Chocolate Pudding Trifle Dessert Recipe
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Delicious and EASY Chocolate Trifle Recipe combine tender chocolate cake with creamy chocolate pudding, sweet whipped cream, and a sprinkle of Oreos.
We’ve been making this Chocolate Cake Trifle for our family for over 20 years. Chocolate Trifle is an easy and delicious chocolate pudding dessert that is a great make-ahead recipe that chocolate lovers will crave.
We have a tradition that my sister hosts Thanksgiving and I host Christmas. For Thanksgiving, I am always assigned to bring the dessert. I know that’s a stretch, right?
Several years ago after I first made this Chocolate Pudding dessert and my nephew declared it as his all-time favorite dessert so now I make it regularly.
What is a Chocolate Trifle?
Very simply, it is a dessert with layered ingredients, typically in a trifle bowl.
How to Make a Chocolate Trifle Dessert
This dessert is impressive to look at but isn’t difficult to make. Take care when layering this cake trifle so you can see each luscious layer.
How to assemble a Chocolate Trifle Dessert
- Have enough ingredients made up ahead of time so that you make three layers of each ingredient.
- Start with the cake layer. You want your cake diced into 1-inch pieces so it can hold the remaining ingredients without turning to mush.
- Spoon a layer of chilled pudding over the cake. Do not mix it into the cake.
- Top the pudding layer with the whipped cream.
- Sprinkle the whipped cream layer with cookie crumbs.
- Repeat two more times ending with the cookie crumbs.
Chocolate Trifle Ideas and Variations you can make
You can use the ingredients that you like. Here are a few ways to make it your own:
- Replace the cake layer with cooled brownies. A Chocolate Brownie Trifle would be amazing!
- Use chopped candy bars or chocolate chips instead of the chocolate cookie layer
- Use the cake and pudding you like. Milk chocolate or dark chocolate it doesn’t matter. You can make a cake from scratch or use a boxed or purchased cake as well.
- Make it in a 9×13 inch baking dish and only layer it twice. It’s easier to scoop.
- Instead of topping your chocolate pudding trifle with crushed cookies, cut the cookies in half and set them into the top of the trifle similar to what we did on our Lemon Poke Cake.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Chocolate Trifle Dessert
- Carefully assemble the trifle ingredients into layers in the trifle bowl. Clean up the edges as you go. Seeing all of the layers is what makes this dessert look amazing.
- I think it’s best if you make your chocolate trifle the day before and let it sit in the refrigerator to let all of the layers blend together and the pudding makes the cake all fudgy delicious.
- Make sure all ingredients are cool before you assemble it. You can actually make the cake and pudding earlier in the day and then assemble it before going to bed. I don’t make up my whipped topping to far in advance of the assembly, however.
- Making your own whipped cream topping is easy and tastes better. The trick is to not over-whip it. I use an electric stand mixer with the whip attachment. Allow the peaks to just start forming and then gradually add your sugar. Don’t over whip it. Stop when soft peaks form at the end of your attachment.
- Lightly cover the pudding trifle in the refrigerator with plastic wrap so it doesn’t develop a film or crust.
I would not freeze this chocolate trifle dessert. However, you can put leftover cake in the freezer so it is available when you get that strong Chocolate Pudding Trifle craving.
This chocolate dessert trifle is better the next day in my humble opinion. The consistency becomes thick and moist. That makes this the perfect make-ahead dessert!
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- Trifle Bowl – I love this bowl and it has been used so many times. When my trifle isn’t on the menu I can use it for fruit or other layered salads as well.
- Baking Dish – I use this dish more than any dish in my house. I can bake cakes, cinnamon rolls, or a casserole in this dish. I love the lid that makes storing my bakery in an air-tight container easy or when I take this dish somewhere I’m not going to worry about spills.
Make a semi-homemade Chocolate Trifle
You can make this chocolate trifle dessert super fast if you buy an already-made cake and use whipped topping from the freezer section. They also sell crushed cookie crumbs which can usually be found in the baking aisle.
For the Chocolate lovers!
- Vodka Chocolate Covered Strawberries – Guaranteed to get the party started!
- Chocolate Raspberry Pound Cake – It just looks elegant but it’s easy to make and will make anyone feel special!
- Double Chocolate Muffins – How about starting your day with a dose of dark chocolate?
- Chocolate Puff Pastry – Don’t you just love a recipe that is perfect as a dessert, snack, or breakfast? These hand pies are just that!
- No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake – This is one of our go-to recipes. It’s cool, creamy, and delish!
- Chocolate Mousse Cake – Triple the chocolate!
I think if you google chocolate, my picture is in the definition!
If you like this recipe, we would appreciate your comment and a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!
Nothing is more special for a foodie as when people love the food you make right? I’m not sure if he’s happy to see me or his beloved Chocolate Trifle Recipe!
Do you have any favorite food traditions? I’d love to hear if you make something special to share.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!
This is my kind of dessert, Julie! I love chocolate pudding. We go to my aunt’s house for Thanksgiving, and I am always asked to bring a chocolate pie. I make 2 to take and 1 to keep. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much Shari. It is like pie, pudding and cake got into one heck of a rumble. 🙂 Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
That looks incredibly delicious. And I love that glass bowl so much. As if it were made just for your trifle
It works for so many things. I’ve used it as a centerpiece, and even for punch. Thank you so much!
