Heaven In A Bowl is one of those desserts that disappears fast at holidays, potlucks, birthdays, and family gatherings. It has layers of fudgy brownies, creamy peanut butter pudding, fluffy Cool Whip, and miniature Reese’s cups all piled into one big trifle bowl.
I love this dessert because every spoonful gives you a little bit of everything: soft brownie pieces, cool creamy pudding, whipped topping, and chocolate-peanut butter candy. It looks impressive in a clear serving bowl, but the ingredients and assembly are very simple.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make. The brownie layer starts with a boxed fudge brownie mix, so most of the work is simple mixing and layering.
- Perfect for a crowd. A large trifle bowl makes this a great dessert for parties and get-togethers.
- Chocolate and peanut butter in every bite. Reese’s cups and creamy peanut butter give the vanilla pudding layer plenty of flavor.
- Make-ahead friendly. You can assemble the dessert ahead of time and keep it chilled until you are ready to serve.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Fudge Brownie Mix
A package of fudge brownie mix makes the chocolate base easy. Prepare it according to the package directions, then let the brownies cool completely before cutting them into small pieces.
Creamy Peanut Butter
Creamy peanut butter blends smoothly into the pudding and gives the filling that familiar peanut butter cup flavor.
Vanilla Pudding
Instant vanilla pudding mixed with cold 2% milk creates the creamy layer. Make sure the milk is cold so the pudding thickens properly.
Miniature Reese’s
Miniature Reese’s cups add chocolate and peanut butter throughout the dessert. Cutting them in half makes them easier to layer and gives you candy in more bites.
Cool Whip
Cool Whip keeps the pudding layer light and fluffy and gives the top of the trifle its creamy finish.
How to Make Heaven In A Bowl
Start by preparing the fudge brownies in a greased 12×9-inch pan at 350°F. Bake them for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs. Let the brownies cool completely, then cut them into roughly ¾-inch pieces.
While the brownies cool, unwrap and halve the miniature Reese’s cups. In a large bowl, beat the cold 2% milk with the instant vanilla pudding for about 2 minutes, until it begins to thicken.
Add the creamy peanut butter and vanilla to the pudding mixture and beat until smooth. Fold in 1½ cups of the whipped topping so the filling stays light and creamy.
To assemble the dessert, add one-third of the brownie pieces to a 5-quart trifle bowl. Add a layer of Reese’s and one-third of the peanut butter pudding mixture. Repeat the layers two more times, then finish the top with the remaining whipped topping and Reese’s pieces.
Chill before serving so the layers have time to settle together.
Variations And Substitutions
You can use homemade brownies instead of a boxed mix if you prefer. Just make sure they are completely cool before you begin layering the dessert.
Chocolate pudding can be used in place of vanilla pudding for an even richer chocolate flavor. You can also use a different chocolate-peanut butter candy, but Reese’s cups give this dessert its classic flavor.
If you do not have a trifle bowl, use any large clear serving bowl that holds about 5 quarts. The dessert will taste the same even if the layers are not displayed in a traditional trifle dish.
Tips for the Best Heaven In A Bowl
- Cool the brownies completely. Warm brownies can soften the pudding and whipped topping too much.
- Use cold milk. Cold milk helps instant pudding thicken properly.
- Fold the whipped topping gently. This keeps the peanut butter filling light and fluffy.
- Save Reese’s for the top. A few candy pieces on top make the finished dessert look much better.
- Chill before serving. The layers hold together better after the dessert has had time to rest in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Heaven In A Bowl the night before?
Yes. This dessert works very well when assembled ahead of time. Cover it and keep it chilled until you are ready to serve.
How do I keep the brownies from getting too soggy?
Let the brownies cool completely before layering them, and do not overmix the pudding layer. The brownies will soften slightly as the dessert sits, but they should still keep some texture.
What can I use instead of a trifle bowl?
Any large deep serving bowl will work. A clear bowl is nice because you can see the brownie, pudding, candy, and whipped topping layers.
Heaven In A Bowl Recipe
The complete recipe card below has the original ingredient amounts and step-by-step method.
Heaven In A Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 package fudge brownie mix plus ingredients required on the package
- 2 packages miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups
- 4 cups cold 2% milk
- 2 packages instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 8-ounce tubs Cool Whip, thawed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 12×9-inch baking pan.
- Prepare the fudge brownie batter according to the package directions. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs rather than wet batter.
- Transfer the pan to a wire rack and allow the brownies to cool completely. Once cooled, cut the brownies into approximately ¾-inch pieces.
- Cut the miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups in half. Reserve a portion of them for decorating the top of the dessert.
- Pour the cold milk into a large mixing bowl and add the instant vanilla pudding mix. Whisk or beat for about 2 minutes, until the pudding becomes smooth and noticeably thickened.
- Add the creamy peanut butter and vanilla extract to the pudding. Mix until completely combined and smooth.
- Gently fold 1½ cups of the thawed whipped topping into the peanut butter pudding mixture until evenly incorporated.
- Arrange one-third of the brownie pieces in the bottom of a large 5-quart glass trifle bowl.
- Scatter some of the peanut butter cup pieces over the brownies, then spread one-third of the peanut butter pudding mixture over the top.
- Repeat the brownie, peanut butter cup, and pudding layers until all three layers have been assembled.
- Spread the remaining whipped topping over the top of the trifle.
- Garnish with the reserved Reese’s peanut butter cups.
- Refrigerate until chilled and set. Serve cold and keep any leftovers refrigerated.
