Celebrate the holidays in style with this Easy Christmas Trifle - a beautiful, layered dessert that's as delicious as it is festive! With creamy pudding, fluffy whipped topping, tasty brownies, and REESE's Trees, this no-fuss treat comes together quickly and looks stunning on any holiday table.
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What is A Christmas Trifle?
A Trifle is a layered dessert that originally consisted of alcohol-soaked sponge cake with layers of custard, fruit, and whipped cream.
However, nowadays, it's typically a layered dessert consisting of any type of cake, any flavor of pudding, and whipped cream. Some people add fruit while others add candy.
This Christmas trifle recipe uses brownies instead of cake, chocolate pudding, and fresh whipped cream!
Why This Recipe Works
- Rich Layers: Fudgy brownies, creamy pudding, and fluffy whipped cream create the perfect texture balance.
- Festive Fun: Decorated REESE'S Trees and sprinkles make it extra merry.
- Easy to Assemble: Just layer, decorate, and chill!
- Perfect for Parties: Feeds a crowd and looks gorgeous on any dessert table.
Want another winning trifle recipe? Check out my Gingerbread Trifle that combines my favorite Gingerbread Bundt Cake with layers of eggnog fluff and white chocolate pudding!
What This Recipe Needs
- Brownies: The fudgy, chocolate base adds structure and richness. This recipe is a double batch of my favorite homemade brownies.
- Unsalted Butter: If you use salted butter, omit the extra salt from the recipe.
- Espresso Powder: I love adding espresso powder to chocolate baked goods (like my delicious Chocolate Sugar Cookies). It deepens the chocolate flavor; however, if you don't have any, it's okay to skip- the brownies will still be delicious!
- Christmas Candy: I chopped up some REESE's Peanut Butter Cups and Chocolate Kisses and mixed them into the batter. Use whatever candy you like or omit if you don't want to add them.
- Chocolate Pudding: Creamy and smooth, it ties the layers together with sweet depth,
- Milk: Make sure the milk is cold! This helps the pudding set correctly.
- Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix: Use any brand you prefer.
- Whipped Cream: Lightens up the richness and adds a pillowy contrast.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Make sure this is cold.
- Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar not only sweetens the whipped cream but also contains cornstarch, which helps stabilize it.
- Vanilla Extract: Technically optional, but I love the added hint of vanilla.
- Decorations: REESE'S Trees decorated with green candy melts and extra sprinkles, give the trifle that final holiday sparkle!
- Equipment: Trifle Bowl, Piping Bags (to decorate the trees)
Substitutions
- Brownies: Use chocolate cake, store-bought brownie bites, or store-bought brownie box mix for quicker prep.
- Pudding Flavor: Swap chocolate for vanilla or peppermint for a seasonal twist.
- Whipped Cream: Store-bought whipped topping works if you're short on time.
- Decorate: Use Christmas Cake Pops to decorate the top for more variety!
How to Make Easy Christmas Trifle Brownies?
- Step 1: Melt the butter, then stir in the cocoa powder. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Then stir the mixtures together.
- Step 2: Mix the butter/cocoa mixture, sugar, espresso powder, and vanilla. Then stir in the eggs one at a time.
- Step 3: Fold in the flour mixture. Then pour into two greased baking dishes and sprinkle chopped candy over the top.
- Step 4: Bake until fully cooked. Allow brownies to cool, then break into pieces.
How to Make Whipped Cream?
This recipe calls for a large amount of whipped cream, so I definitely recommend using a stand mixer if you have one- even over a hand mixer- it will save you a lot of time and effort.
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- Step 5: Combine heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until soft peaks form.
How to Make Pudding?
- Step 6: Combine the instant pudding and milk, then refrigerate until set.
How to Make Easy Christmas Trifle?
- Step 7: Decorate REESE's Trees with green candy melts and sprinkles.
- Step 8: Place a layer of brownies at the bottom of the trifle dish.
- Step 5: Top the brownies with a layer of whipped cream, then pudding. Repeat the layers, ending with whipped cream on top.
- Step 10: Decorate the top with sprinkles and REESE's Trees. Use a short skewer or cake pop stick, inserted into the bottom of each tree to get them to stand up.
Expert Tips
- Use a spoon or piping bag to gently layer pudding and whipped cream for clean, even stripes.
- Use a clear trifle bowl to showcase the beautiful holiday colors.
- Decorate REESE'S Trees ahead of time for less day-of prep.
- Store Trifle in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Variations
- Mini Trifles: Layer ingredients in individual cups for personal servings.
- Candy Mix: Try crushed candy canes, peppermint bark, or M&Ms instead of HERSHEY'S pieces.
- Layers: Add layers of crushed cookies or toffee bits for texture or homemade caramel sauce for an extra decadent touch.
- Decorate: Top with candied cranberries for a fancy look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, assemble it a few hours before serving and keep it refrigerated. Wait to add sprinkles until you are ready to serve, as they tend to bleed color.
Absolutely! They save time and still taste delicious in this layered dessert.
It keeps up to 3 days in the fridge, though it's best eaten within 24 hours for the freshest texture.
Use a spoon or piping bag to gently layer pudding and whipped cream for clean, even stripes.
