Black Forest Trifle gives you all the flavours of a black forest cake in one quick and easy-to-make dessert. It’s just 5 simple ingredients and it feeds a crowd. Rich and chocolatey but light and fluffy, this simple but stunning layered dessert is guaranteed to be a hit with everyone.
Black Forest Trifle – Best Dessert for a Crowd
When I need a delicious dessert for a family gathering or pot-luck, this Black Forest Trifle Recipe is my go-to. It looks so impressive, but it’s super-easy to make, and it feeds up to 20 people. It’s one of my favourite desserts to make for Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving and holiday pot-lucks.
5 Convenient Ingredients
The 5 simple ingredients require little or no preparation, making this a really quick and easy dessert to pull together. It’s a boxed brownie mix (which you do have to bake first, but that’s so easy), packaged chocolate mousse, a tub of Cool Whip, a can of cherry pie filling and a couple of crushed candy bars.
Seriously. What other large dessert could you make so easily? And hello… would it look this gorgeous?
I first tasted this black forest trifle years ago when my aunt served it at a large family function. One bite, and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.
In spite of this trifle being rich and chocolatey, the fluffy mousse and Cool Whip keep it from being too heavy or filling.
And like I said, this trifle feeds a crowd.
I either make it in a large trifle bowl or a huge glass salad bowl, and there’s always enough to go around no matter how many people I’m feeding.
If I were to guess, I’d say this dessert could easily feed 20 people.
Ok, we’ll make it in a sec, but first I’ll talk about some substitutions if you can’t get a couple of the ingredients where you live.
Substitute for Skor Bar:
A Skor bar is a thin bar of buttery toffee covered in a layer of chocolate. Heath Bars and Dime Bars are fairly similar and can be used as a substitute for Skor in this recipe.
Substitute for Cool Whip
Cool whip is a processed whipped topping similar to whipped cream, but unlike whipped cream, it holds its form and won’t fall flat over time. Apparently, you can’t get Cool Whip in Australia, but one of my Aussie readers kindly sent me this recipe for homemade Cool Whip. Others have said they make their own own Cool Whip by adding icing sugar (powdered sugar) to real whipped cream.
Ok, on to the recipe!
Ingredients for Black Forest Trifle:
- 1 540 mL can cherry pie filling
- 1 L tub (299g) Cool Whip, thawed (or Homemade Cool Whip)
- 1 boxed brownie mix
- 2 packets chocolate mousse (I use this brand)
- 4 Skor bars (Heath Bars and Dime Bars are fine substitutes).
Prepare your ingredients:
Bake and cool your brownies and loosely chop and crumble them.
Prepare the chocolate mousse according to directions on package.
Crush your Skor bars. I put them in a sandwich bag and smack them several times with the can of pie filling.
Assembling your Black Forest Trifle
In a trifle bowl or large glass salad bowl, layer half of the brownies, mousse, cherries and Cool Whip.
Repeat layers and sprinkle the crushed Skor pieces on top.
Note: The layers don’t really have to be in any particular order, but you do want to finish with the Cool Whip, and Skor pieces.
Yum! Doesn’t it look divine?
It’s quick and easy, and hands-down, one of the best desserts to make for a crowd.
5-Ingredient Black Forest Trifle
Easy and delicious, this Black Forest Trifle is perfect for holiday entertaining and pot-lucks. Big enough to feed a crowd.
Servings: 20
Calories: 146kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pkg brownie mix
- 1 540 ml can cherry pie filling
- 1 1L tub Cool Whip
- 2 pkgs chocolate mousse
- 4 Skor candy bars
Instructions
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Bake, cool and crumble your brownies.
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Prepare the chocolate mousse according to directions on package.
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Crush SKOR bars and set aside.
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In a large trifle bowl, layer half of the brownies, mousse, cherries and Cool Whip.
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Repeat layers, and top with crushed Skor pieces.
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Chill until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 40mg | Sugar: 14g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1.4mg
If you’re a huge fan black forest recipes, be sure to check out these amazing black forest cupcakes from Family Food and Travel!
More desserts to-die-for:
Crazy Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
Crazy-Good Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
