Easy Christmas Lasagna Dessert Recipe (2024)

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This festive Christmas Lasagna Dessert is made with gorgeous and decadent layers of red velvet cake, cream cheese, and instant pudding mix. It’s topped with cool whip and festive sprinkles, for a fun holiday dessert that’s guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face.

Christmas Lasagna Recipe

There are so many recipes that are on my “favorites list” during the Christmas season. And while I always enjoy making Christmas classics like Rocky Road Fudge, each year I try to add something new and exciting!

This year I added these cute little Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies and these adorable Santa’s Hat Cupcakes. It was no surprise that both were a huge hit with my family.

But, I have to say, this whimsical layered dessert recipe just screams Merry Christmas and checks every box for the perfect Christmas Day dessert. It has all the colors of Christmas, it’s super fun and easy to make, and the kids LOVE it!

Ingredients

• Red Velvet Cake mix
• Butter, melted
• Egg
• Cream cheese
• Confectioners sugar
• Crushed candy canes (or crushed peppermint candies)
• Milk, divided
• Cool Whip
• Vanilla instant pudding
• Green food coloring (gel food coloring works best)
• Christmas themed sprinkles and crushed candy canes for topping

Why We Love This Recipe

• Festive colors: Pretty white, red, and green layers make the perfect dessert for any Christmas gathering.
• Delicious dessert: Not only is it eye-catching, but this is one seriously scrumptious sweet treat.
• Easy recipe: The red layer is made with boxed cake mix, making this a super easy dessert to whip up.

How to Make Christmas Holiday Lasagna

For the Red Velvet Layer

• Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 13×9 baking dish.

• Step 2. In a large mixing bowl, mix cake mix, butter, and egg.

• Step 3. Pour the red velvet mixture into the bottom of the pan. Spread evenly.

• Step 4. Bake for 15–18 minutes or until done.

For the Cream Cheese Layer

• Step 1. While the cake layer is cooling, prepare the cream cheese layer. Mix the cream cheese and sugar together.

• Step 2. Add 1/4 cup of milk. Beat until smooth.

• Step 3. Fold in one container of Cool Whip and the crushed candy canes.

• Step 4. Spread evenly over the cooled red velvet shortbread layer and place in the fridge.

For the Green Pudding Layer

• Step 1. In a large bowl, whisk the milk and the pudding mixes together.

• Step 2. Add green food coloring until the green layer reaches the desired shade. We like Grinch green!

Tip: Gel food coloring is concentrated, so add a few drops at a time and mix well before you add more.

• Step 3. Pour the pudding over the cream cheese layer.

• Step 4. Place back into the refrigerator. Let the dessert set for at least 4 hours.

For the Final Layer

After the pudding layer has had time to set up, top with the 2nd container of Cool Whip and spread it evenly.

Don’t forget the sprinkles! Serve immediately and ENJOY!

How to Store Christmas Lasagna

You’ll want to keep this dessert in the fridge when you’re not serving it. It will keep fresh for several days, making this a great make-ahead dessert. Just be sure to place plastic wrap tightly over the top of the dish while it’s in the fridge.

Variations of Layered Christmas Dessert Lasagna

This is such a popular recipe, and there are several variations of this dessert you could try next time. Here are some ideas for you to consider:

• Cake layer: This bottom layer of this lasagna recipe uses a red velvet crust because of its intense red color. But you can also make this recipe with a brownie layer. You can add red food coloring to the brownie mix to give it a hint of red.
• Cream cheese layer: If you want to add even more peppermint flavor to this dessert, add a drop or two of peppermint extract for a peppermint cheesecake layer.
• Pudding layer: The green pudding layer uses vanilla pudding in this recipe. You can always use white chocolate pudding mix in its place.
• Whipped topping layer: I am all about short cuts, so Cool Whip cream it is for me! But if you really prefer to make it homemade, you certainly can. Add a little powdered sugar, and make sure you beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
• Toppings: Have fun adding any toppings you know the kids will love. Mini marshmallows, red and green Christmas M&Ms and white chocolate chips are all great options.

Can this Dessert Be Served Frozen?

This recipe can be frozen for up to a month. While you can serve it frozen, the cake layer will be a little too hard to eat. That’s why it’s best served chilled but not completely frozen. You can also set it out just long enough for the cake layer to soften while the other layers remain a bit frosty.

Can I Make this in a Trifle Dish?

People just love trifle desserts! And by people, I mean me…and my girls. This Christmas Lasagna adapts easily to a trifle-style dessert. After the cake is cooled completely, cut it into chunks and place it in your favorite trifle dish.

Continue with the other layers, and voila! You’ll have a fun and festive holiday trifle ready to serve after your Christmas Eve dinner or anytime during the holiday season.

Regardless of how you serve this sweet and creamy dessert, it is a pretty and colorful treat that your guests will love.

More Christmas Sweet Treats:

• Easy Christmas Poke Cake
• White Chocolate Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies
• Easy Saltine Cracker Toffee with Peanuts
• White Chocolate Covered Oreos
• 15 Christmas Desserts Almost Too Pretty to Eat
• Mint Chocolate Meringue Cookies