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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Death By Chocolate Trifle

    Updated: Sep 5, 2025 by Kristin Hayes · This post may contain affiliate links · 37 Comments

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    This Death by Chocolate Trifle won’t kill you, but after one bite, you’ll think you died and went to Heaven! Layers of cake, chocolate pudding, and more….what’s not to love?!

    Years ago, after I made my first trifle…I was HOOKED! I went on a trifle making spree and made several new flavors.

    Being the chocolate lover that I am, this one is most definitely my favorite! It is LOADED with all sorts of chocolate and if its missing a favorite chocolate candy of yours, simply add it in! You can have fun with this and make it your own!

    The great thing about trifles is that you have so many options and varieties! Plus, they feed lots of people and make a great dessert option for parties and having people over!

    If you have a sweet tooth craving, look no further! You can make this Death by Chocolate Trifle the night before and let it refrigerate until ready to enjoy!

    The fudge like brownie pieces, cool whip layers, chocolate pudding layers, and candy pieces throughout come together in a dessert you’ll be mouthwatering over!

    Enjoy and be sure to let me know what you think! Also, come connect with me on Instagram HERE as I am always posting recipes, tips, giveaways, and more!

    This post was originally posted on March 25, 2013 and updated July 9, 2020

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    Death by Chocolate Trifle

    Recipe by: Kristin Hayes
    This Death by Chocolate Trifle won’t kill you, but after one bite, you’ll think you died and went to Heaven! Layers of cake, chocolate pudding, and more….what’s not to love?!
    3.92 from 24 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Assemble Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 224 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • Trifle Bowl

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 box Chocolate cake mix *and ingredients needed on box
    • 16 oz Cool whip topping
    • 1 box Instant Chocolate Pudding mix (5.9 oz box) plus milk needed on box
    • 1 box Reese pieces
    • 1 package Kit Kat bars
    • 1 bag mini Reese peanut butter cups
    • Chocolate Syrup

    Instructions
     

    • In mixing bowl, combine cake mix and needed ingredients to make a chocolate cake. *I used Devils Chocolate cake mix.
    • Bake cake according to directions. Once baked, allow to cool completely.
    • In another bowl, make chocolate pudding according to directions.
    • Fold in ⅓ container of Cool Whip into pudding, to create a chocolate mousse. Set aside.
    • Crush up the Kit Kat bar into small pieces.
    • To assemble trifle, follow this order: ⅓ crumbled cake ½ chocolate mousse Sprinkle Candy pieces ⅓ Crumbled Cake Remaining cool whip Sprinkle candy pieces ⅓ Crumbled Cake ½ chocolate mousse Chocolate Syrup (drizzled) Remaining Candy Pieces sprinkled on top

    Nutrition

    Calories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 341mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 66IUCalcium: 63mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

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    Comments

    1. Karen says

      September 13, 2015 at 10:38 pm

      I will be in a sugar shock tomorrow!!!! We love it!

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        September 14, 2015 at 6:19 am

        Hehe!! Glad you like it!! Definitely a sugar load, but definitely worth it 🙂

        Reply
    2. Robin says

      August 01, 2015 at 10:49 pm

      So making this

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        August 02, 2015 at 7:44 am

        Let me know how it turns out and what you think. This is a favorite of mine!!

        Reply
    3. Holly Niese says

      December 02, 2014 at 4:54 pm

      Looks delicious that’s what’s going to be for dinner tone

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        December 03, 2014 at 7:12 am

        Yum!!! You can’t go wrong with chocolate, hehe!!

        Reply
    4. Emma Huddelston says

      September 25, 2014 at 7:36 pm

      everything looks so good, don’t know where to start. However, will certainly try the Chocolate Trifle!!!!!!!

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        September 26, 2014 at 7:27 am

        Hehe, let us know how it turns out! Hopefully you will love it as much as we do, 🙂

        Reply
    5. Anonymous says

      March 15, 2014 at 11:50 am

      I use a brownie mix when I make this desert with sugar-free pudding and fat-free cool whip. Helps with the calories but still can have a smaller serving and not feel guilty. It’s wonderful !!!!

      Reply
    6. Julie Harper says

      February 24, 2014 at 8:41 am

      Dont like mousse…..this looks really really yummy if I was to make it as a birthday dessert for everyone and it was going to be eaten at one sitting could you layer it with ice cream???

      Reply
      • Kristin and Adriana says

        February 24, 2014 at 9:34 am

        You could use pudding? I’m hesitant on ice cream, unless you keep it frozen up until you eat it. Ice cream may make the cake a bit mushy, but the flavor would be good. If you keep the trifle frozen, it should work. Otherwise, try subbing pudding 🙂

        Reply
    7. Anonymous says

      November 20, 2013 at 8:16 pm

      My son and I make this every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas he gets a seperate bowl just for himself lol I use brownies instead of cake and skor bars instead of kitkats but still yummylicious any way you make it yummm

      Reply
    8. B Bartos says

      August 13, 2013 at 7:28 pm

      Husband allergic to Cool Whip…can use homemade whipped cream instead??

      Reply
      • Kristin and Adriana says

        August 13, 2013 at 8:09 pm

        Yes, homemade works perfectly in its place, you may want to add a touch of sugar since cool whip is quite sweet! Keep refrigerated since there are no preservatives in the homemade version 🙂
        Yum!!! Let us know how it turns out!!

        Reply
      • evette says

        January 30, 2014 at 6:54 pm

        yes.. 1 cup of Heavy cream and 3 tablespoon confetti sugar

        Reply
    9. Kristin and Adriana says

      April 14, 2013 at 1:51 pm

      Oh how exciting!!! We will definitely stop by tonight and check it out!! Thanks so much!!

      Reply
    10. Renea Hand says

      April 14, 2013 at 11:14 am

      I’m just stopping by to let you know that you’re being featured over at Manic Monday. It goes live tonight at 8pm EST. I hope to see you again this week!

      Renea – https://cupcake-n-bake.blogspot.com

      Reply
    11. Kristin and Adriana says

      April 04, 2013 at 10:57 am

      Hehe, this trifle is amazing! Trust me!! Its definitely dangerous but we just tell ourselves that by using lowfat cool whip, it makes it healthy hahaha!! 🙂

      Reply
    12. TheMoonAndMe says

      April 04, 2013 at 10:54 am

      Ugh…I was trying to ignore all the sweets at the party! But I couldn’t help myself…I had to stop by here and take a closer look at your trifle. Yum! It looks soooo good!
      Kelly

      Reply
    13. Kristin and Adriana says

      April 03, 2013 at 8:10 am

      Our thoughts exactly!! We LOVE trifles and LOVE chocolate, yummy! We love to try new trifles out so shoot us the recipe of your Easter trifle if you can, we can try it out!! : )

      Reply
    14. Erin says

      April 02, 2013 at 11:27 am

      I just made a Trifle for Easter for the first time. AMAZING! But yowza! Yours looks so good. If you gotta go, I’d like to go by chocolate =o)

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Trackbacks

    1. Death by Chocolate Trifle says:
      January 24, 2015 at 11:27 am

      […] when being served. Every serving would get all layers and not have to dig deep.Recipe Source: The Cookin Chicks Wordpress Recipe Plugin by EasyRecipe […]

      Reply
    3.92 from 24 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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    Welcome to The Cookin’ Chicks! I’m Kristin- mom of 3, wife, and food lover-sharing easy dinners, quick desserts, and family-friendly recipes that make mealtime simple, fun, and delicious. Around here, it’s all about family, faith, and food that brings everyone to the table!

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