The desserts can be presented so well in it. I have to hunt for one such lol 😀
Yum! Now that’s the kind of Trifle I’d like to eat! That looks great
Thank you so much Alyce! I’ve had it so many times, and enjoy it every time.
I love trifle, I love pudding and I love chocolate – so this is a triple winner for me! It’s also made me realise I don’t own a trifle dish, I need to rectify that asap and you can bet this trifle will be the first to christen it!!
I have my kitchen wish list too. 🙂 Sometimes I put it on my table full of christmas ornament for a centerpiece at Christmas too.
We all love chocolate recipes! I use to make a trifle with fruit, cake and cream of course. I need to get that special trifle dish out of storage and make your chocolate one.:)
Thanks Judi! I bet a fruit, vanilla pudding and angel food cake combination would be amazing too! Have a great weekend.
Looks amazing!
Looks sublime!! I’m a sucker for anything with chocolate pudding in it – and box cake mix….Absolutely love it, not sure why people tend to be so snobbish when it comes to cake mixes…..after all isn’t everyone trying to find that perfect recipe that replicates box mix cakes? 😛
Definitely going to ask my wife to make this for me on my birthday next week! Thank you!
Thank you so much for stopping by! I sure don’t mind using a cake mix here and there. Using semi-homemade ingredients makes this dessert quick and easy.
You are SO right that memories are made at the dinner table! I love this story! And what a happy (grown up) boy with his (surely most favorite) Aunt’s delicious trifle! 😀
Thanks Tracy! They do grow up so fast. I guess they think I am the cool aunt even though my sister doesn’t get it. 🙂
This looks heavenly! Just give me the bowl and a spoon! Hehe …okay, I know I have to share 😉
I would Arl, but my nephew took every last bit that was left over back to school with him. 🙂 Boys and their empty stomachs!
Tasty. Thanks for breaking it down. It looks fancy, but at least it isn’t terribly difficult to make. I love chocolate! :] // ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲
You and I are definitely on the same page! Chocolate, easy and fancy! A win win recipe. Thank you so much for stopping!
Oh my that pudding looks fabulous. .. feel like digging into it right now. ..
Thank you Chitra! My Nephew took what was left so I don’t even have any leftovers!
You have done a wonderful job with not only the choc pudding trifle, but the photography and detail is amazing 🙂
Thank you so much Cynthia! I am trying to learn to use a new camera so I really appreciate that photo comment. I appreciate your stopping by!
This is so pretty – I love that you can see all of the layers!
I filled the edges by sliding the ingredients with the back of the spoon. It’s not perfect, but no one complained. Thank you so much for visiting!
Trifles always look so beautiful. Your nephew has good taste in desserts!
They do look impressive with not a lot of effort. I think this kid would eat a cardboard box if he was hungry, but he does look forward to this one. Thanks Jamie!
Wow, it looks amazing and really tasty, Julie 🙂
Thank you so much! Chocolate and simple..what’s not to like? Thanks for visiting!
It’s 8am here, and I’m desperate for a chocolate pudding now!
I bet this is amazing! You can never go wrong with desserts that involve chocolate!
I totally agree with that! Thank you for visiting!
Wow, that’s a piece of art. It looks awesome! 🙂
It is no more…the nephew snarfed it down and took all of the leftovers back to school. You know how those boys are. 🙂
Haha, I sure know, but in a way, this our reward – to know that they enjoyed what we cooked. 🙂
I totally agree!
Yum, yum! I’ve been meaning to step my Trifle game up, so to speak. This looks like the perfect way to start- my sister would ADORE this. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks for visiting Jess! It’s an easy dish and always well liked.
Julie! Your site looks so awesome and so does this trifle! We have some friends who are pretty much required to bring a trifle to parties–once you become famous for something, you will always have to deliver!
Thanks Tracey!
Isn’t that the truth? People at my husbands office are always offering suggestions of what he should be bringing for them. 🙂
I don’t mind. I made this for my nephew, and another dessert for the rest of us. (about 12 people).
OMG! This cake looks super yummy…. I wish I could have a spoon!!!
A BIG spoon. My nephew ate his share and then took leftovers back to college. Isn’t that just like a college kid?
Isn’t this “the” dessert? Loving it completely :).
It sure appealed to everyone. I didn’t bring any home. 🙂 Thanks for stopping!
This looks so appetising – I wish I could just jump into that bowl 😉
Ha! There are a lot of bowls to lick? 🙂
There won’t be much left once I got my hand on it 😉
Lucky Luke and he looks very happy to have that chocolatey trifle in his hands. Sounds so delicious.
I’ts a great way to communicate with kids..food. 🙂 Thanks for stopping. Your are great showing the love!
We have made this for celebrations over the past 25 years (except we use cool-whip instead of whipped cream). We call it “Death by Chocolate” and it is one of the most asked for desserts in our family. For a more adult taste, try pouring some kahlua over it and topping it with crushed Heath Bars. Delish!
I love that suggestion! I really like Kahlua and Heath Bars! Thank you.