Description
Chocolate Delight is a rich and creamy layered dessert featuring a buttery pecan crust, a smooth cream cheese layer, and luscious instant chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream. This no-bake chocolate dessert is perfect for any occasion, requiring minimal oven time for the crust and then chilled to set beautifully, making it an easy yet impressive treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Cream Cheese Layer
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 (8 oz) tub whipped topping (like Cool Whip), divided
Chocolate Pudding Layer
- 2 (3.9 oz) packages instant chocolate pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk
Garnish (optional)
- Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, melted butter, and chopped pecans if using. Mix until well combined, then press the mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the crust is lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
- Make the Cream Cheese Layer: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Gently fold in one cup of the whipped topping until fully incorporated. Spread this cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled crust layer.
- Prepare the Chocolate Pudding: In another bowl, whisk the instant chocolate pudding mix with three cups of cold milk for about 2 minutes until the pudding thickens.
- Assemble the Dessert: Pour and spread the thickened chocolate pudding evenly over the cream cheese layer. Then gently spread the remaining whipped topping over the pudding layer, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
- Chill and Garnish: Place the dessert in the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours to allow the layers to set well. Before serving, optionally garnish the top with chocolate shavings or a light dusting of cocoa powder.
Notes
- You can use chocolate fudge or dark chocolate pudding mix instead of regular chocolate pudding for a richer flavor.
- Make this dessert a day ahead to allow the layers to set beautifully and the flavors to meld.
- For a nut-free version, simply omit the pecans from the crust without affecting the overall texture too much.
