Peanut Butter Cup Trifle

This peanut butter cup trifle is a show-stopper. While some trifle recipes skew a bit fancy, this candy-studded confection is a playful mix of elegance and fun. Nobody will guess the recipe calls for just five ingredients, including store-bought cake and pudding mix. The cold, smooth pudding is a delightful contrast to the fluffy cake and airy whipped topping. Peanut butter cups tumble through the trifle, delivering dollops of peanut butter and chocolate deliciousness. Recipe contributor Chris Nelson of Decatur, Arkansas, suggests adding chocolate jimmies on top for extra flair. Grab your nicest clear bowl and serve it at the fanciest of holiday parties or at a family-friendly potluck.

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Cup Trifle

• Milk: Cold milk is essential for this trifle’s creamy foundation. The recipe calls for 2%, but you can use nonfat, whole or even nondairy milk.
• Instant chocolate pudding mix: Some of our favorite desserts start with instant pudding mix. The gelatin-rich powder sets perfectly every time, even for novice bakers. You can use a low-sugar variety if you’d like.
• Angel food cake: Use store-bought cake, or get fancy with a homemade angel food cake. Cut it into bite-sized cubes (about 1 inch).
• Frozen whipped topping: Frozen whipped topping is nice and sturdy, and holds its volume well.
• Reese’s Minis peanut butter cups: The star ingredient of this dessert, peanut butter cups are deliciously savory-sweet and indulgent. Use mini cups, which are the best size for scooping up with a spoon. While the recipe calls for Reese’s Minis, you can use any brand you like.

Directions

Step 1: Make the pudding

In a large bowl, whisk the milk and pudding mixes for two minutes. Let the pudding stand for two minutes or until it’s soft-set.

Step 2: Build the trifle

In a 3-quart trifle bowl (or any fancy or plain glass bowl), add a layer of half of the cake cubes.

Cover the cake with half of the prepared pudding.

Add a layer using half of the whipped topping.

Sprinkle half of the peanut butter cups on top. Repeat the layers.

Step 3: Chill the trifle

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the trifle until you’re ready to serve it.

Editor’s Tip: Plan to chill the trifle for at least a couple of hours so the ingredients have time to meld.

Peanut Butter Cup Trifle Variations

• Play with pudding flavors: Instead of chocolate pudding, try a different flavor. Vanilla, butterscotch or peanut butter-flavored instant pudding would be tasty here.
• Flavor the whip: Stir peanut butter or vanilla extract into the Cool Whip topping for extra flavor.
• Double up the chocolate: Replace the angel food cake with cubed brownies or chocolate cake for an ultra-fudgy trifle.
• Top the trifle: Sprinkle jimmies, chocolate chips, Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter chips or chopped peanuts on top before serving your trifle for even more textures and flavors.

How to Store Peanut Butter Cup Trifle

Keep the peanut butter cup trifle dessert in the refrigerator. Cover the serving dish, or transfer leftovers to a smaller, airtight container. It lasts for up to four days.

How far in advance can you make peanut butter cup trifle?

Trifles taste best within a day or so. After that, the texture will get softer, and the whip will lose some volume. That said, you can make peanut butter trifle up to one day ahead of time. Keep it refrigerated until about 30 minutes before serving it; taking the chill off will make it more flavorful.

Peanut Butter Cup Trifle Tips

How can you make individual trifles with this recipe?

Impress guests with single portions of beautifully layered trifle. It’s easy to do. You’ll need 12 serving dishes—either bowls, cups or glasses. It’s best to use clear glass to show off the layers. Build the layers of trifle in each glass (in Step 2). Each dish should end with about 3/4 cup of trifle.

Can you use homemade cake for peanut butter cup trifle?

You can absolutely use homemade cake in trifle recipes. Pick your favorite angel food cake recipe, or swap in chocolate cake (sans frosting) or even plain white cake. That said, trifle isn’t necessarily a dessert where using homemade pays dividends in flavor and results: The cake soaks up the pudding, softens, and takes on the flavors of the dish as a whole.