This Sweet Potato Pie Trifle has layers of homemade sweet potato pie and pecan pie, creamy butter pecan gelato, smooth maple whipped cream, and sticky-sweet caramel which come together to make the perfect Thanksgiving Day dessert!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

A trifle filled with sweet potato pie and pecan pie with ice cream and caramel sauce on top against a white background

Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?

I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!

Y’all, I have never been one to waste leftovers. In fact, food waste is a bit of a pet peeve of mine! Don’t get me wrong, it happens to the best of us. We’ve all let a banana bunch go bad on the counter or opted to buy a taco lunch instead of packing up the leftover spaghetti from the night before. It’s all good!

But, if I can help it, I do try to avoid throwing out food as much as possible, especially around the holidays. Homemade biscuits, casseroles, turkeys, and pies just shouldn’t go to waste! So, today I’m sharing one of my favorite repurpose-recipes: Sweet Potato Punch Bowl Cake.

Made with layers of leftover pecan and sweet potato pie, butter pecan gelato, maple whipped cream, and homemade caramel, this punch bowl cake features all the BEST flavors the holidays have to offer!

This year, don’t let those leftovers go to waste. Instead, take a page out of the Grandbaby Cakes book and whip up this over-the-top, chock-full-of-flavor Sweet Potato Punch Bowl Cake!

A close up of a pie trifle with caramel sauce and pecans drizzled on top against a white background

Table of Contents

What Is a Pie Trifle or Punch Bowl Pie?

Served in a traditional punch bowl or trifle dish, this dessert is made up of various layers of cake, cream, fruit, and other sweet toppings. Trifles and punch bowl cakes are great for entertaining, as they can be customized to serve a large crowd or even minimized for individual servings.

Today’s recipe is a bit of a remix, I’m using leftover holiday pie slices rather than cake. I’d encourage you to go off-script and use whatever you’ve got!

What Kind of Leftover Pies Can I Use?

This recipe is intended to help you use up whatever leftovers you’ve got on hand. Sitting on half an apple pie? Use that! Got a couple of custard pies sitting around? Slice ‘em up!

This year, I found myself with leftover pecan and soul food sweet potato pie. So, I repurposed them and created this epic punch bowl cake for the whole family to enjoy.

A serving of pie trifle on a white plate with a spoon

How to Flavor Whipped Cream

Flavoring whipped cream is an almost effortless way to add a unique touch to any recipe. To compliment the Fall flavors featured throughout this recipe, I opted to add a touch of maple to my cream!

To do so, I added just a couple tablespoons of maple syrup to my go-to whipped cream recipe. It’s that simple! Be sure to use fresh, high-quality syrup for the best result. Taste the cream as you go, adding more to suit your personal taste.

TIP: The recipe for maple cream calls for the use of a stand mixer. Alternatively, you can whip it by hand (or with a handheld mixer). If you do so, it might take a few minutes longer.

Homemade Caramel Topping

A caramel drizzle is just what the doctor ordered! Okay, maybe the doctor might not fully approve but I sure do. Not only does this sticky-sweet topping taste incredible but it also makes for a visually stunning result.

For this recipe, I whipped up my Easy Caramel Sauce; it’s simple and super tasty! Made with nothing but sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla, my homemade sauce is a rockstar all on its own. All you’ll need is a saucepan, a whisk, and 15 minutes to make the best caramel ever.

If you’re looking to take a shortcut (because we all need one sometimes), go ahead and use your favorite store bought caramel. Just be sure to microwave the sauce for a few seconds, it’ll help with the drizzling.

Can I prepare a Trifle in Advance?

Yes! In fact, letting your trifles rest overnight will allow the flavors to commingle and settle together. The end result will taste even better! I would just recommend waiting to add the final layer of whipped cream, caramel, and pecans until you’re ready to serve. But if using ice cream, I would probably make right away since that will start to melt.

How Long Will A Trifle Last?

When stored properly, a pie trifle can last for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Past that, you’ll notice things start to get a little gloopy. It will still be safe to eat for a couple more days, but the texture will be different.

A slice of punchbowl cake on a white plate ready to serve with a spoon

How to Build The Pie Trifle

This recipe is so easy that it doesn’t necessarily have a recipe. Make sure to grab the following items:

Sweet Potato or a Pumpkin Pie (cut into squares or small slices
Pecan Pie
Whipped Cream (We used a maple flavored one)
Ice Cream (we used the Butter Pecan flavored one by Talenti)
Homemade Caramel Sauce
Pecans

Next grab a large trifle bowl or something you want to display your creation in.

On the bottom I start with sweet potato pie and crust which will help it stay sturdy.
Next layer with some ice cream then whipped cream. You can add some caramel on top of the whipped cream if you wish.
Next I layer with the pecan pie pieces
Then repeat with ice cream, whipped cream and top with caramel and pecans. Ta-da! Super easy!

Grandbaby Cakes’ Best Southern Pie Recipes

Y’all can always count on Grandbaby Cakes to sling the best pie slices in town! If you liked this recipe, get back in the kitchen and try out a few more of my most DELICIOUS pies: