No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake recipes
This no-bake dessert layers creamy French vanilla pudding, light whipped topping, and crisp graham crackers, all enrobed in a rich dark chocolate fudge frosting. It's a simple yet elegant treat that requires no oven and benefits from ample chilling, allowing the crackers to soften into a cake-like consistency.
Equipment
- 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish Or similar-sized rectangular dish for assembly
- 2 Large Mixing Bowls One for pudding, one for other components if needed
- 1 Whisk For smoothly combining pudding ingredients
- 1 Rubber Spatula or Offset Spatula For spreading layers evenly
- 1 Measuring Cups For accurate liquid measurements
Ingredients
Main
- 2 3.4 oz boxes instant French vanilla pudding
- 3 cups milk
- 1 8 oz container whipped topping
- 1 box graham crackers
- 1 container dark chocolate fudge frosting
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the two boxes of instant French vanilla pudding mix with 3 cups of cold milk for about 2 minutes, until thickened. Allow to set for 5 minutes.
- Arrange a single layer of graham crackers evenly on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish, breaking them as needed to fit.
- Carefully spread half of the prepared French vanilla pudding mixture over the graham cracker layer, smoothing it out with a spatula.
- Gently spread half of the whipped topping over the pudding layer.
- Place another layer of graham crackers on top of the whipped topping.
- Spread the remaining half of the French vanilla pudding mixture over this second cracker layer.
- Spread the remaining whipped topping evenly over the second pudding layer.
- Add a final layer of graham crackers on top of the whipped topping.
- Gently spread the entire container of dark chocolate fudge frosting over the top layer of graham crackers, being careful not to disturb the layers below. For easier spreading, you can microwave the frosting for a few seconds until slightly softened.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the cake to set and the graham crackers to soften.
Notes
For optimal results, ensure your milk is very cold when preparing the instant pudding; this helps achieve a firmer set. Consider making your own vanilla whipped cream from heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract for a more refined flavor and texture. When spreading the chocolate fudge frosting, gently warm it slightly in the microwave (a few seconds) to make it more pliable and easier to spread smoothly without tearing the delicate layers beneath. The extended chilling time is crucial; allow at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight, for the graham crackers to fully soften and the flavors to meld, transforming them into a cake-like consistency. A pinch of sea salt added to the pudding can help balance the sweetness.