Festive Chocolate Cranberry Orange Trifle – The Ultimate Christmas Dessert

Rich, indulgent, and bursting with holiday flavour – this Festive Chocolate Cranberry Orange Trifle brings together layers of fudgy brownies, white chocolate cream cheese layer, and tangy cranberry sauce infused with orange and Cointreau. It’s where chocolate decadence meets lusciousness, making it the ultimate dessert for Christmas gatherings.

Hey folks – I hope you all are doing well!

Today, I’m sharing a dessert that defines holiday indulgence. This chocolate cranberry orange trifle combines everything we crave this time of year – deep chocolate, zesty citrus, a pop of tart berries, and a silky white chocolate cream layer. It’s elegant yet comforting, rich but perfectly balanced. Every spoonful feels festive, cozy, and utterly irresistible. So, let’s grab a spoon and dive into this boozy holiday dessert?

What Is a Trifle

A trifle is a layered dessert traditionally made with cake, custard, fruit, and cream. It’s often served in a large glass bowl so each layer shines through. This version, my festive chocolate cranberry orange trifle, replaces the classic sponge with decadent homemade brownies, layered with white chocolate cream cheese and cranberry-orange sauce for a modern, luxurious twist.

Why You’ll Love This Festive Chocolate Cranberry Orange Trifle

• Decadent yet balanced: Dark chocolate richness meets zesty orange and tart cranberries.
• Elegant presentation: Beautiful layers that look as good as they taste.
• Make-ahead friendly: All components can be prepared in advance for stress-free entertaining.
• Truly festive: A perfect combination of winter flavours and Christmas colours.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Festive Chocolate Cranberry Orange Trifle

Brownies

• Butter: Provides richness and moisture, creating a dense, fudgy texture.
• Dark chocolate: Adds deep, bold flavour and that signature brownie decadence.
• Eggs: Give the batter structure while keeping the brownies soft and chewy.
• Brown sugar: Contributes moisture, caramel undertones, and a tender crumb.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavour.
• Flour: Adds body to the brownies without making them heavy.
• Cocoa powder: Deepens the chocolate taste and gives a velvety texture.
• Orange zest: Adds brightness and a lovely citrus aroma that pairs beautifully with dark chocolate.
• Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavour with a subtle warmth.
• Cointreau: Infuses a festive orange liqueur note that elevates the overall taste.
• Spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom): Create warmth and a subtle holiday depth that complements the chocolate perfectly.

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Layer

• Cream: Adds a silky, smooth texture and lightens the richness of the cream cheese.
• Cream cheese: Gives a luscious, slightly tangy flavour that balances the sweetness.
• White chocolate: Brings creamy sweetness and helps create a smooth, spoonable consistency.
• Vanilla seeds: Add depth and a fragrant, luxurious touch.
• Cointreau: Enhances the orange undertones and adds a festive note.

Cranberry Cointreau Sauce

• Cranberries: Provide a vibrant, tart counterpoint to the sweetness of chocolate.
• Honey: Adds gentle sweetness and a floral note that complements the berries.
• Orange juice: Brightens the flavour and ties together the citrus elements.
• Cointreau: Enhances the fruitiness and gives a delicate orange liqueur aroma.
• Spices: Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove add warmth and depth to the sauce.

Tips and Assembling

You can assemble this trifle in one large glass bowl or in smaller serving dishes for an elegant presentation. The ratio of all three layers is flexible – please feel free to adjust it to your liking. For instance, my husband suggested there wasn’t quite enough of the cream cheese layer (and I can’t argue with that!). Trust your intuition when layering and balance the flavours to your own taste.

Slice any leftover brownies, refrigerate them, and enjoy throughout the holidays. They’re wonderful on their own or paired with leftover cream cheese and cranberry layers. In fact, you can serve those extras in small separate bowls so everyone at the table can add an extra spoonful of this or that. It’s a fun, relaxed way to let guests customize their perfect bite – and nothing goes to waste.

Easy Holiday Dessert Recipes

Are you looking for more easy, festive holiday recipes just like this Chocolate Cranberry Orange Trifle? Here we go:

• Irish Cream Chocolate Dessert – Easy Holiday Treat
• Festive Pistachio Cointreau Truffles – Boozy Holiday Dessert
• Festive Cranberry Trifle – An Easy Holiday Dessert
• Christmas Gingerbread Tiramisu – Festive Holiday Dessert
• Festive Pistachio Panettone Trifle – Easy No-Bake Dessert
• Panettone Tiramisu Trifle – Easy Christmas Dessert

I’d love for you to try this festive Chocolate Cranberry Orange Trifle. If you give the recipe a go, please share your results in the comments, message me on Instagram, or post your photos with the hashtag #havocinthekitchen. I look forward to seeing your creations and hearing your thoughts!

