Chocolate Delight

Name: Chocolate Delight
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 230 min
Ingredients: 13 ounces pecan Sandies cookies, (approximately 24 cookies); ½ cup unsalted butter, (melted); 16 ounces cream cheese, (room temperature); 1 cup powdered sugar; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; 5.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding; 3 cups whole milk, (very cold); 8 ounces Cool Whip topping, (thawed); ¼ cup pecans, (toasted and finely chopped)

Chocolate lovers will be thrilled to whip up this chocolate delight, a simple layered dessert bursting with layers of cheesecake filling, rich chocolate pudding and a tasty pecan shortbread crust.

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Table of Contents

Chocolate Delight Ingredients
Chocolate Delight Dessert Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Chocolate Delight Recipe
How To Serve This Chocolate Pudding Cream Cheese Dessert
Storing This Chocolate Lush Cake
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE
More Recipes to Try

With layers of pure decadence, this chocolate delight is a dreamy pudding dessert that is a popular choice for a treat. With a pecan shortbread crust topped with silky pudding, velvety cream cheese, and a fluffy whipped topping, how could a sweet be any more perfect?

close up shot of a slice of chocolate delight topped with pecans on a plate

Chocolate Delight Ingredients

chocolate delight raw ingredients that is labeled

This chocolate delight dessert is like a little slice of heaven in every bite. The rich, creamy flavor of chocolate blends perfectly with the sweetness of the dessert, creating a delicious experience that is hard to resist.

You’ll need:

1 (13-ounce) package of pecan Sandies cookies ~ approximately 24 cookies
½ cup of unsalted butter, melted
2 (8-ounce) packages of cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup of powdered sugar
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 (5.9-ounce) box of instant chocolate pudding mix
3 cups of whole milk, very cold
1 (8-ounce) container of Cool Whip topping, thawed
¼ cup of pecans, toasted and finely chopped

Chocolate Delight Dessert Substitutions And Additions

COOKIES: If you do not want to use the pecan Sandies cookies for your crust, you can make your favorite shortbread crust with the addition of ¼ finely chopped pecans. You could also opt for a graham cracker crust if you prefer.

PUDDING: I use instant pudding for ease in this recipe, but feel free to use a cooked version. Just make sure that it is completely chilled before layering it onto the cream cheese layer to keep the layers from bleeding into each other.

WHIPPED TOPPING: Store-bought Cool Whip works fine, but what about trying our recipe for stabilized whipped cream?

How To Make This Chocolate Delight Recipe

This chocolate delight dessert comes together in layers, starting with a cookie crust, followed by cream cheese and pudding, and finished off with whipped cream.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

It’s highly recommended to make this fabulous treat a day ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight. This will allow it to thicken and make it easier to cut into slices.

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

STEP TWO: In the bowl of a food processor, add the pecan Sandies cookies and pulse until they are a fine crumb.

Slowly drizzle the melted butter into the opening of the food processor while on low until all the butter is evenly incorporated into the cookie crumbs.

Transfer the pecan cookie crust dough to the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish and press down in an even layer, then bake the crust for 15 minutes.

STEP THREE: While the crust is baking, you will make the second layer by mixing the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until smooth and fluffy.

This will take two to three minutes using an electric mixer at medium speed.

Place the bowl of the cheesecake filling into the refrigerator to chill while you make the next layer.

PRO TIP:

Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so that it blends completely and doesn’t leave lumps in this layer.

cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract blended in a bowl

STEP FOUR: In another medium-sized bowl, whisk together the cold milk and instant chocolate pudding for two to three minutes until it starts to thicken up.

Cover with a piece of plastic wrap, pressing down to touch the top of the pudding, and refrigerate until ready to assemble.

cold milk and instant chocolate pudding whisked together in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Once the crust has baked, allow it to cool on the counter for 30 minutes before adding the additional layers.

STEP SIX: Once the crust is cooled, layer the cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of the cooled crust.

cream cheese mixture spread over the crust in a baking dish

STEP SEVEN: Spread the chocolate pudding mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer. Be very careful not to mix the layers.

STEP EIGHT: Using an offset spatula, spread the thawed Cool Whip topping over the top of the pudding layer.

Garnish the top layer with the toasted and chopped pecans.

PRO TIP:

Add chocolate shavings on top of your fluffy whipped cream layer by grating a chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler.

cool whip topping spread over the top of the pudding layer and garnished with chopped pecans

STEP NINE: Place the chocolate delight into the refrigerator to chill and set up for a minimum of three hours, up to overnight, before slicing and serving.

You can place the chocolate delight into the freezer for 30 minutes before serving to help ensure nice clean slices.

