Chocolate Delight Dessert With Variations

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 06/18/19
Chocolate Delight Layered Pudding Dessert

Diana Rattray

 
  • Total: 25 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 10 mins
  • Yield: 8 portions (8 servings)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
690 Calories
41g Fat
71g Carbs
12g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 portions (8 servings)
Amount per serving
Calories 690
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 41g 53%
Saturated Fat 23g 116%
Cholesterol 78mg 26%
Sodium 515mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 71g 26%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Protein 12g
Calcium 287mg 22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Do you need a dessert for a potluck dinner or party? This layered chocolate delight lives up to its name, and it's always a hit! Just be prepared for recipe requests; take along copies of the recipe or share it with friends via email or Facebook.

The chocolate delight dessert is made with a graham cracker crust. It's layered with pudding, sweetened cream cheese, whipped topping, and optional chopped walnuts or pecans. 

The variations on this basic recipe are endless. Make it with a pecan shortbread crust or a pretzel crust, or use butterscotch, pistachio, or banana pudding. See the many possibilities below the recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups​ graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter (melted)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 (16-ounce) large tub frozen whipped topping (thawed; or two 8-ounce tubs)
  • 2 (3.9-ounce) packages chocolate instant pudding (or one vanilla and one chocolate)
  • 3 cups cold milk
  • Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

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  2. Heat the oven to 350 F/180 C/Gas 4.

    Heat the oven.
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  3. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, and the melted butter; press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan.

    Graham cracker crust.
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  4. Bake for 10 minutes.

  5. Cool completely before assembling the layers.

  6. Beat the softened cream cheese with the confectioners' sugar until smooth. Stir in half of the whipped topping until well blended. 

    Whipped sugar and cream cheese.
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  7. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust.

    Cream cheese layered over graham cracker.
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  8. Beat the pudding with the milk as directed on the package (using only 3 cups of milk).

  9. Spread over the cream cheese layer.

    Chocolate pudding layer.
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  10. Top the dessert with the remaining whipped topping and spread to cover.

    Whipped topping layer.
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  11. If desired, sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts.

    Nut topping.
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  12. Chill thoroughly before serving.

    Chocolate delight dessert.
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  13. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

  • Salted Pretzel Crust: Combine 1 1/2 cups of crushed pretzels with 1/3 cup of granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of melted butter. Pat the mixture in the baking pan and bake at 350 F (180 C/Gas 4) for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely and proceed with the recipe.
  • Nut Crust: In a bowl combine 1 cup of finely chopped pecans with 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup of melted butter. Pat the mixture in the baking pan. Bake at 350 F (180 C/Gas 4) for about 20 minutes, or until set and lightly browned. Cool completely and proceed with the recipe.
  • Shortbread Cookie Crust: Replace the graham cracker crumbs with 2 cups of finely crushed Sandies or Pecan Sandies.
  • Vanilla Wafer Crust: Replace the graham cracker crumbs with 2 cups of finely crushed vanilla wafers.
  • Butterscotch Delight: Use two boxes of butterscotch pudding instead of chocolate pudding and replace the pecan topping with Heath toffee chips, shaved semisweet or milk chocolate, or chopped candy bars, your choice.
  • Lemon Delight: Use lemon pudding and top with toasted coconut or shredded or grated lemon zest.
  • Banana Delight: Use banana pudding and top with toasted coconut.
  • Pistachio Delight: Use pistachio pudding and top with chopped pistachio nuts.
  • Cookies and Cream Delight: Use 1 package of instant chocolate pudding mix and 1 package of instant cookies and cream pudding. Or use white chocolate pudding and sprinkle 1 cup of crumbled Oreo cookies between the first whipped topping layer and the pudding layer.

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