Chocolate Lasagna Trifle

Dreamy chocolate lasagna trifle is layered with Oreos, sweetened cream cheese, chocolate pudding, and finally topped with Cool Whip. A gorgeous tiered no bake dessert for every occasion, ready in around 25 minutes!

Why this recipe works

Chocolate lasagna trifle is, of course, a reconstruction of our most popular no bake dessert, chocolate lasagna. Decadent, chocolate kissed layers of crushed Oreos, silky cream cheese mixture, and chocolate pudding with a layer of Cool Whip to finish it off makes a gorgeous layered pudding dessert piled high in a trifle bowl. I’ve never had leftovers bringing this to a function, so be prepared!

So, why make a trifle instead of a pan of chocolate lasagna? Well, it certainly feeds more mouths! Which is great for larger parties. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about reaching in and grabbing a big scoop of chocolate lush. All the layers are visible in a clear trifle bowl, which makes it a show stopper for sure. The no-bake aspect is ideal for summer parties, plus it’s really easy to prepare and comes together quickly. It’s also shown face at many Thanksgiving and Christmas dessert tables over the years.

RELATED – Our brownie trifle is very similar to this, but uses brownies instead of Oreos if you’re looking for something that has a little more chew.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

COOKIES – Grab a family-sized package of Oreos, which is 18.1 ounces, for this recipe. There’s no need to remove the cream center when crushing the Oreos, they help add a little moisture to the mix. Don’t crush the Oreos too much, they make up quite a bit of volume in this trifle. A quick crush with a rolling pin will do the trick!

CREAM CHEESE – Let your cream cheese soften at room temperature before beginning so your mixture isn’t lumpy. I cut mine into cubes and let it rest on the counter for 30 minutes or so to help speed up the process.

PUDDING – Be sure to use instant chocolate pudding, coupled with the amount of milk listed in the recipe card below. You will need two 3.9 ounce boxes of instant chocolate pudding for a total of 7.8 ounces. The pudding layer should be thick, not runny, so that it sits between the layers well and doesn’t seep down the bowl.

TOPPING – We topped our chocolate trifle with a layer of Cool Whip, which you will need an extra 8 ounce tub for. Thick chocolate curls make it really stand out, but is totally optional. You can also top with chocolate chips, grated chocolate, crushed or whole Oreos, or leave it as is.

How to Make Chocolate Lasagna Trifle

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Crush the Oreos into bite-sized pieces; set aside. You can use a food processor or a large zipper bag and a rolling pin to crush.
2. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. Slowly add sugar and 1/4 cup of milk. Beat until creamy, then stir in 2 cups of the whipped topping and set aside. Reserve the remaining whipped topping for later use.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together pudding mixes and remaining 4 cups of milk for 2 minutes.
4. Layer 3/4 cup of Oreos into the trifle bowl. Top with 3/4 cup of pudding followed by 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture.
5. Repeat the layers above.
6. Finish with the last of the Oreos and the remaining pudding. Lastly, top with 8 ounces of whipped topping and any optional garnishings you’d like!
7. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

How do you make thick chocolate curls for garnish?

To make the thick chocolate curls to top your trifle with, melt 4-6 ounces of baking chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of either coconut oil or vegetable oil. I prefer to use a double boiler, but if you take it slow, you can use the microwave in short 20 second bursts to melt it.

Spread the melted chocolate onto a baking sheet in a thin, even layer. Pop the baking sheet into the freezer to set, which should only take about 5 minutes. Don’t leave it in for too long, you don’t want the chocolate to fully freeze. The chocolate should leave a slight impression when poked, but your finger should not seep through.

Using a bench scraper or metal spatula, press firmly and slowly against the chocolate in an upward motion to create the chocolate curls.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Absolutely! You can prep your trifle a day in advance and store it, covered, in the refrigerator until ready to serve. It’s actually better this way, as it gives the layers enough time to set. I typically make mine the night before!

Store leftover trifle in an airtight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Yes, of course! I think this trifle would be adorable layered inside pint sized mason jars, like we do with our no bake berry cheesecake trifles. Simply layer everything in smaller amounts into the jars (or plastic cups).

Keeping the layers neat in a trifle bowl is tricky, but it helps to use a an offset or rubber spatula. Gently spread each layer using a clean rubber spatula, trying not to mix the layers together by using the same spatula you used to spread the previous layer (or give it a quick rinse between each). It may also help to chill each layer in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes before adding the next.

Yes, but I would highly recommend using homemade stabilized whipped cream, which adds a bit of gelatin to the mix to help stabilize. Regular whipped cream unfortunately tends to fall flat on top of desserts, especially when made in advance.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your chocolate lasagna trifle chilled, with a garnish of either whole or crushed Oreos, chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, or thick chocolate curls as we did.

This stunner is popular all year round, from summer potlucks to holiday parties and everything in between. Hope you love it!

More Trifle Recipes

• Banana Trifle
• English Trifle
• Tiramisu Trifle
• Lemon Blueberry Trifle
• Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

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