Nutter Butter Trifle

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Prep time 20 minutes

Cooking time —

Total time 1 hour

Servings 8 servings

NUTTER BUTTER TRIFLE is my go to dessert for those days when you want something fun and sweet, but you do not want to bake a whole cake or fuss with fancy steps. You know the feeling when guests are coming, the kitchen is already a mess, and you still need a dessert that looks like you tried. This is the one I pull out because it is basically layers of creamy, crunchy, and pudding goodness in a bowl. It tastes like childhood peanut butter cookies and a creamy pie had a really delicious baby. And yes, people will ask for the recipe, so you might as well save this page now.

The Story Behind This Recipe

I’ve spent years testing recipes for Midd Leeast Sector, and this Nutter Butter Trifle is a keeper: big on flavor with no weird tricks. NUTTER BUTTER TRIFLE is my go to dessert for those days when you want something fun and sweet, but you do not want to bake a…

Alexandraa

Nutter Butter Trifle Ingredients

This is the kind of recipe where the ingredient list looks almost too easy, but the result feels like a treat from a potluck table that everyone crowds around. I like using a clear trifle dish so you can see all the layers, but any big glass bowl works.

Here is what you will need:

• Nutter Butter cookies, plus a few extra for topping
• Instant vanilla pudding mix
• Cold milk (whatever the pudding box calls for)
• Cream cheese, softened
• Powdered sugar
• Whipped topping or homemade whipped cream
• Peanut butter (optional but highly recommended for extra peanut flavor)
• Chocolate syrup or melted chocolate for drizzling (optional)

Quick note from my kitchen: if you love peanut butter desserts as much as I do, you should also peek at this creamy peanut butter pie recipe sometime. It has the same cozy vibe as this trifle, just in slice form.

Substitutions and Additions

The best part about this dessert is how forgiving it is. I have made it with what I had in the fridge and it still turned out great. Here are a few easy swaps and fun add ins if you want to make it your own.

Easy swaps if you are out of something

If you are missing an ingredient, do not panic. Try one of these:

Cream cheese: You can use mascarpone for a softer, richer layer. In a pinch, you can also skip it and just do extra whipped topping, though you will lose that cheesecake style tang.

Whipped topping: Homemade whipped cream is totally fine. Just whip heavy cream with a little powdered sugar until fluffy.

Vanilla pudding: Cheesecake pudding or banana cream pudding both work really well with Nutter Butter cookies.

Fun additions:

If you want to take the NUTTER BUTTER TRIFLE up a notch, these are my favorites:

Add sliced bananas for a peanut butter banana vibe, sprinkle mini chocolate chips between layers, or mix crushed cookies into the cream layer for extra texture. Sometimes I even tuck in little chunks of brownie if I have them sitting around.

And if you are on a peanut butter kick, these 4 ingredient cake mix peanut butter soft cookies are dangerously easy. I have made them “just to have cookies” and then accidentally used them as a snack while assembling this trifle.

“I brought this to a family dinner and it was the first dessert gone. My uncle asked if I bought it from a bakery. I did not correct him right away.”

How to Make Nutter Butter Trifle

This is the part where you can relax because it is mostly mixing and layering. I usually make it the day of, but it is also great the next day once the cookies soften a little.

Step 1: Make the pudding.
Whisk the instant pudding mix with cold milk until thickened. Pop it in the fridge while you prep the rest so it sets up nicely.

Step 2: Make the cream layer.
In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth. If you are adding peanut butter, beat in a few spoonfuls here. Then gently fold in the whipped topping until it looks fluffy and creamy.

Step 3: Crush the cookies.
I like a mix of chunks and crumbs. I put them in a zip top bag and smash them with a rolling pin. Very therapeutic, honestly.

Step 4: Layer it up.
In your dish, add a layer of crushed Nutter Butter cookies, then pudding, then the cream mixture. Repeat until you run out, finishing with the cream layer on top.

Step 5: Decorate.
Top with extra cookie pieces, a drizzle of chocolate, or even a little dollop of peanut butter warmed for a few seconds so it pours easily.

If you like cute little single serve desserts, you might also enjoy these apple pie cheesecake trifles. Same idea, different flavor mood.

Tips For Making The Best Nutter Butter Trifle

I have made this enough times that I have a few opinions now. Nothing complicated, just the little things that make it turn out extra good.

Use softened cream cheese. If it is still cold and firm, you will get lumps. I leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes.

Do not overmix the whipped topping. Fold it in gently so the filling stays light instead of turning loose.

Make clean layers if you care about looks. If you are using a glass bowl, wipe the inside with a paper towel as you go. It makes the layers look so pretty.

Let it chill before serving. An hour in the fridge helps everything set and makes scooping easier. Overnight is even better if you like softer cookies.

Balance the sweetness. If you want it less sweet, use a little less powdered sugar, or add a pinch of salt to the cream layer. That tiny pinch makes peanut butter taste even more peanut buttery.

Also, random but true: I always crave something savory after a big dessert. If you are planning a full meal, this brown butter mushroom pasta is a cozy dinner to serve before the trifle. The flavors feel special without being hard.

How to Store Nutter Butter Trifle

This dessert is super storage friendly, which is great because it makes a lot. Here is what works best in my house.

In the fridge: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and store it for up to 3 days. The cookies get softer the longer it sits, so day one is more crunch, day two and three are more cake like and creamy.

To keep it a little crunchier: If you want more texture, you can store extra crushed cookies separately and sprinkle them on top right before serving.

Can you freeze it? I do not recommend freezing the whole trifle. The creamy layer can get a weird texture once thawed. If you really want to prep ahead, you can make the pudding and cream mixture the day before, then assemble closer to serving.

Common Questions

Can I make NUTTER BUTTER TRIFLE the night before?
Yes, and it is honestly great that way. The layers settle and the cookies soften into the cream. Just add a little fresh cookie crumble on top before serving if you want some crunch.

How do I keep the layers from getting runny?
Make sure the pudding is thick before layering, and do not use warm ingredients. Also, chill the trifle at least an hour before scooping.

What size dish should I use?
A classic trifle dish is perfect, but any large glass bowl works. You can also do individual cups if you want easy serving.

Is peanut butter required?
No, but adding a few spoonfuls to the cream layer makes it taste more like a peanut butter dream. If you are serving peanut butter lovers, I would not skip it.

Can I make this without cream cheese?
You can. It will be more like a pudding and whipped cream trifle. Still tasty, just a little less rich and tangy.

A sweet little send off (and a couple of helpful recipe friends)

If you need a dessert that looks impressive, tastes like pure comfort, and does not steal your whole afternoon, NUTTER BUTTER TRIFLE is the answer. Keep it simple with classic layers or dress it up with bananas, chocolate, and extra cookie crumble. Make it ahead, stash it in the fridge, and let everyone scoop their own big serving. If you want to compare versions, I found great inspiration from Nutter Butter Trifle – Princess Pinky Girl and Nutter Butter Trifle – Spaceships and Laser Beams. Now go grab those cookies and build your layers, you have got this.