I don’t know about you, but I am swimming in leftovers. The thing is, I can’t decide if it is a good or bad thing. I have plenty of food to get us through the next few days. But really, how much turkey can one person eat? If only I could get sick of cookies the way I could get sick of turkey. It just doesn’t seem to happen.
But even with half of a chocolate pecan pie left, a bowl of caramel sauce, dozens of cookies in my freezer, and a tight pants, I always am ready to bake something new. After many Thanksgiving-related hours spent in the kitchen cooking, baking and cleaning, though, I welcome something easy. Something where I don’t have to pull out my mixer, wait for butter to soften or open up a few cookbooks. Something that only requires a few more minutes of active time on my feet.
That is where this layered beauty comes into play. While I don’t always advocate box mixes and canned fruit, there really is a time and a place. And when you come up with something that incorporates those shortcuts, is creative, and looks impressive, no one has to know that a box mix was involved. Usually your friends will be too busy asking for seconds to even think about it.
For this trifle, I used one of Dunkan Hines new decadent cake mixes. I chose the Apple Caramel flavor because, how could a cake that is gooey and moist be bad? It can’t. Even by itself the cake tastes pretty good, but layered with Comstock apple pie filling, cinnamon flavored cool whip, cheesecake pudding and gingersnap crumbs it is even better.
And better news for you, I have some cake mixes to give away! Two readers will win coupons for four free Dunkan Hines products (details below).
Caramel Apple Cake Trifle
Serves 8
Ingredients:
1/2 of a prepared Dunkan Hines Apple Caramel Cake
1 15.75-ounce can Comstock apple pie filling
1 8-ounce container of cinnamon flavored cool whip (if you can’t find that, fold cinnamon into regular cool whip to taste)
1 prepared 1-ounce container cheesecake pudding mix
1/2 cup gingersnap crumbs (about 8 cookies)
Directions:
Cut cake in to 1-inch cubes
Layer ingredients in a large trifle dish or bowl as follows: cake, pie filling, cool whip, cookie crumbs, pudding
Repeat layers again and top with extra cookie crumbs
Best served immediately; cover with saran wrap and store trifle in refrigerator up to 4 days
Giveaway Details:
The giveaway is open through Wednesday, November 30 at midnight est. The giveaway is open to anyone and there are three ways to enter (please leave a separate comment for each entry):
1) Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment below, anything you want!
2) Follow Keep It Sweet on Twitter
3) Like Keep It Sweet on Facebook
Disclaimer: I received the coupons for Dunkin Hines cake mix and Comstock pie filling as a part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program. All of the opinions expressed in this post are my own.
That trifle looks delicious!
My whole family loves turkey sandwiches, so my mom used to slice up and the package the turkey into smaller packages and freeze it. Then she could just pull out a package and let it thaw and we’d get turkey sandwiches in our lunches any time of year!
Great giveaway and your trifle looks wonderful. YUM!!
Yum, this sounds great! I need to get a trifle bowl…I’ve been seeing so many trifle recipes lately that I want to try, but have no way to serve it!
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I like Keep it Sweet on fb.
I would love a trifle bowl. Thanks for the chance to win the coupons.
Your trifle looks really pretty!
I would love to make it sometime! I follow you on twitter at @ronapeltzer.
Ain’t no shame in using boxed mix, girl! I love easy desserts and this trifle looks gorgeous.
yum – i’m all about the box mixes so i’d love to win this!
Oh fun! Not only does this recipe and the ingredients for it sound awesome but I Duncan Hines is my go to for cheater mixes :)
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Totally have fallen victim to the day after Thanksgiving cockiness myself! It’s devious. :)
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And I follow you on Twitter.
I love Dunkin Hines products!!!
I like you on facebook!
awesome!
I have been eying that cake mix every time I go down the baking aisle. I love the Duncan Hines carrot cake mix. And cinnamon cool whip… I didn’t even know it existed!
I follow you on Twitter!
I don’t want to be entered for the cake mix, but if you want to give away this trifle? I wouldn’t argue.
Duncan Hines do have great mixes. My favorite is the Carrot Cake Decadent Cake Mix.
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I like Keep It Sweet on Facebook.
Wow, looks amazing! I love anything that combines apples and caramel, and I haven’t had a trifle in much too long. :)
We love turkey salad and make it for sandwiches as well as turkey pot pies and turkey “TV” dinners for the freezer!! They are wonderful to pop in the oven on a day you don’t want to cook!! The turkey, ham, dressing, cranberries. green bean casserole all freeze beautifully.
That is a gorgeous looking trifle.
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How delicious does that look!! …and simple!
Trifles always look so scrumptious
I don’t have any leftovers. Guess that’s what happens when you go to someone’s else’s place for the holiday and you eat most of what was left over the course of the weekend. But good lord this trifle is amazing!
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I adore this! I am a huge apple cake fan and I am really digging that trifle dish…so beautiful! Glad that you had a great Thanksgiving :)
Hi Lauren!
I enjoy reading your blog. I want to enter to win the cake mixes. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. Now… on towards Christmas!
Ditto on the ‘too many leftovers’! But I consider it a very good thing! :)
There is TOTALLY a time and place for mixes, and after WAY too much cooking this past week, I’d say this is it ;) This trifle looks delicious!
We all cheat a little now and then! All part of being human!
I already follow you on Twitter!
Love your blog………..
I love a good Trifle and yours looks delicious!!
Thanks for the giveaway
rjs682 at yahoo dot com
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Gorgeous trifle! I always love making them around the holidays–they look so festive.
great trifle idea! always looking for different variations. can’t wait to try this!
I would love to win because busy girls like us, even those who love to bake, can always use a little help during the holidays getting it all done! :)