Layers of homemade brownies and a no bake peppermint cheesecake make this Peppermint Brownie Trifle an impressive dessert to bring to holiday parties.
A few years ago we visited my family over Thanksgiving. We were able to stay at my sister's house while we were there, and it was fun to catch up with her over those few days. And of course seeing our little niece and nephew was a treat because they are getting so big, so fast.
While we were there, we made a batch of Chocolate Cherry Chunk Cookies and talked dessert. Surprise, surprise. I still like to make and talk dessert even when I'm not home.
While we were talking she asked me about making a no bake cheesecake. Apparently, she had been craving one and tried to put one together using the ingredients in her fridge instead of what the recipe called for.
She thought she could use milk in place of whipping cream. Silly girl! I had quite a laugh at her expense. It's ok. She was totally laughing too!
Just so you know, milk cannot be used in place of whipping cream for a no bake cheesecake! My sister found that out when she went back hours later to see if her cheesecake had set up.
However, I gave her props for improvising and freezing the runny mixture. She said it was kind of like an icy frozen cheesecake and got her past her craving.
I usually have tubs of Cool Whip in my refrigerator for cheesecake instead of whipping cream. Yes, I know. The white stuff that some people find so controversial is always in our house.
I came home from visiting my sister and whipped up a creamy no bake peppermint cheesecake because apparently my love for peppermint has no end.
Then I made these Homemade Chocolate Chip Brownies, minus the chocolate chips and layered the two together in a bowl. A store bought brownie mix works just as well too, if you were wondering.
This Peppermint Brownie Trifle looks so impressive all layered together in a clear trifle bowl.
Ingredients Needed
- butter
- dark cocoa powder
- eggs
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- baking powder
- flour
- salt
- cream cheese
- peppermint extract
- Andes Peppermint Crunch Chips (I'm seriously obsessed with them and always have a few bags in the pantry)
- Cool Whip
- Andes Peppermint Crunch Candy Bars
How to make a Peppermint Brownie Trifle
- Mix together the melted butter and cocoa powder.
- Beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
- Stir in the flour, salt, baking powder, and butter mixture.
- Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan and bake for 30 minutes. Let the brownie cool completely before cutting it into 1-inch squares.
- Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and extracts until creamy.
- Place the peppermint crunch chips and some shortening in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds. Stir until melted and creamy. You may need to heat again for 15-20 seconds.
- Mix the melted peppermint into the cream cheese mixture.
- Fold in Cool Whip and more peppermint crunch chips.
- Layer the brownie cubes and no bake peppermint cheesecake in a large clear bowl.
- Top with more Cool Whip, peppermint crunch chips, and candy bars.
More peppermint desserts for the holidays
- Peppermint Oreo Cheesecake
- Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies
- Peppermint Oreo Bark
- Peppermint Mocha Fudge Tart
- Peppermint Rice Krispies Pinwheels
Recipe
Peppermint Brownie Trifle
Layers of homemade brownies and a no bake peppermint cheesecake makes this Peppermint Brownie Trifle an impressive dessert to serve at holiday parties.
Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup dark cocoa powder
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
For the Cheesecake Layer
- 2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 ⅓ cups Andes Peppermint Crunch Chips, divided
- 2 teaspoons shortening
- 16 ounces Cool Whip, thawed and divided
- Andes Peppermint Crunch candy bars, cut into triangles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in the cocoa powder. Let cool slightly.
- Beat the eggs until light colored. Add the sugar and extracts and beat again.
- Stir in ¼ cup of butter/cocoa mixture quickly. Add the rest of the butter mixture and beat again.
- Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Slowly beat into the wet mixture in the bowl.
- Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Do not over bake. Remove and let cool.
- Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and extracts until light and creamy. Set aside.
- Place 1 ½ cups Andes peppermint chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Stir and heat again if needed until creamy. Pour into cream cheese mixture and beat until mixed in.
- Fold in half of the Cool Whip and ½ cup Andes chips.
- Cut the brownies into 1 inch squares. Place half the brownies in the bottom of a trifle bowl.
- Top with half of the peppermint cheesecake. Repeat layers.
