Name: Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 2 h 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box Red Velvet Cake mix; ½ cup butter melted; 1 large egg; 16 ounces Cream Cheese; ½ cup confectioners sugar; ¼ cup crushed peppermint candies; ¼ cup milk; 8 ounces Whipped topping; 2 boxes Vanilla Instant Pudding 5.1 ounce boxes; 2 ½ cups milk; Green gel food coloring (5-6 drops, adjust to desired color); 8 ounces Whipped topping; Holiday colored sprinkles

There's just something magical about desserts that bring layers of flavor and festivity together, right? This Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe is exactly that—rich red velvet cake, cool peppermint, and creamy pudding all in one beautiful layered treat that promises to wow your holiday guests.

This image shows a slice of a layered dessert held by a woman's hand on a metal spatula above a metal pan. The dessert has four layers: the bottom layer is a dark red, dense cake; above it is a thick white creamy layer with a light red tint; next is a bright green gelatin-like layer; and the top layer is white whipped cream decorated with small green, yellow star, and red round sprinkles. The background features a soft white marbled texture and blurred holiday decorations. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, I fell in love with this Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe because it’s a total showstopper without being complicated. It’s one of those desserts everyone asks for seconds of, yet it doesn’t keep you stuck in the kitchen all day.

Layered Magic: The combo of red velvet cake and peppermint cream layers creates a festive and refreshing flavor profile you won’t find in many desserts.
No-Fuss Prep: Using cake mix and instant pudding keeps the process simple, so you can spend more time enjoying the season.
Customizable Festivity: You can easily swap peppermint candies or sprinkles to match your holiday vibe or dietary needs.
Perfect Crowd-Pleaser: This dessert serves a crowd and stores well, making it great for Christmas parties or potlucks.

The image shows a dessert with three layers on a white plate in front of a white marbled surface. The bottom layer is a dark brown cake with a smooth texture, topped by a thicker, light pink creamy layer with fine red bits inside. Above this is a medium-thick green gelatin-like layer, smooth and shiny. The top layer is white and fluffy, covered with green, red, and gold sprinkles scattered unevenly. Behind the plate is a square white baking pan holding the remaining dessert with one piece removed, and another cut piece on a white plate with a silver fork next to it. Small festive decorations, including candy canes and ornaments, are spread around the scene, giving a holiday feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic here happens when simple ingredients work in harmony to deliver something that tastes much more impressive than it looks. I always remind friends to pick quality cream cheese and fresh peppermint candies for the best flavor pop.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of bright red velvet cake mix powder, a small pool of melted butter beside it, one large whole egg with a clean shell, a block of cream cheese with a smooth surface, a small white ceramic bowl filled with fine white confectioners sugar, a small white ceramic bowl holding crushed peppermint candies in red and white, a simple white ceramic bowl of fresh whole milk, a small white ceramic bowl brimming with fluffy white whipped topping, two unopened packets of vanilla instant pudding mix standing upright, a tiny white ceramic bowl with vivid green gel food coloring, and a small white ceramic bowl filled with colorful holiday sprinkles, all arranged symmetrically and balanced, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Red Velvet Cake Mix: This gives a rich, moist base that bakes up more like a cookie crust with this recipe approach.
Butter: Adds essential richness and helps create that cookie-like texture when mixed with the cake mix.
Egg: Binds everything together to hold the crust perfectly.
Cream Cheese: Gives a luscious tangy layer that balances the sweetness.
Confectioners Sugar: Keeps the cream cheese mixture smooth and sweet but not grainy.
Crushed Peppermint Candies: Adds that fresh, minty crunch essential for holiday flair.
Milk: Divided amounts for pudding and cream cheese layers keep textures just right.
Whipped Topping: Provides lightness and fluff to both the cream cheese and final topping layers.
Vanilla Instant Pudding: Sets the creamy green middle layer, infused with festive green food coloring.
Green Gel Food Coloring: Gives that perfect holiday tint without altering flavors.
Holiday Colored Sprinkles: Adds a fun, festive finish — because Christmas is all about the details!

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love encouraging you to make this Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe truly yours. Whether swapping out the peppermint for a different candy or adjusting the coloring, personalization makes the process more fun and the result uniquely yours.

