Name: Heaven in a Bowl
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 195 min
Ingredients: 18.3 ounces box fudge brownie mix; 6.8 ounces instant vanilla pudding (two 3.4-ounce boxes); 3 cups whole milk (cold); 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup creamy peanut butter (Peter Pan brand used); 16 ounces whipped topping; 36 Mini Reese’s cups (unwrapped and cut into halves (divided into 3 – ⅓ amount portions for layering and garnish))

Glass trifle bowl filled with layers of peanut butter mousse, whipped cream, chocolate brownies, and chopped peanut butter cups, topped with more peanut butter cup pieces on top.

Heaven in a bowl layers fudgy brownies, peanut butter pudding, whipped topping, and Reese’s cups for the ultimate trifle dessert. This easy no bake dessert comes together fast and always steals the show at parties and holidays.

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Table of Contents

What You'll Need to Make Heaven in a Bowl
Substitutions and Additions
How to Make Heaven in a Bowl
FAQ for Heaven in a Bowl
Storage FAQ
JUMP TO RECIPE

Table of Contents

You’ve just discovered heaven in a bowl, and it’s about to become your absolute go-to dessert when you want something epic, but not fussy. Layers of brownie, peanut butter pudding, whipped topping, and mini Reese’s cups - it's a total crowd-pleaser.

Glass trifle bowl filled with dessert layers of peanut butter mousse, brownies, whipped topping, and peanut butter cups, topped with extra candies.

More Recipes ⭐ Vanilla Trifle | Bailey's Chocolate Cheesecake Trifle | Christmas Trifle

Recipe at a Glance

There’s nothing quite like scooping through the layers of this heaven in a bowl dessert. You get rich brownie cubes, a creamy peanut butter mousse that’s light yet still holds together, and a fluffy whipped topping that feels like a cloud.

Add in mini Reese’s scattered throughout, and every bite is pure chocolate-peanut butter bliss.

Here’s a quick breakdown so you can get all the must-knows for perfect Reese's brownie trifle:

⏱ Prep Time: 15 min
⏱ Total Time (with chill): 3 hr 15 min
🍽 Servings: 12

What You'll Need to Make Heaven in a Bowl

Overhead shot of all the dessert ingredients including baked fudge brownies, Cool Whip, instant vanilla pudding, peanut butter, milk, vanilla, and mini peanut butter cups.

What you'll need to make this heaven in a bowl dessert recipe:

18.3 ounces box fudge brownie mix, baked and cooled according to package directions in a 9×13 pan and cut into 1 inch pieces (Duncan Hines brand used)
6.8 ounces instant vanilla pudding (two 3.4-ounce boxes)
3 cups whole milk, cold
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup creamy peanut butter, Peter Pan brand used
16 ounces whipped topping, thawed and divided (1 ½ cups folded into the filling and the remaining used to create the trifle layers) (Cool Whip brand used) (approximately 6 ½ cups)
36 Mini Reese’s cups, unwrapped and cut into halves (divided into 3 – ⅓ amount portions for layering and garnish)

Substitutions and Additions

Want to mix things up a little with your heaven in a bowl? Try these simple swaps and extras:

🍫 Brownie Base:
Use a boxed fudge brownie mix for quick prep (that's how we do it).
Make unfrosted homemade brownies if you want a richer, more personal touch. Try our cake mix brownies, too!

🥜 Peanut Butter Choices:
Swap creamy peanut butter with crunchy for extra texture.
Use a flavored peanut butter (like chocolate swirl) for added depth.

🍮 Pudding Options:
Stick with vanilla pudding for classic flavor.
Try chocolate pudding for a richer chocolate kick.

🍦 Whipped Topping:
Use Cool Whip for convenience.
Swap in homemade whipped cream for a fresher, fluffier layer.

🍬 Candy Add-Ins:
Mini Reese’s cups are a must, but you can add Reese’s Pieces for crunch.
Sprinkle in chopped peanut butter chips or chocolate chips for more texture.

How to Make Heaven in a Bowl

Make and Slice the Brownies

Prepare and bake the fudge brownie mix according to package directions. Cool the brownies completely, then cut cleanly. Warm brownies will smear and collapse. Let them cool fully (even overnight), then use a serrated knife to cut into neat one-inch squares. For the cleanest cuts, chill the brownies for 10–15 minutes before slicing.

Overhead view of a pan of baked brownies cut into a grid pattern and cooled, with an arrow pointing to chopped brownie squares spread on a wooden cutting board. Text overlay reads “Let your brownies cool fully! Then cut in small pieces – about 1” x 1”.”

Make the Filling Mixture

Whisk the pudding mixture for the full two minutes so it firms up properly once chilled.

Fold in the whipped topping gently. Folding with a spatula – not stirring aggressively – keeps the mousse light and fluffy.

Chill for at least three hours before serving. This isn’t optional. The chill time allows the pudding to firm up and the layers to set. Without it, the dessert will collapse when scooped.

Four-step collage showing the process of layering brownies, peanut butter cups, peanut butter mousse, and whipped topping in a trifle bowl.

Layering Order:

Half the brownie cubes
⅓ of the chopped Reese’s
Half the peanut butter pudding
Half the whipped topping
Repeat
Finish with a pile of Reese’s on top

Note – This recipe is designed for a three-quart trifle dish. If you’re using a smaller one, hold back some of each layer or make mini trifles in glasses.

Close-up of a serving bowl with layers of whipped topping, peanut butter mousse, brownies, and peanut butter cups, ready to be eaten with a spoon.

