Name: Heaven In A Bowl Is Simply Divine
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 cups cold heavy cream; 1 1/2 Tbsp. powdered sugar; 3/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided; 1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature; 1 cup creamy peanut butter; 3 cups whole milk; 1 (5.1-oz.) pkg. vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix (such as Jell-O); 2 (18-oz.) pkg. premium double chocolate brownie mix (such as Ghirardelli), prepared according to package instructions in 8-in. square pans; 3 (7.6-oz.) pkg. mini unwrapped peanut butter cups, roughly chopped (such as Reese’s), divided

Heaven In A Bowl Is Simply Divine

5.0

(2)

2 Reviews

Heaven in a bowl is an easy but decadent trifle that will impress all of your guests. The flavors resemble the best peanut butter pie, but it's all assembled in an easy-to-transport trifle form. Pieces of brownie are piled between a peanut butter-pudding "custard," chunks of peanut butter cups, and sweetened whipped cream. The result is a perfect salty-sweet mixture that will disappear by the spoonful. The chewy texture of the brownie and the crunch of the chocolate peanut butter cups helps hold structure while enveloped in the sweet nutty whipped cream cheese filling. You won't need to let this dessert sit long. It's nearly perfect the moment it's finished.

Marianne Williams

Updated on August 8, 2024

Recipe tested by

Southern Living Test Kitchen

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

30 mins

Servings:

Southern Living Heaven in a Bowl ready to serve — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Ingredients

3 cups cold heavy cream
1 1/2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
3/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 cups whole milk
1 (5.1-oz.) pkg. vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix (such as Jell-O)
2 (18-oz.) pkg. premium double chocolate brownie mix (such as Ghirardelli), prepared according to package instructions in 8-in. square pans
3 (7.6-oz.) pkg. mini unwrapped peanut butter cups, roughly chopped (such as Reese’s), divided

Directions

Gather ingredients:

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Make whipped cream:

Beat heavy cream in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and continue to beat until stiff peaks form, about 20 more seconds. Chill in refrigerator until ready to use.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Make pudding mixture:

Combine cream cheese and peanut butter in another large bowl, beat with an electric mixer on high speed until combined and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add milk, pudding mix, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and beat on low speed until starting to thicken. Increase speed to medium and continue to beat until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, about 1 minute.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Combine pudding mixture and whipped cream:

Remove and set aside 2 cups of the whipped cream mixture in a small bowl and set aside. Add remaining whipped cream mixture to pudding mixture and fold until combined and fluffy.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Assemble trifle layers:

Tear brownies into 3/4-inch pieces to measure about 6 cups (reserve any remaining brownies for another use); set aside 1/2 cup brownie pieces for topping. Arrange about 1 1/3 cups brownie pieces in bottom of a 4-quart trifle dish.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Top with 1 scant cup peanut butter cups.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Top with 2 heaping cups pudding mixture.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Repeat layers once; spread 1 cup of the reserved whipped cream over pudding layer.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Finish trifle:

Repeat layers of brownies, peanut butter cups, and pudding mixture twice.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Top with remaining 1 cup whipped cream.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Crumble reserved 1/2 cup brownie pieces over whipped cream and sprinkle with any remaining peanut butter cups.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 12 hours.

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle