Apples N' Spice Cake Trifle

TheDancingCook's Note:

This is a perfect fall holiday dessert that looks wonderful in the trifle bowl. Don't let the ingredients/steps scare you! All ingredients are canned, boxed, cartoned; you just need to buy it and combine it! One hour to prepare and the results are gratifying! This is so easy; I made this for my in-laws Thanksgiving dinner when I was dating my husband; during that time period I had no kitchen skills whatsoever. Very easy! Prep time does not include cooling/chilling times. This recipe is from Taste of Home Magazine, the October/November 1999 edition.

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 20

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) box spice cake mix
• 1 1/4 cups cinnamon applesauce
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling
• 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine
• 7 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• 3 cups milk, cold
• 1 (6 ounce) box vanilla pudding mix
• 1 1/4 ounces whipped dessert topping mix
• 1 (12 ounce) carton whipped topping, thawed
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup toffee pieces, almond brickle chips or 2 Heath candy bars, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine dry cake mix, applesauce, eggs and oil; beat on medium for 2 minutes.
3. Pour into a greased 13x9 baking dish and bake for 30-40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
4. Cool.
5. While that is baking, in a saucpan combine apple pie filling, butter and 1 tsp of cinnamon until butter is melted and stir until well blended.
6. Cool.
7. In a mixing bowl, combine milk, pudding mix, whipped topping mix and remaining cinnamon.
8. Beat on high until thick; about 5 minutes then let it stand for 5 more minutes.
9. Spread 1/3 of the apple mix (step#5) in a trifle bowl.
10. Now, cut the cake into cubes and place half over the apple mixture in trifle.
11. Top that with half of the whipped topping/pudding and sprinkle 1/4 cup walnuts.
12. Repeat the layers, ending with the remaining topping mixture and sprinkle with bits, chips or chopped candy bar and 1/4 cup walnuts.
13. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

Reviews

[KitchenWitchWay]

So delicious!

[Blue Peacock]

The Dancing Cook, this trifle was excellent and wonderful for Thanksgiving. Nobody in my house was in the mood for pumpkin pie, so I made this. I used reduced-fat cream cheese and Werther's Original's candies crushed for the Heath toffee chips-it was yummy. Thank you for a great recipe.

[Laurel6]

I made this for a change from the usual summer desserts and it was soooo good. Everyone really loved it and wanted the recipe. I made my own spice cake recipe and smashed some Wherther's toffee candies in place of the original ingredients and it was absolutetly delicious. I'll surly be making this again & again.