Variation: One holiday, I swapped the peppermint candies for crushed chocolate peppermint bark — it was a hit and gave an extra chocolatey twist!
Dairy-Free Swap: Use dairy-free cream cheese and whipped topping to adapt this dessert to your dietary needs without losing that festive wow factor.
Flavor Twist: Add a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the whipped topping for a stronger mint flavor.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Red Velvet Cookie-Like Base

First, preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 13x9 inch pan. Instead of following the cake mix box directions, you’ll mix the red velvet cake mix with melted butter and an egg using an electric mixer. This creates a thick, cookie-like batter that's perfect for the bottom layer. Pour it evenly into your pan and pop it in the oven for about 15 minutes. Don’t skip the cooling step — let it cool completely for at least 30 minutes so the cream cheese layer won’t melt on contact.

Step 2: Build the Peppermint Cream Cheese Layer

While your base cools, beat the cream cheese with confectioners sugar until smooth, then stir in ¼ cup milk. Folding in half of the whipped topping gives the layer lightness, and crushed peppermint candies add that beautiful mint crunch. Spread this mixture evenly over your cooled base, then refrigerate for 30 minutes to set it up nicely.

Step 3: Make Your Festive Green Pudding Layer

Mix the vanilla instant pudding with 2½ cups milk and add green gel food coloring drop by drop until you reach that perfect holiday green. Pudding sets quickly so pour it gently over your peppermint layer and refrigerate again—this time for at least two hours, or until firm.

Step 4: The Final Fluffy Topping

Spread the remaining whipped topping over your chilled pudding layer. This final step creates a light, creamy crown that contrasts beautifully with the green pudding. Scatter your holiday sprinkles on top to finish it off with playful color and festivity.

Top Tip

From my experience, paying attention to the cooling and refrigeration steps really makes a difference in holding each layer perfectly together and giving the dessert that beautiful look everyone will admire.

Don’t Skip Cooling: Make sure your base layer is completely cooled before adding cream cheese to avoid melting and slipping.
Crush Peppermint Evenly: Use a rolling pin in a plastic bag for evenly crushed peppermint candies—too big and they won’t spread well, too fine and you lose the crunch.
Gentle Pudding Pour: Pour pudding slowly over the cream cheese layer to keep it intact and layered neatly.
Chill Time is Key: Don’t rush refrigeration; each layer needs time to set for the best texture and easy slicing.

How to Serve Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe

Garnishes

I personally love topping this dessert with a mix of red, green, and white holiday sprinkles. Sometimes I'll add a few whole peppermint candies around the edges for a festive presentation that’s hard to resist.

Side Dishes

This dessert pairs beautifully with a simple cup of hot cocoa or peppermint mocha. For larger gatherings, I like serving it alongside a light fruit salad or even a tray of Christmas cookies for variety.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I’ve layered this dessert in a clear glass trifle bowl, so guests can admire those iconic red and green layers. You can also portion it into individual mason jars for a charming gift or takeaway treat!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftovers covered tightly in the refrigerator and find they’re best enjoyed within 3-4 days. The flavor actually deepens after resting a day or two, so it’s worth making ahead of time.

Freezing

I’ve frozen slices wrapped well in plastic and foil, and while the texture softens slightly upon thawing, the flavor stays festive and delicious—perfect for preparing for big holiday events.

Reheating

This dessert is best served chilled, so rather than reheating, just allow frozen pieces to thaw overnight in the fridge. If you're in a hurry, 1-2 hours at room temperature works fine, too.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this dessert gluten-free?

Yes! To make this Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe gluten-free, simply use a gluten-free red velvet cake mix or prepare a gluten-free base alternative. Make sure all your pudding and toppings are also gluten-free.

Can I use fresh peppermint instead of candies?

Fresh peppermint leaves won’t provide the same crunchy texture as crushed peppermint candies, but you can finely chop fresh peppermint and stir it into the cream cheese layer for a more subtle, fresh mint flavor.

How far in advance can I prepare this dessert?

This dessert can be prepared up to two days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. The layers need time to set properly, so making it a day ahead actually makes serving easier and enhances flavor melding.

Can I use homemade pudding instead of instant?

While homemade pudding is delicious, the instant pudding in this recipe helps the layers set more firmly and quickly. If you opt for homemade, ensure it’s thick and chilled before layering, but expect a softer consistency.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Peppermint Lasagna Dessert Recipe is one I’ve returned to for years because it brings joy without fuss. It’s festive, beautiful, and delicious in a way that never feels intimidating. I truly can’t recommend it enough for your holiday table—you’ll love the compliments and how happy this dessert makes everyone, including you while you prepare it.