Yes, use clear cups or jars-perfect for parties or gifting! This recipe yields about 10 large individual trifles. Depending on the size of your cups, you might need to make more whipped cream or pudding.
Using a short skewer or a cake pop stick, cut to size, and insert into the bottom of the candy. Then place into a trifle.
More Christmas Recipes
If you like this recipe, make sure to check out all my Christmas Recipes like Christmas Tree Cupcakes, Candy Cane Cupcakes, Christmas Cracker Candy, Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Dip, The Best Gingerbread Cookies, Christmas Fruit Salad, and these cute Candy Cane Beignets!
If you like this recipe, make sure to give it a 5-star review and leave a comment down below!
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Video
Easy Christmas Trifle
Equipment
- Skewers or Cake Pop Sticks
- Trifle Dish
- Piping Bag for decorating REESE's Trees
Ingredients
Christmas Decorations
- 6 REESE'S Peanut Butter Trees Might need more depending on how you want to decorate
- 1 cup Green Candy Melts*
- 1 tablespoon Refined Coconut Oil or Shortening*
- Holiday Sprinkles
Brownies
- 2 cup butter unsalted
- 1.5 cup cocoa powder
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoon espresso powder optional
- 8 large eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups chopped
- 1 cup HERSHEY'S Chocolate KISSES chopped
Chocolate Pudding
- 4 cups milk cold
- 2 boxes instant chocolate pudding each box is 3.9 ounces
Whipped Cream
- 4 cups heavy whipping cream cold
- 1 ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbs vanilla extract
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray two 9x13 baking dishes with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a microwave-safe dish, melt the butter. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until the butter is completely melted.2 cup butter
- Stir cocoa powder into melted butter, making sure there are no clumps. Set aside.1.5 cup cocoa powder
- While the butter mixture is cooling, in a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, mix together the butter mixture (it's okay if it's still warm), sugar, espresso powder, and vanilla. Then add the eggs one at a time, letting each egg fully incorporate before adding the next.4 cups sugar, 2 teaspoon espresso powder, 2 teaspoon vanilla, 8 large eggs
- By hand, with a large rubber spatula or mixing spoon, fold in the flour mixture. Folding in the flour will help the brownie batter retain air.
- Divide the batter between the two prepared baking dishes, then sprinkle each batter-filled dish with chopped candy.1 cup REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups, 1 cup HERSHEY'S Chocolate KISSES
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Chocolate Pudding
- Combine cold milk and both packages of instant chocolate pudding mix. Whisk for two minutes, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.4 cups milk, 2 boxes instant chocolate pudding
Whipped Cream
- Add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to the bowl of an electric mixer-whip on medium high until soft peaks form.4 cups heavy whipping cream, 1 ⅓ cup powdered sugar, 1 tbs vanilla extract
Decorating the Trees
- Melt 1 cup of green candy melts, each with 1 tablespoon coconut oil or shortening. Heat for 30 seconds at 50% power, stir, repeat until melted. If the candy melts are still too thick, stir in more coconut oil, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you get your desired consistency. *1 cup Green Candy Melts*, 1 tablespoon Refined Coconut Oil or Shortening*
- Place candy melts in a piping bag with the tip cut off to form a small hole. Place your REESE'S Peanut Butter Trees on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pipe on a green tree on each one. Then add sprinkles to it*. I used a star sprinkle for the top of each tree, then sprinkled on small round sprinkles to the rest of the tree. Set aside to allow to harden.6 REESE'S Peanut Butter Trees, Holiday Sprinkles
- Once the candy melts have fully set up gently stick a skewer/cake pop stick into the bottom of each decorated candy*.
Assembling the Christmas Trifle
- Break up your brownies into small pieces.
- In a Trifle dish, add a layer of brownies, a layer of whipped cream, and a layer of chocolate pudding; then add another layer of brownies, whipped cream, and pudding, and top with the remaining whipped cream.
- Add sprinkles to the top, then stick in the decorated REESE'S Peanut Butter Trees.
- If making individual Trifle cups, simply assemble each individual cup the same you would've a large trifle dish*.
Notes
- Refined coconut oil doesn't have a coconut taste; unrefined does. You can use either, or even shortening, to thin your candy melts.
- The amount of coconut oil or shortening you use for thinning the candy melts can vary by several tablespoons due to the brand of candy melts, how old they are, etc.
- If you let the candy melts sit in the piping bags for too long, they will harden! So, make sure to get all your decorating done all at once.
- Make sure to add sprinkles before the candy melts set up completely. That being said, if you add sprinkles right away, the candy melts might be too liquid and not hold the sprinkles in place. I've found piping on all the green candy melts at once, then going back to add sprinkles gives enough time for the first few trees to set up before decorating.
- I used cake pop sticks, but had to cut them to be the correct length for the trifle.
- How many layers of brownies, pudding, and whipped cream you can fit in cups will vary based on the size of the cup.
Dillon says
I am 13 and this looks like something i can make for the family on Christmas
Lisa says
That would be so fun! I think you could definitely make it!
Caitlyn says
WOW! This is so pretty and fun for the holidays. I can't wait to make this come Christmas!
Lisa says
Thank you!! Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!
Mallorie says
This looks amazing! I will definitely have to dazzle my family with this on Christmas!!!
Lisa says
Thank you! I am so glad you will make it for your family!