Best Ways To Serve Heaven in a Bowl

Heaven in a bowl is fun, rich, and always a hit. It layers brownies, pudding, whipped topping, and candy, so it works for almost any event.

🎉 Family gatherings and holidays: Serve this at Thanksgiving or Christmas when you want something chocolatey after dinner. Pair it with pumpkin cheesecake bars or banana fluff salad for a sweet spread.

☀️ Summer cookouts and potlucks: This chilled dessert is perfect for warm-weather parties. Bring it alongside strawberry pie bars or Oreo cupcakes to keep the table cool and easy.

🎂 Birthday parties and celebrations: Kids love the mini Reese’s cups in every bite, and adults never turn down brownies with pudding. Set it next to birthday cake delight or booty dip for a fun party table.

✨ Alternative serving ideas: Spoon it into individual jars for grab-and-go treats. Top it with extra Reese’s Pieces, chocolate chips, or a caramel drizzle for a more festive look.

Glass trifle bowl filled with layers of brownies, peanut butter mousse, whipped topping, and chopped peanut butter cups with ingredient packaging shown beside it.

FAQ for Heaven in a Bowl

Can I bake the brownies a day before making heaven in a bowl?
Yes, you can bake brownies for heaven in a bowl the night before. This saves time and makes assembly easier.

What size dish should I use to assemble heaven in a bowl?
Use a 3-quart trifle dish for heaven in a bowl. A clear dish also shows off the layers beautifully.

Can I add extra candy layers in heaven in a bowl?
Yes, you can add more candy when layering heaven in a bowl. Extra Reese’s or chocolate chips add more sweetness and texture.

How do I cut the Reese’s cups for heaven in a bowl?
Cut mini Reese’s cups in half for heaven in a bowl. This size spreads the candy evenly through each layer.

Side-by-side serving bowls of Heaven in a Bowl dessert, showing creamy layers of peanut butter mousse, brownies, whipped topping, and Reese’s cups.

Storage FAQ

Can I make the brownies ahead of time? You can bake the brownies a day ahead. Keep them covered tightly with plastic wrap at room temperature.

Can I premake the pudding mixture? Prepare the pudding mixture up to 12 hours in advance. Cover and chill, then stir gently before layering.

How long will assembled trifle last? Enjoy heaven in a bowl within 48 hours. After that, the layers soften and lose definition. Do not freeze.

Large glass trifle bowl topped with peanut butter cups surrounded by ingredient packaging including brownie mix, Skippy peanut butter, Reese’s minis, and Jell-O pudding.

Heaven in a Bowl

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Prep Time 15

Chill Time 3

Total Time 3 15

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 611 kcal

Ingredients

18.3 ounces box fudge brownie mix (baked and cooled according to package directions in a 9×13 pan and cut into 1 inch pieces (Duncan Hines brand used))
6.8 ounces instant vanilla pudding (two 3.4-ounce boxes)
3 cups whole milk (cold)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup creamy peanut butter (Peter Pan brand used)
16 ounces whipped topping (thawed and divided (1 ½ cups folded into the filling and the remaining used to create the trifle layers) (Cool Whip brand used) (approximately 6 ½ cups))
36 Mini Reese’s cups (unwrapped and cut into halves (divided into 3 – ⅓ amount portions for layering and garnish))

DIRECTIONS

Prepare and bake the fudge brownie mix according to package directions, for your brand of mix, in a 9×13 baking pan. Cool the brownies completely before cutting them into 1 inch pieces. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl whisk together the instant vanilla pudding, whole milk and vanilla extract for 2 minutes or until the pudding has thickened.
Whisk in the creamy peanut butter until the mixture is smooth and thick.
Fold 1 ½ cups of the thawed whipped topping into the peanut butter pudding mixture until no white streaks remain.
To the bottom of a 3 quart trifle dish, add half the fudge brownie pieces in a single layer followed by ⅓ of the halved mini Reese’s peanut butter cups sprinkled over the brownie pieces.
Next, spread half of the peanut butter pudding filling over the brownies and Reese’s cups in a smooth, even layer.
Top with half (approximately 2 ½ cups) of the remaining whipped topping spread to an even layer.
Repeat steps 5 – 7 with the fudge brownie pieces, another ⅓ of the halved mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, peanut butter pudding filling and remaining whipped topping.
Garnish the top of the heaven in a bowl trifle with the remaining ⅓ halved mini Reese’s peanut butter cups piled into the center of the whipped topping.
Refrigerate the heaven in a bowl for 3-4 hours or until completely chilled and the peanut butter pudding layer has firmed up enough to easily scoop out individual servings.

Notes

You can bake, and cool, the boxed fudge brownies up to 24 hours in advance. Be sure to tightly wrap the cooled baking pan with plastic wrap and store at room temperature until ready to cut the brownies into one inch pieces and assemble the trifle. You can line your baking pan with a piece of parchment paper to easily lift and remove the cooled brownies from the pan. This will make it easier to cut the brownies into the smaller 1 inch sized pieces.
I do not recommend using low-fat milk, or dairy alternatives, to mix with the instant vanilla pudding as they do not yield the desired results for the final consistency needed for the pudding for this recipe.
A traditional creamy peanut butter such as Peter Pan, JIF, Skippy or Reese’s brand is best for use in this recipe. Homemade, or natural, peanut butters contain too much excess oil and will alter the texture of the filling for this heaven in a bowl trifle.

Nutrition

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