Easy Mocha Trifle Recipe with Coffee & Chocolate Layers – 5-Star Dessert!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Are you ready to impress your guests with a show-stopping dessert that looks as incredible as it tastes? This Mocha Trifle combines rich chocolate cake, silky coffee-infused vanilla pudding, and clouds of sweet whipped cream in beautiful, delicious layers. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, celebrating a special occasion, or simply treating yourself to something extraordinary, this mocha trifle delivers restaurant-quality results right from your home kitchen.

The best part? While it looks impressively complex, this recipe is surprisingly easy to make. You’ll start by baking a moist chocolate coffee cake in a simple loaf pan, then layer it with homemade coffee pudding and freshly whipped cream. The finishing touch of crushed almond biscotti adds an elegant crunch that takes this dessert to the next level.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Mocha Trifle Recipe

This mocha trifle is the perfect marriage of coffee and chocolate two flavors that were simply meant to be together. The moist chocolate cake soaks up the creamy coffee pudding, creating pockets of intense flavor in every spoonful. The homemade whipped cream adds lightness and balance, while the crushed biscotti provides textural contrast that keeps each bite interesting.

Unlike many elaborate desserts, this trifle actually improves with time. Making it the night before your event allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully, and the cake softens to the perfect consistency. You’ll save yourself stress on the day of your gathering while serving something that looks like it came from a fancy bakery.

This recipe is also wonderfully versatile. Serve it in individual glasses for an elegant plated dessert, or present it in a large trifle dish for a stunning centerpiece. Either way, you’ll have guests asking for the recipe and seconds.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Chocolate Coffee Cake:

Ingredient	Quantity	Purpose
All-purpose flour	1⅓ cups	Structure and texture
Unsweetened dark cocoa powder	⅓ cup	Rich chocolate flavor
Salt	½ teaspoon	Flavor enhancement
Baking soda	1¼ teaspoons	Leavening agent
Granulated sugar	1 cup	Sweetness and moisture
Canola oil	⅔ cup	Keeps cake moist
Large egg	1 whole	Binding and structure
Large egg yolk	1 additional	Extra richness
Pure vanilla extract	1 teaspoon	Depth of flavor
Brewed coffee	⅔ cup	Enhances chocolate
Sour cream	⅔ cup	Tender crumb

For the Trifle Assembly:

Ingredient	Quantity	Purpose
Instant vanilla pudding	2 (3-oz) packages	Creamy middle layer
Whole milk (cold)	2¼ cups	Pudding base
Brewed coffee (chilled)	1 cup	Coffee flavor infusion
Heavy cream	1 pint	Fresh whipped cream
Sugar	¼ cup	Sweetens whipped cream
Vanilla extract	1½ teaspoons	Enhances cream flavor
Almond biscotti	2 regular or 4 mini	Crunchy topping

Essential Kitchen Equipment

To make this mocha trifle successfully, you’ll need a few key pieces of equipment. A quality electric mixer makes whipping the cream effortless and ensures perfect peaks every time. You’ll also need a 9×5-inch loaf pan from this excellent baking sheets set, along with mixing bowls for preparing your various components.

For measuring your ingredients precisely, invest in a reliable measuring cups and spoons set. You’ll also need a good whisk for combining your pudding and a sharp chef’s knife for cutting the cooled cake into perfect cubes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making the Chocolate Coffee Cake

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. This ensures even baking from the moment your cake goes in. Thoroughly spray your 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray, making sure to get into all the corners.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking soda until evenly combined. This dry mixture ensures your leavening agent and cocoa are distributed throughout the cake. Set this aside while you prepare the wet ingredients.

Using your electric mixer, combine the sugar and oil in a large bowl until they’re well blended. Add the whole egg and egg yolk together, mixing on medium-low speed until everything is incorporated. Pour in the vanilla extract and mix again. Make sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula to ensure even mixing.

In a separate container, stir together the brewed coffee and sour cream until smooth. Now you’ll alternate adding your dry and wet ingredients to the mixer bowl. Add one-third of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Pour in half of the coffee-sour cream mixture and mix until smooth. Repeat with another third of the flour mixture, then the remaining coffee-sour cream mixture, and finally the last portion of flour. Stop mixing as soon as everything is combined overmixing can make your cake tough.

Pour the batter into your prepared pan and use a spatula to smooth it into an even layer. Bake in the center of your preheated oven for approximately 1 hour. The cake is done when a knife or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then run a knife around the edges to loosen it. Place a plate over the pan, carefully invert it, and gently tap to release the cake. Let it cool completely for about 40 more minutes before cutting.

