After seeing the warm, cozy sweater layered with the chic trench coat I was inspired to make a dessert that was both comforting and modern at the same time. I layered dark chocolate, cheesecake and pumpkin whipped cream to create this style-inspired fall dessert, which offers a nice alternative to a traditional pumpkin pie. Whether you use a traditional trifle dish or layer it in individual glasses like I do, this dessert makes for a beautiful and delicious addition to your holiday spread. To make your day a little less hectic, this dessert can even be made up to 24 hours in advance––allowing you to sit back, relax, and enjoy a tasty holiday season.
Recipe: Serves 12
Ingredients
- 1 box mix for dark chocolate cake
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 C vegetable oil
- 1 C water
- 2 8 oz packages of reduced fat cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
- 2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
- 1 Tsp Vanilla
- 2 C heavy whipping cream
- 1 14 oz can of pumpkin
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 C sugar
- Cocoa powder for garnish
Instructions
For the cake layer:
- Preheat oven to 350
- Grease a 9”x13” glass baking dish
- Combine chocolate cake mix, eggs, oil and water in a large bowl using an electric mixer on low speed for about 2 minutes
- Pour cake mixture into the glass baking dish
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake
- Let cool
- Crumble
For the cheesecake layer:
- In a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese until smooth with an electric mixer
- Add sweetened condensed milk and beat until smooth
- Add whipping cream and on low beat 1 minute
- Add vanilla and mix until just combined
For the pumpkin layer:
- In a different mixing bowl combine whipping cream, pumpkin, cinnamon, and sugar and beat until there are peaks for about 3 minutes
Plating
Using individual glasses or a trifle dish layer the chocolate cake crumbles, cheesecake, and pumpkin whipped cream
Top with additional cake crumbles and dust with cocoa powder
Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour
Can be refrigerated up to 24 hours in advance