Holidays are the perfect time to make a showstopper dessert that draws your attention. For Easter, we always make a big brunch that’s complete with our favorite breakfast items, appetizers and plenty of dessert options. The showpiece of our holiday will be this adorable and delicious Easter Trifle dessert recipe. This one is so much fun to make and the kids love how colorful it is! Just layer cake, cool whip and pudding for a bright trifle dessert.

Whenever you make a trifle, you start by putting together your individual layers. Some of my favorite recipes are trifles because they just turn out so beautiful (like this Boozy Strawberry Trifle and 7 Layer Salad). For this recipe, you’ll create colorful layers of cake with food dye. That’ll give the trifle it’s awesome color. 

Separately, you’ll prepare the pudding layer and cool whip layer. The decorated topping is Edible Easter Grass that you find on Amazon (or at any gourmet food store) and Peeps Bunnies. 

The dessert serves 14-16 people. When you serve the trifle, you just scoop straight down and it pulls up all of the beautiful layers. It’s so festive for spring!

Looking for even more great Easter recipes? Check out these awesome dessert inspired by my favorite springtime holiday:

• Easter Bunny Carrot Cupcakes
• Bunny Butt Rice Krispies Treats
• Carrot Patch Pudding Cups

How To Make Your Easter Trifle Dessert

Obviously, you’ll need to start with a trifle dish for serving. Other than that, you’ll need a baking dish for making the cake – I used a 9×13-inch baking pan. When mixing the cake batter, use a hand mixer or stand mixer, whichever you prefer. Those are the biggest kitchen tools you’ll need to make this recipe.

What To Serve With Your Easter Trifle

I love to make a big Easter brunch, but that’s traditional in the south. Whether you’re making a dinner or brunch, you’ve got to have dessert. So I think the trifle works with whatever meal you’re serving for Easter.

Adding fresh coffee or ice cream are great additions to the trifle. You don’t need anything to go with it, but it’s nice to have on hand for guests. My kids love the trifle with a big glass of milk.

How To Prep Your Trifle Ahead Of Time For Easter

This is a fantastic dessert to make long before your guests arrive. I make mine the day before Easter. Follow the recipe directions, but don’t add the Easter Edible Grass and Peeps. Cover the trifle with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight. Let the trifle thaw for 10 minutes. At that last minute, add your grass and peeps!

How To Store Leftovers

If you have leftovers, I like to keep it in the trifle. I a big trifle in the fridge can be a pain, but all of those layers are going to mush together if you transfer the dessert. For best freshness, keep the Easter Trifle in the fridge. Enjoy within 4-5 days of making it. I do not recommend freezing the dessert. The pudding texture can change.

Recipe Substitutions

If you want to avoid food dye, you can make the cake without the fun rainbow colors. Instead, consider using a strawberry cake mix. That will give you a beautiful pink color that’s still festive for spring. Use blue or green Easter Peep Bunnies for a contrasting color!

If you can’t find the Easter pastel Sixlets Candy near you, consider using pastel M&M Candies instead.

What You Need To Make This Easter Trifle

• White Cake Mix (+ ingredients to make the cake – refer to cake mix box)
• Food Coloring in Neon Colors
• Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
• Milk
• Frozen Whipped Topping (Cool Whip)
• Edible Easter Grass
• Marshmallow Bunny Peeps
• Sixlets Chocolate Candies In Pastel Colors

Directions To Make Your Easter Trifle Dessert

Prepare cake according to package directions.

Before pouring batter into the pan, divide batter into 4 bowls. Color each bowl of batter a different color with neon food coloring.

Drop dollops of batter into pan and bake according to package directions. Let cake cool completely.

Add pudding and milk together and whisk well until dissolved. Refrigerate for five minutes. Cut cake in half and cut each half into small 1″ cubes.

Place half of the cake into the trifle dish, top with half of the pudding.

Next, add half of the whipped topping.

Repeat with the remaining half of the cake, pudding and whipped topping. Note: if you’re making the trifle ahead of time, add it to the fridge at this point – topping decor is for the last minute.

Use a small amount of edible grass and roll it into a nest shape.

Place on top of the trifle and repeat until you have 6 nests. Top each nest with a marshmallow bunny and sprinkle with candies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.