Reese Witherspoon’s Easy Mud Pie Trifle Is My Christmas Dessert of Choice

Ever since I got Whiskey in a Teacup, I can’t stop making Reese Witherspoon's nostalgic, Southern-style desserts for every occasion that arises. The recipes are fun, easy, and, most importantly, instant classics. This recipe for Mud Pie Trifle is no exception. 

I grew up loving Mississippi mud pie—the dense, chocolatey crust and lighter-than-air chocolate fillings are the stuff of my childhood. I hadn’t thought about it in ages until I saw it in the pages of Reese's cookbook, reimagined as a trifle. What a fun, retro take! And it's as simple as layering chocolate cake, creamy chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, and Cool Whip together.

How I Make Reese Witherspoon’s Mud Pie Trifle

I don’t know about you, but when I see “trifle” in the name of a recipe, I get nervous. It sounds like a fancy dessert that belongs in the tent at Great British Bake Off, not in my kitchen and definitely not at any parties I’m hosting. Rest assured, this retro dessert is so easy you won’t even break a sweat. To keep things simple, either make the cake using a good box mix or pick up something premade at the grocery store.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 (5.9-ounce) box of instant chocolate pudding (plus milk, according to the package instructions)
• 3 cups of chocolate cake, crumbled
• 2 cups Oreos, crushed
• 8-ounce container of Cool Whip

Yep, that’s it. The genius of Reese’s recipe is that you don’t need to make any of these elements from scratch—the most work you’ll have to do is crush up some Oreos, which is a task I don’t mind at all.

To keep things simple, assemble all of the ingredients, including the crumbled cake, crushed Oreos, and Cool Whip. Then, make the chocolate pudding using the instructions on the box and set it aside. Next, choose your serving vessel: a large bowl for a statement dessert or individual cups. Just make sure it's glass so guests can see all of the gorgeous layers!

Now, it’s time to make the trifle. Start with a solid layer of cake crumbles that creates a nice base without too many holes. You might want to press it down lightly to make it a bit more solid. Next, spoon some chocolate pudding on top and smooth it with a spoon or spatula. Next comes a layer of crunch from the crushed Oreos, then a pillowy layer of Cool Whip. Repeat the layers in this order until the ingredients are gone, making sure to finish with Cool Whip. 

I like to top my trifle with some extra crushed Oreos for the look. It’s been a huge hit so far this holiday season, and I can’t stop making it!

Tips for Making Reese Witherspoon’s Mud Pie Trifle

I like to make this recipe in stemless wine glasses so everyone gets their own little slice of retro dessert heaven. I use this technique especially when I’m hosting larger parties because I can make the individual servings as large or as small as you like. It’s the perfect way to spread some delicious holiday cheer.

If you’re a perfectionist, use a piping bag to add the layers of pudding and Cool Whip. But using a spoon will make it look more homemade and traditional.