Preparing the Coffee Pudding

While your cake is cooling, prepare the coffee-flavored pudding. In a mixing bowl, combine both packages of instant vanilla pudding mix with the cold milk and chilled brewed coffee. Use a whisk to beat the mixture vigorously until it thickens, which should take about 2 minutes. Place the pudding in the refrigerator to set further while you prepare the whipped cream.

Making Fresh Whipped Cream

Pour the heavy cream into the bowl of your electric mixer and add the sugar and vanilla extract. Attach the whisk attachment and beat on medium-high speed. Watch carefully as the cream thickens you want stiff peaks that hold their shape. This usually takes 3-4 minutes. Be careful not to overbeat, or you’ll end up with butter instead of cream.

Assembling Your Mocha Trifle

Once your chocolate cake is completely cool, use your chef’s knife on a cutting board to cut it into 1-inch cubes. You’ll want to save a few crumbs for the final garnish.

Now comes the fun part layering your trifle. Place half of the cake cubes in the bottom of your trifle dish, creating an even layer. Spoon half of the coffee pudding over the cake, making sure every piece is covered. Spread half of the whipped cream over the pudding layer, completely sealing it in.

Repeat the process with the remaining cake cubes, pudding, and whipped cream. For the finishing touch, crush your almond biscotti into small pieces using your hands or by placing them in a sealed bag and gently crushing with a rolling pin. Sprinkle the biscotti pieces and reserved chocolate cake crumbs over the top layer of whipped cream.

Cover your trifle and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. For the absolute best results, let it sit overnight. This resting time allows the cake to absorb some of the pudding and cream, creating a perfectly cohesive dessert with layers that are distinct yet harmonious.

Pro Tips for Perfect Mocha Trifle

Use Quality Coffee: Since coffee is a starring ingredient in this recipe, use freshly brewed coffee from good quality beans. Instant coffee simply won’t deliver the same depth of flavor.

Chill Your Coffee: Make sure your brewed coffee is completely cold before adding it to the pudding mixture. Hot or warm coffee will prevent the pudding from setting properly.

Don’t Skip the Resting Time: While 2 hours is the minimum, overnight is truly ideal. The flavors meld together and the texture becomes incredibly luscious.

Layer Strategically: Make sure each layer completely covers the one beneath it. This creates clean, beautiful layers when you scoop through the trifle.

Cold Cream Whips Best: For the fluffiest whipped cream, make sure your heavy cream is very cold. Some bakers even chill the mixing bowl and whisk attachment for 15 minutes before whipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this trifle ahead of time?
Absolutely! In fact, this trifle is perfect for make-ahead entertaining. Prepare it up to 24 hours in advance and keep it refrigerated until serving time. The flavors actually improve as they meld together.

Can I use a different type of pudding?
While vanilla pudding works beautifully with the coffee, you could experiment with chocolate pudding for an even more intense chocolate experience. Just be aware that the coffee flavor will be less prominent.

What can I substitute for the almond biscotti?
If you can’t find almond biscotti, you can use chocolate chip cookies, vanilla wafers, or even graham crackers for the crunchy topping. Each will give a slightly different flavor profile.

Can I use store-bought whipped cream?
While you can use Cool Whip or other store-bought whipped topping, homemade whipped cream tastes significantly better and isn’t difficult to make. The fresh cream adds a lightness and flavor that’s hard to replicate.

How long will leftovers keep?
Store any leftover trifle covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The texture may soften further over time, but it will still taste delicious.

Can I make individual portions?
Yes! This recipe works beautifully in individual glasses or jars. Simply layer the components in small portions for elegant single-serve desserts.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your mocha trifle chilled with a demitasse of espresso on the side for true coffee lovers. For special occasions, garnish each serving with a light dusting of cocoa powder, chocolate shavings, or a whole coffee bean. The trifle is rich enough to stand alone, but a small dollop of extra whipped cream never hurts.

This dessert serves 8-10 people generously, making it perfect for dinner parties, holiday gatherings, or potluck events. Each serving delivers a perfect balance of textures and flavors that will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Ready to create this stunning Mocha Trifle? Gather your ingredients, set aside a couple of hours, and prepare to impress everyone with your baking skills. This is one dessert that tastes even better than it looks and it looks absolutely spectacular.

If you found this recipe helpful, feel free to check out the kitchen equipment below. Click on any url to view and purchase the product through our Amazon affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us keep Deliciousavors.com running and bringing you great recipes!

Essential Equipment for This Recipe

• Electric Mixer – For perfectly whipped cream
• Mixing Bowls – Multiple sizes for prep
• Measuring Cups and Spoons Set – Precise measurements
• Chef’s Knives – For cutting cake cubes
• Cutting Board – Safe prep surface
• Kitchen Utensils – Whisks and spatulas
• Oven – For baking the cake
• Pots – Includes loaf pans
• Baking Sheets – Quality bakeware set

Print