Death by Chocolate Fudge Brownie Trifle

Today is National Fudge Day. Now I know what you may have been expecting – creamy Fudge Candy, the kind most of us make every Christmas. Just as there’s more than one definition of the word “Fudge”, there’s more than one way to enjoy fudge’s creamy goodness.

I looked it up – in one dictionary alone, there are 15 different means for the word Fudge.

Fudge: to fake or falsify
Fudge: An utterance of frustration in place of a curse word.
Fudge: Nonsense
Fudge: A short piece of last-minute news or other matter inserted in a newspaper page as a filler.
Fudge: A soft, rich candy made with sugar, milk, butter and flavorings.
Fudge: A rich chocolate sauce poured over ice cream.

The list went on and on. And then we have fudge cakes, fudge cookies, fudge frostings, fudge brownies and puddings. So yeah, there’s more than one way to celebrate National Fudge Day.

At a recent family gathering I made a sinfully rich Death By Chocolate Fudge Trifle, with layers of fudge brownie and chocolate fudge pudding. My family loved it. And today, National Fudge Day, seemed the perfect day to share this over the top creamy, cool dessert on a warm summer’s day.

Death by Chocolate Fudge Brownie Trifle
Fudge Brownies
1 (18.3 oz) box Fudge Brownie Mix
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
3 tablespoons Water
2 whole Eggs

Heat oven to 350-degrees. Spray a 13-by 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper that will line the bottom of the dish and sides of the dish with about an inch of overhang on the long sides. Spray paper with cooking spray, press into place and spray again. Set prepared pan aside.

In a mixing bowl, mix Brownie Mix, oil, water and eggs with a spoon about 50 times, until most of the lumps are dissolved. Spread mix into the prepared pan.

Bake brownies for 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.

Remove, place on a cooling rack and let cool before lifting from the pan. While the brownie cools, make pudding.

Chocolate Fudge Pudding
2 (5.9 oz) boxes Instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding Mix
6 cups Milk

In a glass mixing bowl, whisk pudding mix with milk until soft-set, about 5 minutes.

Cover with plastic wrap, refrigerate until fully set, at least 30 minutes.

Once the pudding is fully set, assemble the trifle.

Trifle Finishing Touches
4 oz Heath Toffee Bits
1 (16 oz) tub Cool Whip, thawed

Lift brownie from pan, cut into bite-size squares.

In a trifle dish, layer 1/3 of the cut brownies, top with 1/3 of the pudding, a scattering of candy bits and 1/3 of the whipped topping

Repeat with a second layer of brownie, pudding, candy bits and whipped topping.

For the final layer, repeat the layers of brownie and pudding. This time top pudding with whipped topping, then sprinkle remaining toffee bits on top.

Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Spoon into bowls, serve and enjoy every rich decadent bite.