiting for a big family get-together to make it. I'm literally salivating, & it's only 5:30 a.m.....LOL! Thanks so much for sharing!
🙂 CAS
The Tablescaper
Oh my, this looks good. Hope you'll bring it to Seasonal Sundays!
-The Tablescaper
GerryART
Just came from Brenda's Comments
I agree completely with your fireplace comment
but now that I've seen your post here, I must get my grocery list out for the ingredients for this dee-lish looking dessert.
hugs
sue
omg! this looks delicious...might have to use this one at Thanksgiving! thanks!
Ro
That is one huge dessert! Would be perfect for a large group!
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Have a great weekend!
Kathleen
I have read on a few blogs that people have had trouble getting the cake to fit into their trifle bowl.
No need! Just crumble the cake and press it in. I do it all the time.
This looks wonderful!
Gina
Jane, I actually made this a few months ago myself. It really is delicious & received quite a few compliments. I like your idea of the thinner layers. I may try that next time.
Babs
Oh, mercy! I'm looking at your trifle and thinking I MUST make this. I already have the Smucker's caramel sauce and the pudding. Now I know what I'm making for Thanksgiving... or before.
Have a great weekend,
Babs
Ann
I bet this was a huge hit at your dinner...it looks absolutely divine. I could sure go for a huge piece right now!
Barbara F.
Yes, I did see this on Pinterest but too much dessert - I don't think I know 42 people! haha - it looks beautiful, I would also cube the cake and make layers like that. Pinterest has been giving me problems the past two days, can't access all my boards! 🙁 xo
The Kitchen Witch
Oooh, caramel has been my craving of the season! AND do you have a Piggly? How lucky!
Jane
This looks lovely, Jane. I have a trifle dish that I have never used and needed a push to find a recipe. This is perfect for fall. Thanks so much!!
XO,
Janie
Rosemary
That looks sooooo decadent. I love it.