Layered Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake Trifle

Layers of fudgy brownies and cheesecake filling make Brownie Cheesecake Trifle, a decadent dessert anyone with a sweet tooth will devour.

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Don’t you love it when a mistake turns out to be amazing? This recipe started with a mistake I made in another recipe I was following, so I made up the rest as I went!

We love brownies and we love cheesecake at our house and this combines the two. I used a box set of brownies, but you could also make homemade brownies if you want them to be truly from scratch. But using a box helps to speed up the process just a little bit.

Originally, I wasn’t quite sure what normally goes into a cheesecake filling. I tried to find some recipes online but didn’t have the ingredients for most of them. Since I also didn’t have time to go to the store, I decided to wing it with what we had.

The first time I made this recipe, I brought it to my in-laws for Easter. Let’s just say it was devoured. Most of us have a sweet tooth, so had large helpings. And the boys might have gone back for seconds! Then I made it again more recently as a treat for the first day back to school for the boys.

Why You’ll Love This Brownie Trifle with Cream Cheese

A brownie trifle with cream cheese is the perfect balance of rich chocolate, tangy creaminess, and light fluffy layers. The combination of chewy brownie bites, smooth cream cheese filling, and airy whipped cream creates a dessert that feels decadent without being overly heavy. It’s a crowd-pleasing recipe that can be served for holidays, potlucks, birthdays, or just when you want an impressive sweet treat without spending hours in the kitchen.

Brownie Cheesecake Trifle FAQs

Ingredients That Make the Perfect Layers

The key to a delicious brownie trifle lies in the quality and balance of the ingredients. Fudgy brownies provide the base, while the cream cheese mixture adds a luscious and slightly tangy flavor that pairs beautifully with chocolate. Whipped topping or homemade whipped cream keeps the layers light and airy, and adding chocolate pudding or caramel sauce enhances the richness. Fresh fruit like strawberries or raspberries can also add a refreshing twist that cuts through the sweetness.

Brownie Mix

Any brownie box mix will do for this recipe. I like getting the fudge brownies because those are my favorite. Don’t forget to get the additional ingredients needed such as oil or eggs. 

Cream Cheese

Cream cheese is the base of cheesecake recipes. When properly whipped, the cream cheese will be light and fluffy and give that airy taste to the cheesecake mixture. I prefer to use full-fat cream cheese because it has the best texture, but any cream cheese will do for this chocolate trifle recipe. 

Heavy Whipping Cream

Heavy cream will add a lot of texture to your cheesecake filling. Again, it’s best to use full-fat heavy whipping cream when you can. 

Sugar

It’s not a dessert if it isn’t sweet, right? Adding sugar helps with the texture of the mixture and adds that sweet taste synonymous with cheesecake. 

Powdered Sugar

While this isn’t a lot of powdered sugar, it’s enough. Powdered sugar is also called confectioner’s sugar. 

Lemon Juice

The lemon juice helps to prevent any curdling of the dairy products in a cheesecake. For this, use either bottled lemon juice or fresh lemon juice. 

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract helps add a bit of flavor to the cheesecake filling for this recipe. 

Hot Fudge Topping

Because every dessert is better when drizzled with hot fudge! I like to add this to the top of the trifle to help keep it moist and add flavor. You could also use chocolate sauce or chocolate syrup in place of the hot fudge topping. 

Topping Options

There are so many things you could add to the top of this and I plan to try a few the next time we make this. 

• Add a dollop of Cool Whip on each serving
• Drizzle with caramel sauce, softened peanut butter, or softened Nutella
• Sprinkle with toffee bits, crushed Oreo cookies, chocolate chips, or more powdered sugar
• Top with fresh fruit such as fresh strawberries or fresh raspberries

Tips for a Beautiful Presentation

To make your brownie trifle look bakery-worthy, use a glass trifle dish or a clear glass bowl so the layers are visible. Add decorative touches like shaved chocolate, caramel drizzle, or crushed cookies on the top layer. Fresh berries or mint leaves also make a lovely garnish. If you’re serving at a party, consider assembling the trifle in individual glasses or mason jars for easy portion control and a fun presentation.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

One of the best things about this dessert is that it can be prepared ahead of time. You can assemble the trifle a few hours before serving and store it in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy. If making in advance, wait to add the top garnish until just before serving to keep it fresh and visually appealing. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days, though the brownie pieces may soften slightly as they absorb moisture from the cream cheese and whipped layers.

Flavor Variations to Try

This recipe is flexible and can be customized to suit your taste. Swap the classic brownies for peanut butter brownies to add a nutty twist. Drizzle in caramel sauce between the layers for extra sweetness, or use chocolate pudding to make it even more indulgent. You can also add crushed candy bars, toffee bits, or a sprinkle of sea salt for a gourmet touch. For a fruity variation, layer in sliced strawberries, raspberries, or cherries for a burst of freshness with every bite.

Brownie Cheesecake Trifle Step by Step

Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix, plus ingredients
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 oz hot fudge topping

Preparation

Bake the brownies according to the package, using the cake-like option if available, and let cool.

Use an electric mixer to combine the cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, sugar, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth in a large bowl.

Use a fork to coarsely crumble the brownies. Put 1/3 of the brownies in the bottom of a trifle bowl for the first layer of brownies.

Cover with 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture in an even layer.

Put another layer of 1/3 of the chewy brownie mixture.

Layer with the remaining cheesecake filling.

Garnish with remaining brownies.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.

Just before serving, warm the hot fudge and drizzle on the trifle.

Brownie Cheesecake Trifle Leftovers

Storage: The brownie cheesecake trifle needs to stay refrigerated. Cheesecake filling, because of the ingredients, needs to stay cool. If you have leftovers, cover and store in the refrigerator. It should last for 2-3 days.

Recipe

Brownie Cheesecake Trifle

Layer brownies with a cheesecake filling to make Brownie Cheesecake Trifle, a dessert anyone with a sweet tooth will devour.

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cool Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Course:

Dessert

Cuisine:

American

Diet

Vegetarian

Keyword:

brownies

|

cheesecake

|

cream cheese

|

dessert

|

trifle

Dietary Needs:

Nut-Free

Servings: 8

5 from 9 votes

Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix (plus ingredients)
• 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 oz hot fudge topping

Recommended Equipment

• Electric Mixer
• Stand Mixer
• Trifle Bowl

Instructions

• Bake the brownies according to the package, using the cake-like option if available, and let cool
• Use an electric mixer to combine the cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, sugar, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth
• Use a fork to coarsely crumble the brownies
• Put 1/3 of the brownies in the bottom of a trifle bowl
• Cover with 1/2 of the cheesecake filling
• Put another layer of 1/3 of the brownie mixture
• Layer with the remaining cheesecake filling
• Garnish with remaining brownies
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to overnight
• Just before serving, warm the hot fudge and drizzle on the trifle

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Nutrition Facts

Brownie Cheesecake Trifle

Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)

Calories 584 Calories from Fat 270

% Daily Value*

Fat 30g46%

Saturated Fat 15g75%

Cholesterol 72mg24%

Sodium 338mg14%

Potassium 103mg3%

Carbohydrates 74g25%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 51g57%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 818IU16%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 54mg5%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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