Red Velvet Cake Trifle

I would post a picture of my most recent run of this, but there's none left! Will add one to this post next time. This is such a pretty recipe, especially at Christmas (or if you're a Georgia fan!).

Red Velvet Cake Trifle

1 red velvet cake mix (and ingredients as called for on the box)
1 cup chocolate chips
2 packages cheesecake flavored instant pudding/pie filling
3 cups milk
1 block cream cheese, very soft
12 - 16 oz. whipped cream
chocolate syrup

Line a jelly-roll pan or cookie sheet with parchment paper; mix cake according to package directions; fold in the chocolate chips; pour into the pan and bake until set (about 18 minutes). Cool on a wire rack.

Whisk the pudding mixes and the milk until it begins to thicken. Add the cream cheese to this mixture; stir or whisk until smooth. Set aside.

Once the cake is cool, section it into two halves. One half will be used for this recipe, and the other one can be wrapped in the parchment and plastic wrap for use another time. It can be frozen for several weeks. Cut the half that's being used now into bite-size cubes.

Layer as follows in a large glass bowl, punch bowl or trifle bowl:
- 1/3 of the cake cubes
- 1/3 of the cheesecake mixture
- a good drizzle of the chocolate sauce
- about a cup of whipped cream

Repeat two more times; can garnish with white chocolate curls, red sugar sprinkles, more syrup, cake crumbs, just whatever. Chill until ready to serve; best made the day before.

Here are some other things I've discovered in making this recipe:

- The original called for chopped up Hershey's Treasures chocolates; I found this to be expensive, messy, and difficult to eat because the pieces hardened in the refrigerator. I switched to the syrup and never looked back.
- In a pinch, any complimentary pudding flavor/s could be used (white chocolate, vanilla, even regular chocolate).
- I recently made the following substitution due to lack of the complete ingredient list. It still turned out very yummy! The cream cheese "goo" layer consisted of: 1/2 tub cream cheese icing, 1/2 container spreadable cream cheese, 1 package cheesecake flavored pudding/pie filling, and a little less milk.