This St. Patrick’s Day Brownie Trifle is a quick, easy, and tasty way to add some festive green into your St. Patty’s Day! Consisting of rich, chocolatey brownie layers, sweet vanilla pudding, and Oreo’s, this easy dessert idea not only tastes great, but looks pretty too!
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Easy St. Patrick’s Day Green Trifle
St. Patrick’s Day isn’t really a big deal in our family, but I love any excuse to have some chocolate and mint treats!
If you are looking for a quick and easy St. Patrick’s Day dessert, you’ve found it! This delicious Mint Chocolate Brownie Trifle is a sweet minty green dessert made with layers of creamy vanilla pudding, chocolate mint cookies, whipped topping, sprinkles and brownies that are perfect for any St. Patrick’s Day gathering!
Not only does this no-bake mint Oreo layer dessert trifles taste delicious, but it’s a show stopper! With the eye-catching green and brown layers, this trifle is an easy St. Patrick’s Day dessert.
You can make this recipe as a big batch in a bowl or in individual servings in trifle cups, mason jars, or any other dish. It’s completely up to you!
What is a trifle?
According to Taste of Home, the traditional version of trifle that originated in England in the 18th century (with less similar dishes being made even earlier) consisted of three or four layers, including some sort of fruit, alcohol-soaked sponge cake and custard. The fruit and cake were often layered with homemade jelly. This classic interpretation was always served in a round bowl.
American trifles are similar but fortunately, a bit less complicated. They consist of multiple layers of crumbled or cubed cake, pudding and fruit. The flavors can vary widely, from raspberries, peach yogurt and angel food cake to brownies, white chocolate pudding and candy bar bits. They’re topped with whipped cream and some sort of crumbs or nuts to add texture. Trifle should be served in a deep, round dish—ideally one that’s clear so diners can see all of the layers.
Ingredients Needed
This trifle is a super easy recipe mostly made from store-bought ingredients that come together in no time at all. Scroll below for full printable recipe card!
- Brownie Mix- (enough to make an 8×8 tray) *you can also use a homemade brownie recipe
- Vanilla Pudding (instant)
- Cool Whip
- Green Food Coloring
- Mint Oreo’s- crushed
How to make this St. Patrick’s Day Brownie Trifle
- Cook brownies according to directions. Allow to cool completely.
- Make pudding according to directions. Once pudding is done, add in a few drops of green food coloring, or until desired shade of green is reached.
- Take a Ziploc bag and place a few Oreo’s inside. Seal the bag and smash the bag to crush the Oreo’s.
- To assemble trifle; layer cut up brownie, a layer of pudding, a layer of cool whip, another layer of cut up brownie, a layer of pudding, and a few crushed Oreo’s on top!!
- Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve!! *You can also use pistachio pudding if you don’t want to use food coloring!
Tips for making the best St. Patrick’s Day Layered Trifle
- St. Patrick’s Day Brownie Trifles can be made up to one day ahead of time.
- These brownie trifles need to be stored in the refrigerator if you are not eating them right away.
- These trifles will last up to 3 days in the fridge, although they are the best right after they are made.
- If you don’t want to use boxed brownie mix, use THIS recipe for homemade brownies.
- You can make these in mini trifle dishes, or one large trifle bowl.
- If you don’t want to use green food coloring, feel free to use Pistachio pudding in place of the vanilla pudding and food coloring.
How to store this trifle
- Make Ahead- this can be assembled up to 1 day in advance.
- Refrigerator- if you have leftovers, cover trifle bowl with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer- unfortunately, the leftovers cannot be frozen as the cool whip and pudding textures won’t maintain and it won’t hold up once thawed.
Variations to try
- Change up from regular brownie mix and try a caramel version, dark chocolate, one with nuts, etc.
- Make homemade whipped cream versus using store bought.
- Use homemade brownie recipe in lieu of boxed brownie mix.
- Try Pistachio pudding in place of the vanilla.
- Add a dash of mint extract to the pudding for a burst of St. Patrick’s Day flavor!
More St Patrick’s Recipes to try
St. Patrick’s Day Mint Oreo Truffles– the most delicious 4-ingredient dessert recipe. Easy to make and perfect for St. Patty’s Day!
Lucky Charm Cereal Bars– no-bake, take just a few simple ingredients, and look party perfect!
Kahlua White Leprechaun Cocktail– this popular Kahlua cocktail is so easy to make – and not just around St Patrick’s Day, this should be enjoyed year round!
Boozy Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes– Skip the stout and enjoy a festive boozy milkshake instead that’s loaded with delicious minty flavor and topped with whipped cream and sprinkles.
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Easy St. Patrick's Day Brownie Trifle
Ingredients
- 1 box Brownie Mix *plus ingredients on box, 8x8 pan size
- 3.5 oz Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
- 8 oz Cool Whip
- Green Food Coloring
- Mint Oreo's *crushed
Instructions
- Cook brownies according to directions. Allow to cool completely.
- Make pudding according to directions. Once pudding is done, add in a few drops of green food coloring, or until desired shade of green is reached.
- Take a Ziploc bag and place a few Oreo’s inside. Seal the bag and smash the bag to crush the Oreo’s.
- To assemble trifle; layer cut up brownie, a layer of pudding, a layer of cool whip, another layer of cut up brownie, a layer of pudding, and a few crushed Oreo’s on top!!
- Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve!! *You can also use pistachio pudding if you don’t want to use food coloring!
