Made this a couple weekends ago and wow it was so good. This is a "fridge cake", meaning no baking, just put it all together and let it sit overnight in the fridge.
This is what it looks like finished. Layers of pudding, graham crackers and topped with chocolate. It does taste a lot like a chocolate eclair.
Ingredients:
1 container of cool whip, thawed
2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding (we used French vanilla)
Graham crackers (mostly the whole box)
2 1/2 cups milk
FOR THE TOPPING:
Chocolate, chopped up (using chips are fine)
Milk
Mix the cool whip with the milk and boxes of pudding. Fold together until mixed.
In a 9x13 pan, line the bottom with graham crackers. You may have to move them around, break them up, just get good coverage on the bottom.
Top with half the pudding mixture. Spread evenly.
Put on another layer of graham crackers, again, just making sure they cover the pudding.
Put remaining half of the pudding mixture on top of that layer.
Last layer of graham crackers (this used almost the whole box).
Next came the ganache. Now some recipes use chocolate frosting from a can or homemade chocolate frosting. I wanted to make chocolate ganache. It's super easy. For a thicker cake frosting you would use a ratio of 1:1 by WEIGHT. For this to be spreadable and not stick to the graham crackers as you spread it, you want it to pour on and be smooth. For this, I used 1:2 by WEIGHT. Example, 45 grams of milk to 90 grams of chocolate. Just heat milk in the microwave and break up the bars (or drop in the chips) whisk and it will melt and be beautiful.
Stir until melted and it becomes a smooth chocolate consistency. While warm, it will be easy to spread.
Spread it over the final layer of graham crackers and pop in the fridge. At least 8 hours, better overnight. After that, the chocolate will firm up and the graham crackers will soften. It will be perfect.
Here is a slice. SO good. Sure it's a quickie dessert, and of course you can make your own whipped cream instead of cool whip but sometimes, classic and old fashioned is comfort food. This is a comfort dessert!
We feel like this is one of those things our parents or grandparents took to a pot luck or a church service and we're betting everyone loved it, ha.
This was our first time having it and 2nd Man said "Oh you will have to make this again!"
This was my MIL's go to dessert when the whole family got together. Many happy memories are associated with it.
ReplyDeleteYUM!
ReplyDeleteHaven't had this in years as it was always a big family favorite. We always called it; 'Heavenly Dessert,' or just plain pudding cake dessert.
Also prefer the French vanilla pudding along with the ganache.
I think if I remember right, my mom would add a can of cherry pie filling or strawberries in-between the layers.
Waiting for it all to set up in the fridge was the hardest part; especially when you're a kid and you just don't have enough patience.
Forgot to mention, that if you didn't want to use vanilla pudding, coconut cream pudding ( if you like coconut that is) is also good to use for a change of pace.
DeleteI can feel my blood sugar going up just looking at this post. That looks delicious. I love his remark as he is a man after my own heart or stomach.
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic! Easy to make and delicious too – the best combination!
ReplyDeleteI sent the link to my college daughter. I think this might be on a road trip my next visit based on her "wow" response!
ReplyDeleteMade a smaller version yesterday using 9x9 pan; only this time around I made a lemon pudding cake for DH (darling hubby). He's a lemon fanatic.
ReplyDeleteOh, if making a coconut cream pudding cake; don't forget to toast a little coconut to sprinkle on top. :)
Oh I make this now and then and is is so decadent! I even bought a vintage Mirro aluminum cake pan with a slide over lid to keep them tidy in the fridge. Fridge cakes are perfect summer desserts.
ReplyDeleteDoes sound like a recipe from the 60s or when Cool Whip first came out.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about crushing the crackers and toasting with butter as you would in a pie pan for a baked graham cracker crust. In case it needs to be even more decadent!! Sounds wonderful to me... Thank you!!
ReplyDelete