This easy chocolate brownie toffee trifle is made with boxed brownie mix and Heath bar toffee bits and is a one-of-a-kind dessert! The easy recipe uses instant chocolate pudding, whipped topping, and toffee bits.
We love this layered dessert on spring and summer days (who am I kidding? Eat this trifle any day of the year!). Put in an ice chest and take to cookouts, baseball games, and to the beach house.
Why We Love It
My most requested dessert is this Easy Chocolate Brownie Toffee Trifle with toffee bits and it all started at a fantasy football draft party. There's something so eye pleasing about a chocolate layered dessert. Ever since that very first time I brought this decadent dessert to a fantasy football draft, it became a tradition.
Also referred to as death by chocolate trifle, everyone wanted and expected me to bring this decadent chocolate dessert to the draft party every single year! There was never a drop left over!
Why You'll Love It
It's really an easy dessert to put together. You can make and bake your own brownies. This recipe uses the family size brownie mix in a box. Add chocolate chips and bake per package directions. However, it's perfectly fine to buy the pre-made brownie bites available at your local grocery store.
The hardest part is not wanting to "sample" the brownies while assembling the trifle, which we do every single time. It's so hard to resist brownies when they're right in front of you. So go ahead and have a taste because it won't matter and you'll be glad you did. HaHa!
Ingredients
This easy chocolate brownie toffee trifle has some pretty simple ingredients. Just remember to put the chocolate chips in the brownie mix.
Family-size brownie mix - check the brownie mix package for any additional ingredients you may need such as oil and eggs.
Milk chocolate chips - you can substitute semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips if you prefer.
Toffee bits and pieces - or you can crush whole Heath bars until you get 1 cup of bits and pieces.
Instant chocolate pudding mix - be sure to use "instant" pudding mix and not the kind you have to cook.
Whole milk - you could use 2% milk. Make sure the milk is very cold before making the pudding.
Cool whip - allow time to thaw before you begin making the recipe.
Additional optional toppings include crushed candy bars or cookies such as Oreos.
How to Make It
(1) Pour the brownie mix into a large mixing bowl, add the chocolate chips to the brownie mix. Follow the package directions and add any additional ingredients called for on the box. Best to use a 9x13 pan and bake for about 25 minutes.
(2) Cool and then cut into 1-inch squares. Set aside.
(3) In a large mixing bowl, blend the pudding mix and the milk for about 2 minutes. A wire whisk works well for this step. Then fold in about 3 cups of cool whip.
(4) Begin to layer about ½ the brownies in the bottom of a large trifle dish, half of the pudding mixture, about ½ cup toffee bits and pieces, and a layer of cool whip. Repeat with another layer. Top with remaining toffee bits and pieces.
Add additional candy toppings, if desired. Cover and store in the refrigerator at least overnight.
Tips and Short Cuts
Trifle bowls are usually easy to find in most stores that sell kitchen goods. I like this trifle bowl from Anchor Hocking; but any large glass bowl will do just fine.
Now that you can buy Heath bars pre-chopped, this can save you some prep time. Actually, you can use your favorite candy such as M and M's, peanut butter cups, etc. You can't go wrong with your favorite candy.
This recipe uses instant chocolate pudding mix and whole milk. Use a whisk to mix for about 2 minutes and then fold in the cool whip. Folding in the cool whip is a much gentler mixing technique than whisking or beating. Also, it helps to keep the cool whip nice and fluffy. Use a spatula or spoon to fold in the cool whip.
Decorating Tips
If it's a holiday like Halloween, you can use candy corn as a topping. If it's Christmas, you can use the red and green candy-coated chocolate pieces. For Valentines Day, use the candy hearts. I'm not a creative person, but THIS I can handle!
Frequently Asked Questions
Once you have all the layers complete, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours. Overnight seems to work a little better, but it's not mandatory. This is truly the best dessert because it's chocolately, pretty, delicious, crowd-pleasing, versatile, and most of all EASY!
If you can't find Heath bar toffee bits and pieces in a bag, you can put regular size candy bars in a plastic bag then pound them with a hammer to get the bits and pieces.
Yes! That's my preferred method because it gives more time for all the flavors to blend and greatly enhances the texture and taste. Make the day before you plan to serve it.
Out of all the ingredients, pudding doesn't freeze well. Since the main ingredient is pudding, I would not suggest freezing a trifle. You're just gonna have to eat it 🙂
More delicious chocolate desserts!
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Easy Chocolate Brownie Toffee Trifle
Equipment
- Large mixing bowls
- measuring cup(s)
- Trifle dish
Ingredients
BROWNIE INGREDIENTS
- 1 Box of family size brownie mix check the box for any additional ingredients you may need to make the brownies.
- 1 12 oz bag of milk chocolate chips
PUDDING INGREDIENTS
- 2 Boxes of chocolate instant pudding mix 5.9 oz each
- 5 cups Milk
- 2 Large containers of Cool Whip
LAYERS AND TOPPINGS
- 1 8 oz bag of toffee bits and pieces
- ½-1 cup m&m candies, crushed oreos, or your favorite candy Optional
Instructions
- Pour the brownie mix into a large mixing bowl, add the chocolate chips to the brownie mix. Follow the directions and add any additional ingredients called for on the box. Best to use a 9x13 pan and bake for about 25 minutes. Cool and then cut into 1-inch squares.
- In a large bowl, blend the pudding mix and the milk for about 2 minutes. A wire whisk works well for this step. Then fold in about 3 cups of cool whip.
- Begin to layer about ½ the brownies in the bottom of a large trifle bowl, half of the pudding mixture, about ½ cup toffee bits and pieces, and a layer of cool whip. Repeat with another layer. Top with remaining toffee bits and pieces.
- Add additional candy toppings, if desired. Cover and store in the refrigerator at least overnight.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2018 and was updated in 2022.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
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