PRO TIP:

Be sure to use a sharp knife to slice your servings. It helps greatly to wipe the blade clean before each slice to help get those beautiful clean slices to show off the layers of your chocolate delight.

How To Serve This Chocolate Pudding Cream Cheese Dessert

There is always room for more chocolate. Add a drizzle of hot fudge sauce over the top of this divine dessert.

For the chocoholics out there, serve with a warm mug of whipped hot chocolate.

If you like this chocolate dessert, check out our other fluffy layered desserts. For the fall, have a taste of our pumpkin delight, and if you are looking for a tropical treat, try our pineapple delight.

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Chocolate Trifle

Storing This Chocolate Lush Cake

Whether you plan to make this dessert ahead of time or have leftovers to store, here are some tips to help you preserve its taste and texture.

MAKE AHEAD: If you want to get ahead and prepare chocolate delight in advance, you can definitely do so!

Simply assemble the layers according to the recipe instructions and cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or an airtight lid. Then, refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve.

The dessert can be made up to 24 hours before serving, allowing the flavors to meld and the crust to soften slightly.

IN THE FRIDGE: This easy chocolate pudding dessert can be made up to two days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to four days. Just remember that the longer it sits, the softer the crust will become.

IN THE FREEZER: This perfect dessert is very simple to freeze! Just make sure to cover the top with an airtight lid and pop it in the freezer. When ready to serve, let it thaw in the fridge.

The perfect amount of chocolate and decadent layers of delightful cheesecake filling and whipped cream will be a winner for everyone who tries this chocolate delight dessert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze this chocolate delight dessert?

This great dessert can be kept in the freezer for up to a month. Thaw in the refrigerator and serve.

Can I use a different type of crust for this 4 layer chocolate dessert recipe instead of the pecan crust?

You could use your favorite shortbread crust with the addition of ¼ finely chopped pecans for the bottom layer.

Is this recipe the same as Chocolate Lush or Chocolate Lasagna?

Yes! This great recipe goes by many names, including chocolate lush, chocolate dream, and chocolate lasagna.

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Chocolate Delight

5 from 8 votes

Chocolate lovers will be thrilled to whip up this chocolate delight, a simple layered dessert bursting with layers of cheesecake filling, rich chocolate pudding and a tasty pecan shortbread crust.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 3 50

Servings

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Ingredients

13 ounces pecan Sandies cookies, approximately 24 cookies
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
5.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding
3 cups whole milk, very cold
8 ounces Cool Whip topping, thawed
¼ cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In the bowl of a food processor, add the pecan Sandies cookies and pulse until they are a fine crumb. Slowly drizzle the melted butter into the opening of the food processor while on low until all the butter is evenly incorporated into the cookie crumbs. Transfer the pecan cookie crust dough into the bottom of a 9×13 pan and press down in an even layer, then bake the crust for 15 minutes.
While the crust is baking, you will make your next layer by mixing together the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy. This will take 2 to 3 minutes using a handheld mixer on medium speed. Place the bowl of cheesecake filling into the refrigerator to chill while you make the next layer.
In another medium-sized bowl, whisk together the cold milk and instant chocolate pudding for 2 to 3 minutes until it starts to thicken up. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap, pressing down to touch the top of the pudding, and refrigerate until ready to assemble.
Once the crust has baked, allow it to cool on the counter for 30 minutes before adding the additional layers.
Once the crust is cooled, layer the cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of the crust.
Spread the chocolate pudding evenly over the cream cheese layer. Be very careful not to mix the layers.
Using an offset spatula, spread the thawed cool whip topping over the top of the chocolate pudding mixture in an even layer. Garnish with the toasted and chopped pecans.
Place the chocolate delight into the refrigerator to chill and set up for a minimum of 3 hours, up to overnight, before slicing and serving. You can place the chocolate delight into the freezer for 30 minutes before serving to help ensure nice clean slices.

Notes

It’s highly recommended to make this fabulous treat a day ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight. This will allow it to thicken and make it easier to cut into slices.
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so that it blends completely and doesn’t leave lumps in this layer.
Add chocolate shavings on top of your fluffy whipped cream layer by grating a chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler.
Be sure to use a sharp knife to slice your servings. It helps greatly to wipe the blade clean before each slice to help get those beautiful clean slices to show off the layers of your chocolate delight.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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Layne Kangas Marketing
Sian Cox Photographer
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant
Angela Sessions Recipe Developer

Chocolate Delight

Chocolate Delight Ingredients

Chocolate Delight Dessert Substitutions And Additions

How To Make This Chocolate Delight Recipe

How To Serve This Chocolate Pudding Cream Cheese Dessert

Chocolate Lasagna

Chocolate Trifle

Storing This Chocolate Lush Cake

Frequently Asked Questions

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