Nutrition
FSHDVA
Delicious!!! I gave it 4 stars only because I veered slightly from the recipe as written; I substituted pistachio pudding for the vanilla, and sprinkled crushed pistachios over the top in lieu of the mint Oreos to cut down on the sweetness a bit. A huge hit! I have a question though; will these hold up if made the night before (in the interest of time-management?)
Kristin
Yay! Glad you enjoyed and I love the idea of using Pistachio in this! As for making the night before, yes, that works perfectly! In fact, that is how I do it most of the time as to save on time! Enjoy!
Chris Duffy
The amount of pudding as suggested in the recipe is not nearly enough to make the dessert look like the picture. I would suggest doubling the pudding amount so it does not look skimpy!
Kristin
I made these into mini trifles, only 4, so it worked out great! If making a large trifle, I agree, use the bigger box OR double up and use two boxes so there is plenty to use! Thanks!
Carlene
How many does this recipe serve? Would it be enough for 12 pepple? I am using a crystal bowl insteadf individual bowls
Kristin
Oh absolutely! I typically get about 12-16 servings out of this! You’ll love it!
Waliyya hohnson
This st patrick day recipe was so good the kids love making this St patricks.day trifle
Kristin
Glad you enjoyed it!!
Rose
Hello, i wanted to know do we beat/whip the white cream or just layer directly form the box.
Also can we use China grass (pistachio flavor) will it stand well?
appreciate your reply.
Kristin
Hi! You beat the white cream and then proceed to layer! As for using pistachio, that works great!! Enjoy!
Peg
I used gluten free brownies, made my own cool whip, one box of pistachio pudding (wish I had used two), and Andes candies. Very good but not enough pudding.
Kristin
Great idea on Pistachio pudding, yum! Since I used mini trifle dishes, I didn’t run into the shortage on pudding, but I will be sure to add that into the recipe so people use two packages if making a large trifle. Thanks!!
Dolores mazzola
Did you double everything? While dessert was wonderful it did not look like yours.
Kristin
Nope, I didn’t double this recipe, however, I did use mini trifle dishes for the picture. Did you make one large trifle or mini’s?
Anonymous
I added crushed mint Oreos to the brownie batter and a layer of crushed cookies throughout the trifle and it gave it an even more yummy flavor and texture! Super easy and great recipe, thanks for sharing!
Kristin
Ooooo great thinking! I’ll have to remember that for next time! Glad you enjoyed it!! Happy St. Patty’s Day!!
Beverly
Just thought I would leave this update. I used a pkg of 2-bite Brownies because I didn’t want to take the time to make my own. I used 2 ounces of the Bailey’s to soak the cut up brownies in while I was making the pudding. I decided to use White Chocolate Instant Pudding. This recipe is SO delicious, my family is still talking about it.
I’m going to keep the recipe in my Pinterest files, use eggnog to make the Vanilla Pudding and dye it red, add rum to the brownies and make a Candy Cane Trifle for Christmas!
Thank you for the recipe.
Kristin
YUM!!!! The Baileys sound amazing with this!! Great job!! I am so glad you enjoyed it and will be making it again!! Have a great day and thanks for the update!!!
Ashton Little
I made this today for a fun St . Patricks Day treat and my family loved it. Thanks for the recipe.
Kristin
Oh fun!!! So glad it was a hit! Hope your family and you had a wonderful St Patrick’s Day!!
Beverly
Thank you so much for the fun recipe. My husband treasures his Irish roots, so we are having a St. Patty’s Day dinner tomorrow but my mother-in-law didn’t leave any recipes behind. I had never had trifle before meeting him, so to honour my mother-in-law, I am adding Bailey’s to the brownies!
Kristin
Awww what a fun evening you have planned! Great thinking on the Bailey’s! Hope all the yummy food turns out great and you enjoy these trifles!
jody jackson
awesome
Kristin
For sure, hehe!! 🙂
Muriel
Is the vanilla pudding instant pudding mix
Kristin
Yes 🙂
Anonymous
A friend of mine made this Sunday at Church it was Awesome! !!
Kristin
Yea!!! So glad it was a hit!! 🙂
Cathy Blake
Kristen and Adriana,
Made this for our Bible study group’s St Patrick’s Day dessert this evening and it was a HUGE hit with everyone. I didn’t have mint Oreos, so I covered the top with chopped-up Andes mints. I ready enjoy your blog; you always have awesome recipes!
Kristin and Adriana
Awww so glad it was a hit with your Bible group!!! Thanks so much for the kind words, we appreciate it 🙂
Laurie Alves
Love it!!! Great St Pat’s Dessert!! Would love to add it to our St Patty’s Front Page Features on https://foodisloverecipes.com
Kristin and Adriana
Thanks!!!! Feel free to share it, we appreciate it 🙂
Joanne T Ferguson
G;day! Love trifle! YUM!
View as party of this week’s Foodie Friends Friends St Patrick’s Day GREEN Recipes Party!
Cheers! Joanne
Marlys (ThisandThat)
This looks delicious. Thanks for sharing this on Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party and I wanted to let you know that I am using it in a round up that I am doing for the Daily Dish Magazine (picture and link only). It will be published today 3/8/14
Kristin and Adriana
Thank you so much! We appreciate it 🙂
Joanne DiPalo
How delicious and easy is this beautiful dessert. Pinning/sharing this weekend.
Looking forward to seeing you again soon,
Joanne/WineLady Cooks
Catherine
Dear Kristin and Adriana, I love trifles and this one looks so pretty and festive. It sounds like a perfect holiday treat. Thank you for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday. Blessings, Catherine