Death by Chocolate trifle is pure chocolatey decadence! This dessert stacks layers of fudgy brownie, sweet chocolate pudding, chocolate toffee bits, Cool Whip, and chocolate chips. Then, we finish it off with a chocolate sauce drizzle! What more could you want?!

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Pin RecipeThis trifle-like dessert is incredibly easy to make. Simply prepare the individual layers in one go or in advance. Then, assemble, and adjust as you desire.
Like most layered desserts, this Death by Chocolate trifle can incorporate your favorite or preferred ingredients. Feel free to incorporate additional ingredients. Some of my favorites include caramel sauce, other chopped candy, a bit of liqueur, and an endless choice of toppings from fresh berries to chocolate shavings!

Death by Chocolate Recipe
Using box brownie mix and instant chocolate pudding adds convenience and ease to this recipe. Once these first two dessert layer elements have been made, the fun really begins! All it takes is about five minutes to layer your ingredients. Then, the only hard part is waiting for the treat to chill!
Truly mouthwatering, this chocolate trifle is moist, fudgy, sweet, and creamy all at once. Plus, it features crunchy pieces of toffee bits, chocolate chips, and chocolate sauce for extra texture and flavor! Enjoy this dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or as-is.
While I love the look of this Death by Chocolate trifle in a large glass, you could make cute single-portion trifles like this Mocha Brownie Trifle. It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, other special occasions, or whenever you have an intense chocolate craving!
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Ingredients for Death by Chocolate
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Brownie layer – Use any brand of box chocolate brownie mix you prefer, and be sure to have the extra ingredients that it calls for. My brownie mix calls for eggs, vegetable oil, and milk.
- Chocolate pudding layer – Use instant chocolate pudding combined with cold milk.
- Assembly ingredients – I use Health Milk Chocolate Toffee Bits, Cool Whip, chocolate sauce, and chocolate chips when layering the dessert.
Variations
- Add some instant coffee to the brownie batter for a more intense flavor!
- Homemade whipped cream can be used instead of Cool Whip.
- Chocolate mousse is a great alternative to instant chocolate pudding.
- Use chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups and other favorite candy instead of the toffee bits. Chopped Oreo cookies would also make a delicious layering ingredient. Or, use them as a topping for extra chocolatey flavor and a crunchy texture!
- Caramel sauce, peanut butter drizzle, fudge sauce, or butterscotch are all welcome additions when topping this trifle.
- You can assemble this dessert in a 9×13-inch baking pan instead of a large punch bowl or trifle glass, but the pan will only allow for a single layer of each dessert element as it’s much wider.
- Chocolate cake mix can be used instead of chocolate brownies, although I love the denser brownie version!
- Other toppings could include fresh berries and chocolate shavings.




How to Make Death by Chocolate
- Prepare: Preheat the oven, and grease the baking pan.
- Make the brownies: Combine the ingredients for the brownie layer, and pour the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake the brownies for 25 minutes. You know they’re done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean! Set the brownies aside to cool in the pan.
- Make the chocolate pudding: Combine the instant pudding with the cold mix while the brownies bake. Once smooth and thick, chill the pudding in the fridge until ready to assemble the dessert.
- Assemble the dessert: Crumble half of the brownies into the bottom of a large punch bowl or trifle glass, allowing a mixture of large pieces and crumbs. Spread half of the pudding across the brownie layer, followed by a sprinkling of 1/2 cup of toffee bits. Next, spread half of the Cool Whip over the toffee bits.
- Repeat: Repeat the above step with brownies, pudding, toffee bits, and Cool Whip.
- Chill and add topping: Chill the trifle in the fridge. Just before serving, top the trifle with extra chocolate chips, toffee bits, and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

Quick Tip
This Death by Chocolate trifle does very well when left for a few hours in the fridge to chill before serving. It allows the layered ingredients to settle and meld together, creating a cohesive flavor!
How to Store Death by Chocolate
Cover the trifle glass with plastic, or store any leftover trifle in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. I don’t recommend freezing this trifle dessert as the texture could change!
Serving Suggestions
This decadent trifle is a complete dessert on its own. However, you can also enjoy it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if desired.
FAQs
Death by chocolate desserts typically use ingredients, such as chocolate cake mix or brownie mix, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and chocolate chips. They can also feature other decadent chocolate add-ins depending on personal preference.
The name itself stirs up images and feelings of decadent over-indulgence, almost to the point of no return! Chocolate is closely associated with passion and romance, which can have a darker side. But trust me, there’s nothing sinister about this dessert. It’s pure enjoyment!
Trifles do well when prepared in advance and allowed to chill overnight. The flavors in the different layers start to mingle for greater intensity and harmony.
This depends on the type of trifle and your personal preference. You get to choose whether you’d prefer a sturdy cake/brownie base at the bottom or a creamy layer. There’s no right or wrong!
More Decadent Chocolate Recipes
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Chocolate Cobbler
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Chocolate Chip Pie
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No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake

Death by Chocolate
Equipment
- 9×13 baking dish
- Mixing bowls
- Trifle Glass
- Measuring cups and spoons
- whisk
- Rubber spatula
Ingredients
Brownie Layer
- 1 (18.4 ounce) box chocolate brownie mix
- 2 eggs
- ยฝ cup vegetable oil
- 3 Tablespoons milk
Chocolate Pudding Layer
- 4 cups whole milk cold
- 2 (3.9 ounces) boxes of Instant chocolate pudding
Assembly Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) bag of Health Milk Chocolate Toffee Bits
- 16 ounces Cool Whip
- chocolate sauce
- chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ยบF and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Start by making the brownies. Whisk together the eggs, vegetable oil, milk and brownie mix. Once smooth, pour into the prepared 9×13 baking pan and spread the batter evenly across the pan.1 (18.4 ounce) box chocolate brownie mix, 2 eggs, ยฝ cup vegetable oil, 3 Tablespoons milk
- Bake the brownie for 25 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center will come out cleanly and the brownies will no longer look shiny. Let cool in the pan.
- While the brownies bake, make the chocolate pudding. Whisk together the pudding mix and cold milk in a large bowl. The mix will start to thicken as you stir. Store the pudding in the fridge until you are ready to assemble the dessert.4 cups whole milk, 2 (3.9 ounces) boxes of Instant chocolate pudding
- Grab a large punch bowl or trifle glass. Crumble half of the baked brownies into the bottom of the glass, leaving some large pieces and some pure crumbs.
- Add ยฝ of the pudding into the glass and spread it across the brownies.
- Sprinkle the pudding with about ยฝ cup of the Heath bar bits.1 (8 ounce) bag of Health Milk Chocolate Toffee Bits
- Spread half of the Cool Whip over the toffee pieces.16 ounces Cool Whip
- Repeat steps 5 through 8, layering the brownies, pudding, toffee and cool whip to fill the glass. End with a layer of Cool Whip.
- Chill the trifle until you are ready to serve. Then, top with extra chocolate chips, toffee pieces and a chocolate sauce drizzle.chocolate sauce, chocolate chips
Notes
- If you do not have a trifle glass, you can assemble this Death by Chocolate dessert in a 9×13 baking dish. Follow the layering directions but only make one layer of each ingredient. Since the pan is much wider, only one layer is possible. Then scoop the dessert out when you are ready to serve!
- Add caramel sauce, peanut butter drizzle or butterscotch to the top for even more flavor.