Chocolate trifle is an easy to make dessert that is perfect for the chocolate lover! Layers of chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, Oreo cookies and cool whip come together for the perfect chocolate dessert! If you are wanting a no-bake chocolate trifle we have that covered for you too, with some easy shortcuts!
Chocolate Trifle Recipe
This easy layered chocolate dessert is one that everyone will love. Layers of chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, Oreo Cookies and whipped cream make this dessert perfect for anytime.
During the warm months dessert seems to happen more often in our house. I am not sure if it is that the warm weather just makes me want dessert more, or if I just have more energy to get things done once the cold is gone or what. But it doesn’t really matter why, my family just loves it that they get sweet treats much more often, no one here complains about that ever.
Depending on my mood I make this as a large dish or I put it in to single serve cups, it doesn’t matter how I serve it everyone loves it.
One of the great things about this chocolate trifle is that I can change things up and make it asa quick and easy as I want to. Sometimes I make everything from scratch, other times I use short cuts like instant chocolate pudding and no matter what it is always devoured. We hardly ever have leftovers that last more then a day or two if I make it for just us. If I bring it to a get together there are never left overs!
What is a Trifle?
A trifle Is a traditional English dish that has been around for centuries consisting of 3 or 4 different layers. Tradionally it is made with alcohol soaked cake, egg custard that is poured over sponge cake, a layer of fruit and then topped with whipped cream. The Americanized version of a trifle is less complicated and consists of layers of cake, fruit, pudding, and then whipped cream.
We have changed things up and make this trifle fully chocolate for chocolate lovers, even tho it really is not the traditional way of doing things. A Trifle is an easy to make layer dessert that is perfect for any time.
Love Trifles? Check out these easy Trifle Recipes!
Variations of this Recipe
Use Homemade chocolate cake, boxed cake, left over cupcakes, or brownies . For the cake layer you can use what you prefer. I like making a boxed cake chocolate cake if I am short on time, if I have even a little bit more time then I make a homemade chocolate cake. If I have made cupcakes and have extras then I will cut them up and use them. You can also change out the chocolate cake for brownies if you prefer them over chocolate cake.
Use homemade chocolate pudding. Homemade pudding is super easy to make and I like it much better than the boxed stuff. If you are needing a super quick dessert go with the store-bought boxed pudding, if you have extra time totally make homemade chocolate pudding. If you are using homemade pudding then you will need 3 cups of homemade pudding.
Use Cool Whip or Whipped Cream. I like the way cool whip spreads but you can use whipped topping or homemade whipped cream if you prefer.
Use Different Flavored Oreos. I use the regular Oreos, but you can use the chocolate mint Oreo cookies, Peanut Butter Oreo Cookies or double chocolate Oreo cookies.
Change up the toppings. I like using shreds of chocolate but you can also use chopped chocolate bars or candy bars, M&Ms, Reese’s cups or any other chocolate candy you want to. I also sometimes like to add a drizzle of caramel syrup or homemade chocolate fudge. If you are wanting fruit on top raspberries and blackberries are great options.
Tips for Making Chocolate Trifle
You can go all homemade, all store bought or somewhere in the middle for eaach of the ingredient layers.
If you do not have trifle dish (which is a tall dish) and are using a clear glass bowl then I suggest doing your layers in thirds instead of halfs of each layer so you still have the pretty layers.
You can use small serving cups and make individual trifles if you want to serve them as individual desserts instead of as a large dessert.
Make it No Bake
If you are on a time crunch then you might want to make this trifle a no-bake option, which you can easily do. If you are wanting to make this a no-bake chocolate trifle then you can also use store-bought chocolate bundt cake or store-bought chocolate brownies that have already been baked. You can normally find premade items in your grocery store bakery section.
How to Store Chocolate Trifle
After making the chocolate Oreo trifle it needs to be stored in the fridge, any leftovers need to be stored in the fridge as well. This chocolate dessert will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I make this in advance?
Yes! I acually prefer to make this chocolate trifle in advanced by at least a few hours so everything can settle. You can make it up to 2 days in advanced and store in the fridge. I do suggest holding off on the toppings until you are ready to serve especially if you are putting Oreo Cookies on top so they keep their crunch.
Chocolate Trifle Ingredients
- Baked Chocolate cake
- Instant Chocolate pudding Mix
- milk – if using homemade pudding skip the milk.
- Chocolate Oreo Cookies (additional cookies for topping)
- Cool whip
- Chocolate shreds for topping
Chocolate Crunch Trifle Directions
Bake the chocolate cake according to the boxed directions if using a boxed cake mix, if making a homemade cake you can use my favorite chocolate cake recipe or your favorite. Once the cake is baked let the chocolate cake cool completely.
Cut the cake into bite sized pieces.
While the cake is cooling make the pudding. If you are using homemade pudding make sure that it is cooled completely.
Crush the Oreo Cookies. The easiest way I have found is to put them in a zip close freezer bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.
In a trifle dish or a large clear bowl, put half of the chocolate cake in a layer on the bottom. Then a layer using half of the pudding, then half of the Oreos and half of the cool whip.
Layer everything again in the same order.
After the second layer of cool whip top with chocolate shreds and full Oreo Cookies.
Easy Chocolate Dessert Recipes
- Chocolate Lasagna
- Peppermint Oreo Truffles Recipe
- Chocolate Covered Oreos
- Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes
- Mocha Cupcakes
Chocolate Crunch Triffle
Ingredients
- 1 baked chocolate cake
- 5.1 ounces instant chocolate pudding
- 3 cups milk
- 36 chocolate Oreo Cookies
- 16 ounces cool whip
Instructions
- Bake the chocolate cake according to the boxed directions if using a boxed cake mix, if making a homemade cake you can use my favorite chocolate cake recipe or your favorite. Once the cake is baked let the chocolate cake cool completely.
- Cut the cake into bite sized pieces.
- While the cake is cooling make the pudding. If you are using homemade pudding make sure that it is cooled completely.
- Crush the Oreo Cookies. The easiest way I have found is to put them in a zip close freezer bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.
- In a trifle dish or a large clear bowl, put half of the chocolate cake in a layer on the bottom. Then a layer using half of the pudding, then half of the Oreos and half of the cool whip.
- Layer everything again in the same order.
- After the second layer of cool whip top with chocolate shreds and full Oreo Cookies.
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