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Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle

This scrumptious Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle is a deconstructed version of a custard filled doughnut from Krispy Kreme. It features, layers of  pillowy glazed doughnuts, topped with chocolate ganache and a rich homemade vanilla custard. It’s a indulgent way to serve a dessert that’s certain to delight your friends and family.

Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle

Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle

This Boston cream doughnut trifle is not for the sugar shy. It was inspired by my favorite Krispy Kreme chocolate glazed doughnut filled with custard. It’s an easy, albeit indulgent dessert. You may know, I really love making trifles whether they’re savory or sweet, I just can’t help myself. An example of a savory trifle is my seven layer salad and chicken bacon ranch layer salad. Sweet trifles like my punch bowl fruit trifle, lemon lovers trifle and fudge grasshopper trifle remain fan favorites. I genuinely love deconstructing some of my favorite dishes then layering all of the ingredients in a pretty bowl to serve as an edible centerpiece, it just never disappoints. How to make Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Make the Vanilla Custard – Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and salt.
  • Egg Yolks – Whip egg yolks in a separate bowl then whisk into the sugar mixture.
  • Heat Cream – To a heavy bottomed saucepan add the half and half and butter. Heat over medium-high heat until the butter has melted.
  • Combine – Gradually whisk the sugar-egg mixture into the half and half and bring to a boil. Whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla whisking until combined.
  • Cool the Custard – Pour the custard into a bowl, and press plastic wrap on top. Chill just until it’s warm, but still pourable around 45 minutes.
  • Make the Chocolate Ganache – Melt the chocolate chips together with the cream until smooth. Cool until slightly warm to the touch and the thickness of a pourable pudding.
  • Assemble the Trifle: Divide the doughnuts, custard and ganache into thirds. Layer, beginning with doughnuts, drizzle with chocolate and spread with custard. Repeat.
  • For the third layer, start with doughnuts, top with custard and end with chocolate ganache on top. Cover and chill until serving.
Step-by-step preparation images and ingredients for Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle

How to Make the BEST Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle Recipe

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle: 12 large glazed doughnuts, granulated sugar, corn starch, salt, large egg yolks, half and half, butter, pure vanilla extract.
  • Chocolate Ganache: Milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cups heavy cream.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: A large trifle bowl, measuring cups and spoons, small bowl, large saucepan, whisk, sharp knife and cutting board.
  • When assembling this trifle in advance and chilling in the fridge, the chocolate layer will be more firm.
  • Prepare the vanilla custard in advance, cover and chill just until it’s cooled enough to assemble the trifle. The plastic wrap will prevent a film from forming on top..
  • Just before assembling make the ganache and let it cool on the counter to room temperature but still pourable.
  • Assemble the trifle shortly before serving if you’d prefer the warm ganache to maintain it’s gooey texture.
  • The cool vanilla custard with the soft chunks of glazed doughnuts drizzled with warm chocolate combine to make a sweet ending to any meal.
  • Store Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle chilled in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle in a trifle bowl

More Trifle Recipes to Make

Recipe For Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle

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Boston Cream Doughnut Trifle

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Chill time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: best-trifle-recipes, boston-cream-doughnut, boston-cream-doughnut-trifle, trifles
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 629kcal
Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • 12 large glazed doughnuts cubed
  • Vanilla custard:
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup corn starch
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 6 cups half and half
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1-2 Tbsp pure vanilla extract (Add 1 Tbsp, taste and adjust to your preference)
  • Chocolate Ganache:
  • 2 cups milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Instructions

  • Vanilla Custard: In a small bowl whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and salt.
  • Whip egg yolks in a separate bowl, then whisk into the sugar mixture.
  • To a heavy bottomed saucepan add the half and half and butter. Heat over medium-high heat until the butter has melted.
  • Gradually whisk the sugar-egg mixture into the half and half and bring to a boil. Whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.
  • Remove from the heat and add the vanilla whisking until combined.
  • Pour the custard into a bowl, and press plastic wrap on top. Chill just until it's warm, but still pourable around 45 minutes.
  • Ganache: Melt the chocolate chips together with the cream until smooth. Melt in a double boiler, or in the microwave in 20 second increments stopping to stir each time. Cool until slightly warm to the touch and the thickness of a pourable pudding.
  • Assemble: Divide the doughnuts, custard and ganache into thirds. Layer, beginning with doughnuts, drizzle with chocolate and spread with custard. Repeat.
  • For the third layer, start with doughnuts, top with custard and end with chocolate ganache on top.
  • Cover and chill until serving.

Notes

When making in advance, the chocolate ganache will firm as it chills. To serve before the ganache firms:
  • Prepare the vanilla custard in advance, cover and chill completely.
  • Just before assembling, make the ganache and let it cool on the counter to room temperature but, still pourable.
  • Proceed to assemble the trifle shortly before serving if you’d prefer the warm ganache to maintain it’s gooey texture.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 629kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 150mg | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 273mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 930IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

12 Comments

  1. Melissa,
    I had a brainwave thinking about a donut trifle. What if the recipe also had raspberries and a sprinkle of framboise?

    1. The custard is my fave, I wouldn’t do that. Besides, then you’d just be chopping up doughnuts and layering them right? That wouldn’t be a very fun trifle to make but, replacing with a chocolate custard you could do if you prefer.

  2. This looks so amazingly, sinfully delicious, so I will be taking this to a faculty back-to-school get-together. Thank heavens thete will be lots of people eating tbis!

  3. Is the ganache recipe correct? I do not understand the ganache recipe, please clarify re the word “or.” Do you mean a choice between milk or heavy cream? How many chip? Thanks!

    Chocolate Ganache:
    2 cup milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
    1½ cup heavy cream

  4. This looks delicious. I just subscribed to your blog here. I also just purchased your cookbook Melissa’s Southern Cookbook and really like it. So far I made the cucumber salad, which I have to admit is better than mine, and the monster cookie bars, which were a huge hit. I am looking forward to many more scrumptious recipes.

    1. Welcome Michelle I’m delighted you picked-up my book and you’re finding some things to enjoy. Visit often!

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