If you’re looking for a show-stopping dessert that’s as easy to assemble as it is to devour, this Peanut Butter Cup Trifle is the answer. With layers of moist chocolate cake, fluffy peanut butter mousse, whipped topping, and loads of chopped peanut butter cups, it’s a sweet treat that’s hard to resist.
The beauty of a trifle lies in its layers. You don’t need to be a pastry chef to create a stunning dessert that looks like it came straight from a bakery window. Start with your favorite chocolate cake, boxed mix or homemade, both work great here. Once cooled, cut or crumble it into chunks to create the rich, chocolatey base of each layer.
Next comes the creamy peanut butter mousse. It’s made by folding whipped topping into a sweet peanut butter and cream cheese mixture, resulting in a light yet luscious filling. Add a generous layer of this mousse on top of the cake, followed by more whipped topping for a cool, airy contrast.
The star of the show? Chopped peanut butter cups. Sprinkle them liberally between the layers and on top to add texture, crunch, and that unmistakable peanut butter-chocolate combo. Every bite delivers the perfect blend of smooth, sweet, and salty.
This trifle is ideal for feeding a crowd at potlucks, holidays, or casual gatherings. It can be made ahead and stored in the fridge, which actually improves the flavor as the layers meld together.
If you want to dress it up even more, drizzle melted chocolate or warm peanut butter over the top just before serving. Or swap in brownies for the cake base for an extra-decadent twist.
Peanut Butter Cup Trifle is the kind of dessert that gets people talking, and going back for seconds. It’s rich, indulgent, and a guaranteed favorite among both kids and adults. If you’re a fan of chocolate and peanut butter, this trifle might just become your new go-to dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 package chocolate brownie mix prepared according to package instructions
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
- 1 package cream cheese 8 ounces, softened
- tub whipped topping 12 ounces, thawed
- 12 peanut butter cups chopped
- 1/2 cup chocolate syrup
- 1/2 cup peanuts for garnish, chopped
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk, and cream cheese. Mix until smooth.
- In a trifle dish or large glass bowl, layer half of the brownie, half of the peanut butter mixture, and half of the whipped topping. Repeat the layers.
- Top with chopped peanut butter cups. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
I followed the recipe but it turned out too sweet for my taste. Maybe less sugar next time?
This trifle is amazing! I made it for a family gathering and everyone loved it! Rich and delicious!
Looks good, but isn’t it too sweet? I dont think my family will like it. Maybe less candy next time.
Wow, that sounds delicious! I’m gonna try this for my next family BBQ. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t have a trifle dish, can I just use any bowl?
So rich and sweet! Maybe a lil too much peanut butter for my taste but my kids loved it!
Kinda sounds gross to me. Peanut butter and chocolate together? No thanks.
We loved it too! But my husband thought there was too much peanut butter as well. Maybe next time I will reduce it a bit.
This was super delicious! I added some crushed Oreos on top too. Definitely making it again!
Yum! My husband couldn’t get enough of this! Would make again!
It was delicious but a bit too complicated for me.
Just okay. I prefer my brownies without all this mix stuff.
I was skeptical about this recipe being too sweet, but dang, it’s actually perfect! Not overly sweet at all!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I was worried it might be too sweet for me too, but now I think I’ll try it!
Yum! My kids ate it all in one sitting. Highly recommend!
Wow, that sounds amazing! I can’t wait to try it out for my kids too. Thanks for the recommendation!
Love it! My kids devoured it in seconds. Definitely gonna make it again!
OMG! So good! I ate the entire bowl by myself! 😋
I wonder if I can use almond butter instead of peanut butter? Any thoughts?
Absolutely! Almond butter would taste great in this recipe! Just keep in mind it might change the flavor a bit but still delicious!
I don’t have a trifle dish, can I just use a regular bowl? Or will it mess up the layers?
I dont understand why you layer things… just mix it all together. Tasted good but hard to serve.
This is the best dessert ever! So rich and delicious, I can’t stop eating it!
Easy to make! Even my kids loved it. We had it for dessert after dinner and everyone had seconds.
Peanut butter cups?? Yes please! The only thing better is if I could eat it every day!!!
Why do you add peanuts on top when there’s already peanut butter? Seems silly.
I mean, if there’s already peanut butter, why not just skip the peanuts? Makes the recipe too nutty for me.
Adding peanuts gives it some crunch and extra flavor! It’s not silly at all, just adds more texture. Yum!
Why do you need cream cheese? Can’t you just use more peanut butter instead? Seems pointless to me.
I think the cream cheese adds a nice richness and creaminess that peanut butter alone just can’t match. It really makes a difference in the texture!
Peanut butter cup? More like peanut butter mess!! Didn’t come out like the picture.
Maybe you mixed something up? It’s really not that hard to follow. Keep trying!
Wow, this is really sweet! Like, sugar rush overload. Not for me, but some might love it.
Nah, I think it’s perfect as is! More sugar equals more happiness, right? 😋
I totally get what you’re saying! It’s definitely a dessert for serious sweet tooths. Maybe try cutting down the sugar next time?
I tried it but it was too sweet for me. Not really a fan of sweetened condensed milk.
I dunno, something’s off here. You combined too many flavors and now it’s too much for me.
I actually think this combination sounds amazing! Peanut butter and chocolate are like a match made in heaven. Maybe you just need to let it chill a bit more?
This recipe look simple but I just can’t get the layers to stay right! Help!
This is amazing! It tastes like a dream! Definitely a keeper!
Tasted alright but I think it was too much effort for something so simple. Just melt peanu butter instead!
Too many chocolate. I thought it was gonna be more balanced.
Can I use almond butter instead? Allergic to peanuts. The pic looks yummy!
Almond butter should work fine! Just keep in mind it’ll taste a bit different from peanut butter, but still yummy! Enjoy!