Forget the pumpkin pie this year and have this simple dairy free pumpkin trifle instead! Loaded down with thick layers of fudgy pumpkin brownies, creamy pumpkin spiced pudding, and smooth coconut whipped topping, this trifle is sure to wow your guests this Thanksgiving!
Begin by making the vegan pumpkin brownies. These only take 10 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to bake. While brownies are baking, begin making the pumpkin pudding: in a medium saucepan on the stove, whisk together dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients, whisking as you go until combined well. Heat on medium high, continuously stirring until pudding begins to thicken and bubble. Remove from heat.
Transfer pumpkin pudding to a medium glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap (if you want to prevent a "skin" on top, make sure the wrap is touching the top of the pudding). Refrigerate for 4 hours, or overnight.
Once pudding has set, you can assemble the trifle, my favorite part! For individual servings (as pictured), divide even amounts of cut pumpkin brownies between glasses. Top with pumpkin pudding, and a scoop of coconut whipped topping. Sprinkle lightly with pumpkin pie spice for a stunning finish. See notes for a presentation when preparing this for parties.
Notes
This vegan trifle uses coconut milk powder in the pumpkin pudding, which adds a delicious flavor and is great to keep on hand for baking. However, you can also leave out the coconut powder and just use almond milk (or another plant-based milk of your choice) if you do not have access to coconut powder. That means that you'll omit the coconut powder + water, and just use a plant-based milk for the liquid measurement.
Want to make this for a large gathering? Transfer brownies to a baking dish (or remove parchment paper if you used that to bake the brownies) and top with pumpkin pudding, spreading evenly across the brownies. Top with coconut whipped topping and spread evenly across the pudding. Sprinkle lightly with pumpkin pie spice, if desired. When doing this, I highly recommend doing this a few hours before your party, to ensure your brownies don't end up soggy. Traditional English trifle soaks the sponge in alcohol, so doing this a few hours ahead of time may bring a delicious texture that resembles the classic dessert.
Nutritional facts do not include the pumpkin brownies. Please calculate accordingly.