Cheers and happy holidays!

Print

Festive Chocolate Cranberry Orange Trifle – The Ultimate Christmas Dessert

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Christmas, Festive Christmas Desserts, Boozy Desserts and Treats, Chilled and No-Bake Desserts

Servings

6-10

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Resting u0026 cooling time

2-10

hours

Baking time

20-30

minutes

A Christmas trifle made of spiced brownies, silky white chocolate cream cheese cream, and a luscious orange cranberry sauce.

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• Brownies

• 1 cup butter, cubed

• 300 gr. dark or extra dark chocolate, roughly shopped

• 4 eggs

• 1/3 cup old-fashioned brown sugar

• 1/2 – 2/3 tsp. salt

• 1 cup flour, sifted

• 1/3 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

• zest of 1 orange or 2 clementines

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

• 3 tbsp. Cointreau

• 1 tsp. ginger

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

• 1/2 tsp. cardamom

• White Chocolate Cream Cheese Layer

• 1/2 cup cream (10% or 18%)

• 250 gr. cream cheese

• 100-150 gr. white chocolate, roughly chopped

• 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds removed

• 2-3 tbsp. Cointreau

• Cranberry Cointreau Sauce

• 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1/4 cup orange juice

• 1/3 cup Cointreau, roughly divided

• 2 tbsp. orange zest

• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. ginger

• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

• a small pinch of clove

Directions

• Brownies
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line ~ a 9,5 by 9,5-inch (~24 cm) baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment and let it overhang the ends. Lightly grease to coat.
• In a medium saucepan melt the butter and chocolate over low-medium heat, stirring with a wooden spatula often (As the chocolate can stick to the bottom.)
• Remove from heat and let it cool few minutes. Stir in the sugar, spices, zest, salt, Cointreau, and vanilla extract. Mix with a spatula, until the sugar dissolves. .
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, vigorously mixing the mixture.
• Stir in the flour and cocoa powder, just until combined. Do not overmix. The batter should look sticky and moist (If a bit dry, you can add in a bit more of melted chocolate, milk, or simply water – about 1 tsp. or so.)
• Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake (middle rack) for about 20 minutes, then begin checking frequently for doneness. When the center top is barely firm, insert a toothpick in the center – it should come out mostly clean, with a few fudgy crumbs. It’s always better to underbake than overbake the brownies, if you love fudgy and creamy brownies. If you prefer cakey texture, bake few minutes longer.
• Remove the brownies from the oven. Let stand until warm, about 20 minutes then refrigerate until ready to assemble the Trifle, at least few hours – preferably overnight.
• White Chocolate Cream Cheese Layer
• In a small heavy-bottomed pan or saucepan bring the cream and cream cheese to a simmer over medium heat. Add the white chocolate and simmer for 3-5 minutes, whisking occasionally, until smooth and incorporated. Remove from heat and let cool a bit. Stir in the Cointreau and vanilla seeds. You can make this sauce 2-3 days ahead and keep it refrigerated until ready to serve.
• Cranberry Cointreau Sauce
• In a medium pan combine the cranberries, honey, 1/4 cup Cointreau, orange juice, orange zest, and spices. Simmer for about 5-7 minutes, until berries are soft and bursting.
• Add the remaining Cointreau (For the added flavour) and cook just for 30 seconds. Off heat and cool completely before refrigerating. You can also make this in advance – the sauce will be fine refrigerated for up to 5-7 days
• Tips and Assembling
• I used two medium-small (~800 ml. each) bowls, and had at least a half of the brownies and some both cream cheese (about 1/3 cup left) and cranberry sauces (more than a cup left). So you can either make a large trifle or serve the sauce leftovers in small separate bowls so when serving the trifle, people can add some extra topping to their plates.
• I used about 300 gr. of the crumbled brownies, about 1 and 1/2 cup of cranberry sauce, and about 2/3 cup of the cream cheese sauce per each 800-ml bowl. Please feel free to adjust the layers to your preferences.
• You can serve them right away, but for the best result I’d recommend chilling it for an hour or so. Garnish as desired and enjoy!