- Cover the top with the 2 ½ cups Cool Whip and Andes chips.
- Swirl the last ½ cup Cool Whip around the edges with a piping bag and icing tip 21.
- Top each swirl with candy bar triangles. Keep refrigerated and covered until serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 684Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 26gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 397mgCarbohydrates: 70gFiber: 2gSugar: 55gProtein: 8g
*The post and recipe for this Peppermint Brownie Trifle was originally published on December 14, 2015. The post has been updated and republished on November 29, 2018.
Amy
2 layers of each only came up to about 2 inches in my trifle dish, which it states makes a large trifle. Very aggravating making it night before a Christmas party Im suppose to take it to. I followed the instructions exactly, What did I do wrong??
Jocelyn
I am not sure. This should have filled the bowl like my pictures show. The link to the bowl that I used is in the bottom of the recipe. What size trifle bowl did you use? Feel free to send me a picture, so I can see the bowl and how it was filled at jocelyn@insidebrucrewlife.com
Colleen
Hi I’m trying to find the peppermint chips. Are the chocolate or actual candy cane pieces?
Jocelyn
Andes makes a peppermint crunch baking chip that I used in this trifle. I have seen bags of it at Target this year. They also have the peppermint crunch candy bars, just like the little Andes mints. Those are what I used on top, and you can chop them up for the other bits too. Those are at Target as well. And both candies can be purchased on Amazon.
Sharon Smarro
How far in advance can I make this completely assembled?
Jocelyn
You could put it together 1-2 days ahead of time and it would still be great. I hope you enjoy it.
Laura
I was unable to locate the peppermint crunch chips as well. Since it's around Christmas, I bought some candy canes. Just do not try to melt them, you'll get a burnt mess. Instead, take some candy canes and run them through a food processer until they turn to powder and then add them to the mix. Turned out the same way with no crunchy bits in the cream cheese mix. Overall very tasty!
Jocelyn
Chopped candy canes are a great option for this dessert since the filling is no bake! I have seen the peppermint crunch thins at Target and those will work if chopped up. Glad you were able to enjoy the dessert!
Christina Reff
This was delicious!!! I didn't have time to make homemade brownies, so I just used a box mix, but next time I'll use your recipe. The peppermint cheesecake portion was perfect! I too had to use Ghiradelli white chocolate peppermint chunks b/c I couldn't find the ones you mentioned, and I put peppermint Hershey Kisses around the top of the trifle. But now I know to keep my eyes out for the Andes Peppermint Crunch Chips next year.
Holly Martinez
What can I use as a replacement for shortening? I have none in the house and forgot all about getting some!
Jocelyn
You can also use a little bit of butter or coconut oil in place of it. It is just to thin the chips out a little when you heat them in the microwave.
Jolynn
Can’t find the peppermint baking chips! I’ve never seen them before, Wondering whether these are like crushed up candy canes and coated a bit with white chocolate? Your recipe says to melt the chips and stir till creamy? Thanks,
Jocelyn
I have seen these Andes peppermint chips at our grocery store (Publix) and at Target this year. It is a peppermint white chocolate with little bits of peppermint pieces in it. Ghirardelli also has white chocolate peppermint chunks that would work too, but it will be white instead of pink. You can find those at the grocery store or Walmart. I hope you are able to find either one and enjoy the trifle.
Andrea
I had to buy them on Amazon because I couldn’t find them at the grocery store. Unfortunately, they force you to buy a minimum of 3 bags. I’m not quite sure what to do with the remaining bag that I didn’t use!
Brooke G
Can I make this in advance? Like a day or two in advance?
Jocelyn
Yes, it should be fine made a day or two ahead of time. I hope you enjoy the trifle!
Brooke G
Thank you!
Katie
When using box brownies do you use one or 2 boxes? I usually bake a single box in a 9x9 pan not 9x13 so I want to make sure I have enough.
Jocelyn
For this trifle I bake a 9x13 pan of brownies. The recipe for the homemade version is in the recipe card, or you can buy a 9x13 box brownie mix. Either one works.
Sabrina
This was such a showstopper! Everyone kept asking for the recipe!