Death by Chocolate
If you’re the kind of person who believes there’s no such thing as too much chocolate, then let me introduce you to your new dessert obsession: the Death by Chocolate . This rich, layered dessert is a chocoholic’s dream come true—each spoonful delivering an explosion of flavor, texture, and utter indulgence.
Death by chocolate is one of those decadent desserts that will wondering why you hadn’t made it before. It is simple to make and yet such a crowd pleaser. This is not a dessert for the faint of heart, it is rich, delicious and a chocolate lover’s dream.
My mom started making this dessert many years ago. It was and is a tried and true family favorite. It was a family favorite when I was a kid and now its a family favorite of my own kids.
Death by chocolate in its basic form is a chocolate trifle made up of layers of chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, whipped cream (or cool whip) and crushed candy bars (skor are the original ones used, but you can use your favorite if that is not it).
If you haven’t had death by chocolate, you just don’t know what you are missing out on.
Why is Death by Chocolate trifle so irresistable?
- Textures Galore: From the tender sponge (or brownies if you choose) to the smooth pudding and airy whipped cream, to the crunchy skor bits, your mouth will never be bored.
- Flavor Depth: Using different kinds of chocolate—dark, milk, semi-sweet—keeps each bite interesting and prevents chocolate fatigue (yes, it’s a thing).
- Showstopper Looks: In a clear trifle bowl or tall glasses, this dessert is as pretty as it is sinful.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Perfect for parties, it’s best when made a few hours (or a day) ahead, giving the flavors time to meld.
How to build your own trifle:
While there are countless variations, here’s a classic base recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 1 box of cake or brownie mix (or homemade ), baked and cubed
- 2 cups chocolate pudding (instant is preferred)
- 2 cups whipped cream (or cool whip topping)
- crushed skor bars or chocolate wafer cookies
- Chocolate chips or chunks (optional)
- Chocolate syrup or ganache for drizzling (optional)
Death by Chocolate (Trifle)
Equipment
- 1 clear glass bowl or trifle bowl
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (or brownies) baked to package directions
- 2 boxes instant chocolate pudding mix (113g each) made to package directions
- 2 large containers of cool whip (or whipped cream) Thawed
- 3-4 skor bars, crushed *chocolate wafer cookies can also be used if you prefer
Instructions
- Prepare the boxed cake (or brownie) mix according to package directions and let cool completely. (if you prefer a small 10×13" baking sheet can be used)
- Prepare the chocolate pudding according to the package directions and chill until you are ready to assemble.
- Crush the skor bars or cookies (I find using a rolling pin and leaving the bars inside the wrappers is the best method)
- Thaw the cool whip in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble. Or make fresh whipped cream
- Once ready to assemble, cut the chocolate cake into 1" cubes then line the bottom of a 6L (4-5 quart) trifle (or large ) bowl. Top with half of the chocolate pudding then 3/4 -1 container of cool whip, then half of the skor bits. Repeat all of the layers in the same order, ending with the skor bits as a topping.
- Serve right away, or cover and chill until you are ready to serve.
- This may be chilled up to 24 hours before serving.
Notes
