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This Salted Caramel Brownie Cheesecake Trifle is made layers of rich, fudgy brownies, creamy cheesecake filling, salted caramel, homemade whipped cream, and chocolate covered caramels. This is the perfect sweet dessert to impress your guests and is such a crowd pleaser!
Let’s put together some of the most decadent ingredients on the planet together into one dessert — rich, fudgy chocolate brownies, salted caramel, creamy cheesecake filling, sweet whipped cream, and chocolate covered caramels. Does it get much better than this? I am thoroughly obsessed with this chocolate brownie trifle recipe!
Why you will LOVE this Brownie Trifle:
- This is for my chocolate, caramel, and cheesecake lovers out there! Most trifles use a pudding or custard but I love using a cheesecake filling to layer in between because it balances out the richness of the chocolate and caramel.
- This is such a perfect recipe to make a few shortcuts to make it even easier. When I am short on time, I use a Ghirardelli brownie mix and jarred salted caramel and it tastes sinfully good!
- This is a showstopping, beautiful dessert. There’s something that is just stunning about a trifle and yet the beauty of it is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. It is perfectly imperfect!
Ingredients:
This is layers of brownie, caramel, cheesecake filling, fresh whipped cream, and chocolate covered caramels. It is so easy to whip up this stunning chocolate brownie trile. It all starts with a boxed brownie mix or you can make the brownies from scratch. To make it extra easy, I love to use a the Fleur de Sel caramel sauce from Trader Joe’s.
CHOCOLATE BROWNIE LAYER:
- Homemade Chocolate Brownies or Boxed Brownie Mix plus ingredients needed in box mix (oil, water, and eggs).
CREAMY CHEESECAKE LAYER:
- Cream Cheese: Use regular, full-fat cream cheese and soften it slightly before whipping.
- Sugar
- Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste
- Heavy Cream, whipped until stiff peaks
SALTED CARAMEL:
- Buy a jarred caramel sauce or make your own homemade caramel sauce. See below for ideas on the best jarred caramel sauce to use.
HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM:
- Heavy Cream
- Powdered Sugar
What is the best boxed brownie mix to use?
I did a boxed brownie bake off to determine the best boxed brownie mix. There was definitely a clear winner! The taste testers loved the Ghirardelli Brownie Mix the best. The second place winner was the Betty Crocker Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix.
How to make a Brownie Trifle:
These ingredients can be made ahead of time and then all assembled together. Scroll down to find the recipe card with all of the ingredient amounts and full instructions.
1. BAKE the Brownies
- Start by making the boxed brownie mix according to the package instructions or use a homemade brownie recipe. Once baked, allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting them into bite-sized cubes.
2. Make the No-Bake Cheesecake FILLING
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Gradually add in the sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup of heavy cream until stiff peaks form, then gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until smooth and fluffy.
3. Make the Whipped Cream Topping
- Whip an additional 1 cup of heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Set this aside for topping.
4. Layer the Trifle
- First Layer: Start by placing a layer of brownie cubes at the bottom of your trifle dish. This forms the base of the dessert.
- Second Layer: Spoon a generous layer of the no-bake cheesecake mixture on top of the brownies.
- Third Layer: Drizzle a layer of salted caramel sauce over the cheesecake layer for a sweet and salty contrast.
- Repeat: Continue layering brownies, cheesecake, and caramel until you reach the top of your dish.
- Top: Finish the trifle with a thick layer of the homemade whipped cream and top with chocolate covered caramels. Another option is to layer the chocolate covered caramels throughout the trifle.
5. Refrigerate
- Cover the trifle with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours to allow the layers to set and the flavors to meld. You can even make this dessert a day ahead—it tastes even better after chilling overnight!
FAQ’s:
Can I make the brownies from scratch?
Yes! If you prefer homemade brownies, feel free to whip up a batch. My favorite brownie recipes are my Better than a Boyfriend Brownies and my Easy Brownie Recipe. Just ensure they are fully cooled before layering.
Should I use homemade caramel or store-bought caramel?
You can use either homemade caramel or jarred caramel sauce. Here’s my easy caramel sauce recipe or you can buy salted caramel from Trader Joe’s, Ghirardelli caramel sauce, Private Selection caramel, or Mrs. Richardson’s caramel sauce.
If you’re looking for the ultimate crowd-pleasing dessert, look no further than this Caramel Brownie Cheesecake Trifle! Layers of rich brownie chunks, creamy no-bake cheesecake, salted caramel, and homemade whipped cream come together to create a decadent, show-stopping treat.
More Chocolate Dessert Recipes:
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Salted Caramel Brownie Cheesecake Trifle
Ingredients
- (1) 18-20 ounce Brownie Mix * (plus ingredients called for on the box – water, oil, eggs)
- 8 ounces Salted Caramel (jarred or homemade)
Cheesecake Layer:
- (2) 8-ounce pkgs. Cream Cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste
- 1 cup Heavy Cream (whipped to stiff peaks)
Whipped Cream:
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/4 cup Powdered Sugar
Garnish:
- Chocolate Covered Caramels
Instructions
- Start by making the boxed brownie mix according to the package instructions or use a homemade brownie recipe. Once baked, allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting them into small squares.
Cheesecake Filling:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Gradually add in the sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup of heavy cream until stiff peaks form, then gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until smooth and fluffy.
Whipped Cream Topping:
- Whip an additional 1 cup of heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Set this aside for topping.
Layer the Trifle:
- First Layer: Start by placing a layer of brownie cubes at the bottom of your trifle dish. This forms the base of the dessert. Second Layer: Spoon a generous layer of the no-bake cheesecake mixture on top of the brownies. Third Layer: Drizzle a layer of salted caramel sauce over the cheesecake layer for a sweet and salty contrast. Repeat: Continue layering brownies, cheesecake, and caramel until you reach the top of your dish.
- Top: Finish the trifle with a thick layer of the homemade whipped cream and top with chocolate covered caramels. Another option is to layer the chocolate covered caramels throughout the trifle.
- Cover the trifle with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours to allow the layers to set and the flavors to meld. You can even make this dessert a day ahead—it tastes even better after chilling overnight!
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Is it one that needs to be served the same day or is it just as good made a day ahead?
So decadent! This is seriously an amazing recipe that everybody loves.