Easy Chocolate Delight Dessert Recipe

Name: Easy Chocolate Delight Dessert
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 150 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted); 8 ounces cream cheese (softened ); 1 cup confectioners' sugar; 1 (16-ounce) large tub frozen whipped topping (thawed); 2 (3.9-ounce) packages chocolate instant pudding; 3 cups cold milk; Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Chill Time: 2 hrs

Total: 2 hrs 30 mins

Servings: 12 servings

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This layered chocolate dessert lives up to its name and is always a hit. This chocolate delight is made with a graham cracker crust layered with chocolate pudding, sweetened cream cheese, and whipped topping, and then sprinkled with chopped walnuts or pecans.

Slices of layered chocolate delight dessert with whipped topping on white fluted plates — The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

The beauty of this recipe is how flexible it is. You can use a different type of crust, another flavor of pudding, or various toppings—the options are endless. This recipe calls for frozen whipped topping and instant pudding, but feel free to use homemade.

Tip for Making Chocolate Dessert Recipe

Allow the frozen cool whip to thaw in the refrigerator over night before using in this recipe.

What You'll Need To Make This Chocolate Delight Dessert

A Sturdy Baking Pan

A Zippy Hand Mixer

A Handy Dandy Offset Spatula

"This layered dessert is a definite crowd-pleaser, and it is so rich and decadent that one recipe will feed a big crowd. It takes just minutes to put together but be sure to give it a couple of hours to chill after assembling." —Danielle Centoni

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 (16-ounce) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
2 (3.9-ounce) packages chocolate instant pudding
3 cups cold milk
1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
In a bowl, combine 2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, and 4 ounces (1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted). Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan.

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely before assembling the layers.

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
In a large bowl, beat 8 ounces of cream cheese (softened) with 1 cup confectioners' sugar until smooth. Stir in half of the 1 (16-ounce) tub of frozen whipped topping (thawed) until well blended.

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
Spread the mixture over the cooled crust.

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
In another bowl, beat 2 (3.9-ounce) packages of chocolate instant pudding with 3 cups cold milk as directed on the package (but using only the 3 cups of milk).

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
Spread the pudding over the cream cheese layer.

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
Top the dessert with the remaining whipped topping and spread to cover completely.

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
If desired, sprinkle with chopped toasted pecans or walnuts.

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
Chill thoroughly before serving, about 2 hours.

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

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 into the baking pan and bake at 350 F 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 into the baking pan. Bake at 350 F 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 2 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 of 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.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
451	Calories
27g	Fat
49g	Carbs
5g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories	451
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g	34%
Saturated Fat 18g	90%
Cholesterol 44mg	15%
Sodium 455mg	20%
Total Carbohydrate 49g	18%
Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
Total Sugars 38g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg	1%
Calcium 109mg	8%
Iron 1mg	5%
Potassium 182mg	4%
*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.