Add milk and pudding mix in a bowl and mix well until smooth. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.
3.4 oz Vanilla Instant Pudding, 2 cup milk
Select 3 of the best cookies for the top of the trifle and set aside. Crush 15 cookies and set aside. Crush 10 cookies and place into a separate bowl. Set aside.
28 gingerbread cookies
Slice round cake in half, so you have 2 rounds. Place 1 round in the bottom of the trifle bowl. Top with half of the pudding and half of the whipped topping. Sprinkle with bowl of 15 crushed cookies. Repeat layers, topping with almost all of the whipped topping and bowl of 10 crushed cookies. Place 3 dollops of whipped topping onto the top and place 3 whole cookies into the whipped topping. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.