Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Beautiful and impressive presentation in every glass or dish
- No baking required—perfect for hot weather or quick prep
- Super customizable with endless flavor combos
- Great for parties, holidays, or casual family dinners
- Can be made ahead and chilled until ready to serve
- Works in individual cups or a large trifle bowl
- Kid-friendly and fun to assemble together
- Easy way to use up cookies, cake scraps, or leftover fruit
- Delicious mix of creamy, crunchy, and sweet layers
- Feels fancy with very little effort
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Instant pudding mix (any flavor: vanilla, chocolate, butterscotch, etc.)
- Cold milk
- Whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed
- Crushed cookies or graham crackers
- Cake or brownie cubes (optional)
- Fresh fruit (such as strawberries, bananas, or berries)
- Optional: chocolate chips, caramel sauce, or sprinkles
Directions
- In a mixing bowl, prepare the instant pudding with cold milk according to package instructions. Chill for 5–10 minutes to thicken.
- Choose a serving dish (trifle bowl, baking dish, or clear cups for individual servings).
- Start layering: begin with a base of crushed cookies or cake cubes.
- Spoon a layer of pudding on top.
- Add a layer of whipped topping.
- Layer fresh fruit or other add-ins like chocolate chips or drizzle sauces.
- Repeat the layers until the dish is full, finishing with whipped topping and a garnish of cookies, fruit, or sprinkles.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving to let the layers set.
Servings and timing
Serves: 6–8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Variations
- Use chocolate pudding, brownies, and crushed Oreos for a “chocolate overload” version
- Make a strawberry shortcake trifle with vanilla pudding, angel food cake, and strawberries
- Try a banana pudding version with vanilla wafers and sliced bananas
- Use lemon pudding, crushed graham crackers, and whipped topping for a bright, zesty treat
- Add peanut butter to chocolate pudding for a rich twist
- Make it dairy-free with plant-based pudding and whipped topping
Storage/Reheating
Store layered desserts covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They are not ideal for freezing as the texture may change when thawed. Assemble as close to serving time as possible if using fruit that releases juice (like strawberries or bananas).
FAQs
What is a layered dessert?
It’s a dessert made by stacking different components—like pudding, whipped topping, cookies, and fruit—into layers for texture and flavor contrast.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, it’s perfect for making ahead. Assemble and chill a few hours before serving for the best texture.
Do I have to use pudding?
No, you can use yogurt, mousse, or softened cream cheese blended with sugar and vanilla instead of pudding.
What kind of cookies work best?
Crushed Oreos, graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or chocolate chip cookies all work great depending on your flavor combo.
Can I make it in individual cups?
Yes! Small clear cups or jars make for perfect single-serve desserts and great presentation.
How do I keep the layers neat?
Use a spoon or piping bag to add each layer slowly and carefully, wiping the edges if needed for a clean look.
What fruits are best for layered desserts?
Berries, bananas, peaches, or mangoes work well. Avoid overly juicy fruits that could make the dessert soggy.
Can I make it without whipped topping?
Yes, use stabilized whipped cream or a dairy-free version if preferred.
Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes, just use gluten-free cookies or cake, and make sure all other ingredients are labeled gluten-free.
Can kids help make it?
Absolutely! It’s a great hands-on recipe for kids to assemble their own layers and get creative.
Conclusion
Layered desserts are a fun, flexible, and foolproof way to create a show-stopping treat with minimal effort. Whether you go fruity, chocolatey, or somewhere in between, these sweet stacks deliver flavor, texture, and smiles every time. Perfect for parties or just a little everyday indulgence, this no-bake dessert is always a hit.
PrintLayered Dessert
Layered Dessert is an easy, no-bake treat made by stacking pudding, whipped topping, cookies, fruit, and other sweet ingredients into beautiful layers. Great for parties or quick family desserts, it’s flexible, fun, and always delicious.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant pudding mix (vanilla, chocolate, etc.)
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 (8 oz) tub whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed
- 1 cup crushed cookies or graham crackers
- 2 cups cake or brownie cubes (optional)
- 1–2 cups fresh fruit (strawberries, bananas, berries)
- Optional: 1/4 cup chocolate chips, caramel sauce, or sprinkles
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk pudding mix with cold milk. Chill for 5–10 minutes to thicken.
- Choose a serving dish: a trifle bowl, baking dish, or clear cups for individual servings.
- Start layering with crushed cookies or cake cubes as the base.
- Add a layer of pudding, then a layer of whipped topping.
- Add fruit or optional toppings like chocolate chips or sauce.
- Repeat layers until the dish is full, ending with whipped topping and garnish.
- Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- Use a piping bag for neat layers in clear cups.
- Wait to add juicy fruit (like bananas or strawberries) until close to serving to avoid sogginess.
- Not freezer-friendly—store in the fridge and enjoy within 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
