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Kahlua Cake Trifles

December 30, 2011 11 Comments

Hi guys! Hope everyone had a fun and food-filled Christmas. Mine was pretty awesome. Dan and I went up to Massachusetts to spend the holidays with his family and between the two back-to-back holiday parties, the generalized excitement over our engagement, the many many bottles of wine, the mountains of presents, and the groaning tables loaded down with delicious food, it was pretty much impossible not to have a fantastic time.

Speaking of groaning tables…Dan’s family really knows how to cook! I’ve enjoyed his mom’s cooking many times before, but never on such a grand scale. We ate so well — honey BBQ wings, stuffed mushrooms, racks of lamb, baked halibut, broccoli & cheese, green beans, perfectly cooked prime rib, roasted potatoes, Christmas cookies, truffles, cheesecake…I know there was more, but I just can’t remember it all. Seriously, I think I gained 10 lbs this weekend. Worth it!

Obviously I ate more than my share of delicious foods this weekend, but one of the things that really blew me away was a simple dessert I watched Dan’s mom throw together a few hours before dinner: Kahlua cake. What is Kahlua cake, you ask? A trifle, basically. A decadent, chocolate-y trifle made up of Kahlua-soaked cake, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and chopped up candy bar bits in alternating layers. I know. You’re drooling. It’s cool.

(I know I’m a little late, but…”On the 12th day of Christmas…”)

Not only is this Kahlua cake divine, but it’s also incredibly simple to make — everything you need can come out of a box, bottle, or plastic tub.  And, you don’t need to worry about precision in layering, because it’s impossible for a bowl of chocolate cake + pudding + whipped cream + candy to look anything but delicious. Plus, as soon as the first spoon is plunged into the bowl, this dessert won’t last long enough for anyone to admire. Trust me.

Thanks for the recipe, Kathryn!!! (PS: If you’re reading this…can I get your recipe  for the wings and prime rib??)

Kahlua Cake Trifles
** The ingredients and steps below make one large trifle. I was making this late at night and only had the energy to make 4 mini-trifles, so I have a lot of ingredients left over. Keep your eyes peeled for a cake pop post some time in the near future.

Ingredients:
– 1 chocolate sheet cake, un-frosted (I made a cake using box mix)
– 2 tubs Cool Whip
– 1 tub chocolate pudding (more, if you’re being really generous)
– 3 large Symphony or Scores candy bars, chopped into little pieces
– 1 cup Kahlua

Steps: 
(1) In the bottom of a large trifle bowl, roughly crumble/tear a few pieces of chocolate cake in one even layer.
(2) Drizzle cake with some Kahlua.
(3) Spoon chocolate pudding over the cake layer, and use a spatula to spread the pudding out evenly.
** Measurements are vague because it’s really up to you how much of everything you want in your trifle. Be generous!
(4) Spread whipped cream on top of the pudding, and sprinkle with a handful of  chopped candy bar bits.
(5) Repeat steps 1-4 until all ingredients are used up.
(6) Chill in the fridge until ready to serve, then enjoy immediately!

For other great chocolate ideas, click here.

 

You may also like:

  • S’mores Brownies
  • Triple Chocolate Candy Bar Brownies
  • Apple Cider Cocktail…and a GIVEAWAY! {GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

Filed Under: Alcohol, Cake, Chocolate, Dessert, Holiday, Pudding, Semi-Homemade

Comments

  1. Simply Tia says

    December 30, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    This looks so decadent and totally worth the 10lbs gained. I just finished my bottle of Kahlua but the next bottle I get will be going towards this!! Yum.

    May every Day of the 2012 glow with good cheer & happiness for you and your family..Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      December 30, 2011 at 4:27 pm

      Thank you! Happy new year to you and your family as well 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jesica @ Pencil Kitchen says

    December 30, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    Wow…. I love buzzy cakes 🙂

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      December 30, 2011 at 4:51 pm

      Me too! The more booze the better, I always say 😉

      Reply
  3. Brighteyedbaker says

    December 30, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    These look super tasty! Yum!

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      December 30, 2011 at 7:40 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Alyssa says

    January 30, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    Congrats! You were featured on this last week’s Themed Baker’s Sunday. Please come back this week where the theme is cookies!
    Cupcake Apothecary
    http://cupcakeapothecary.blogspot.com/2012/01/themed-bakers-sunday-21.html

    Reply
  5. Kim says

    October 15, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    How much is a tub of pudding?

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      October 15, 2012 at 8:33 pm

      I’m not positive, sorry! I just used one of those pre-made containers you get in the grocery store near the yogurt/butter. But, you should feel free to use as much pudding as you want — that’s the great thing about trifles; everything just depends on how much you feel like eating!

      Reply
  6. Eve says

    June 22, 2013 at 10:12 am

    I have been making Kahlua Cake for years. It is a big hit every time. In order to avoid too strong a taste of Kahlua in the cake, I have learned to mix the Kahlua in the pudding. It adds more liquid to the pudding which makes it easier to spread. Optional cake: light colored cake instead of chocolate, fruit liquor (ie cherry kirsch)instead of Kahlua, vanilla pudding and fresh or frozen fruit instead of chocolate pudding and candy. Delicious!

    Reply
    • justputzing says

      June 22, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      Yum, that sound delicious – I will definitely have to give your variations a try!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Tina - D.C. based attorney, lover of reality and food-related television, stress-eater, and unabashed fantasy/sci-fi dork. Read More…

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