Pumpkin Trifle for the Dessert Plate

Set out cream cheese, granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar before you start Pumpkin Trifle for the Dessert Plate. The batch is written for 16 people.

Count on 30 minutes of prep, 8 hours of resting, about 8 hours from the first measurement to the plate.

Ingredients Method

What goes in the bowl

Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling

• 2 cups cream cheese
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pumpkin purée
• 2 T pumpkin pie spice
• ½ t vanilla
• ⅛ t salt
• 1 1/3 cup heavy cream

Assembly

• 2 lbs maple pound cake — my recipe or store-bought variety
• 2 cups cream — for the topping
• 2 cups pecans — toasted, optional
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

How the cooking goes

Make Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling

1. Beat cream cheese in the bowl of a electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until softened and completely smooth. Add granulated sugar and dark brown sugar and continue beating until no visible sugar granules remain.
2. Put pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fully combined and uniform.
3. Switch to the whisk attachment then add 340g cream to the bowl. Whisk on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.
4. Cut pound cake into roughly 1-inch cubes and keep it to one side.
5. Beat the remaining 520g cream to soft peaks by hand or with a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Keep it unsweetened, or add 2 tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar if you prefer a lightly sweetened topping.

Asssemble Trifle

1. Begin layering: spread a thin layer of cheesecake filling in the bottom of a large glass trifle dish. Add a layer of pound cake cubes, drizzle with maple syrup, and crumble over a handful of toasted pecans. Repeat the layers until you reach the top.
2. Finish the top layer with the whipped cream and garnish with additional pecans if desired.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight before serving.

After it comes off the heat

Give the plate the rest the method asks for. Cover leftovers and refrigerate them when the dish includes meat, eggs, or dairy.

If you want another plate from Pumpkin, open Pumpkin Spice for the Baking Jar and Pumpkin Seed Brittle with a Clear Method.