If you’re in the midst of holiday prep and just want an easy, relaxing, dessert that the kids can help make, here’s one of our family’s favorites. You probably already know this recipe, but I took such a good picture of it I had to post it again. May I present to you, Le Chocolate Éclair Cake, which everyone knows is just so much better than the sum of its parts. Since I have a lot of other desserts coming up next week, I made the small version and used an 8 inch square dish. Most recipes are double this and made in a 13×9 inch dish.
Small Batch Chocolate Éclair Cake
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Chocolate Eclair Cake made in an 8 inch square dish using 1 box of pudding
Author: Cookie Madness
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4 oz) box of Jell-O instant vanilla pudding
- 2 cups milk (2%)
- 1 (8 oz) tub Cool Whip (I usually use a little less than a full tub) or you could use 1 cup whipping cream, sweetened with some powdered sugar
- 1/2 a box graham crackers or however many you need to make 4 layers
- 1 cup prepared chocolate icing – you can make it from scratch or use 1/2 can of store-bought
Instructions
- With a hand-held mixer or whisk, beat together pudding mix and milk for about 2 minutes. Pudding should start to thicken. Fold in a little over half the tub of the whipped topping or freshly whipped cream.
- Break the graham crackers into squares and lay them across the bottom of an 8 inch baking dish. You’ll need to break some of them to cover the bottom of the dish. Spread the pudding mix across the graham crackers. Layer on more graham crackers and more pudding mix twice so that you have a total of 3 layers of graham crackers and three layers of pudding mixture. Top with a final layer of graham crackers.
- Soften the icing. If you’re using canned icing, microwave at 50% power for about 20-30 seconds or until the icing is softened. Pour half the can over the dessert. Chill for at least four hours (preferably longer) or until ready to eat.
Notes
Cook time is actually chill time.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
This is my absolute favorite dessert- you are so right that it is so much better than the sum of its parts! Thanks for posting the “small version.”
Love this dessert, especially after it “ages” a day or so. Your photo of it is gorgeous~
It is amazing how versatile Jello products are. I’m using sugar-free instant vanilla pudding along with pumpkin, spices and cool whip for a lo-cal dessert after Thanksgiving. Perhaps I will layer it with graham crackers.
Thanks for posting a scaled down version of this recipe. I tried the large version for the first time this past Easter and it was a hit. This size will be perfect for small families.
Just right for those in a hurry dinner and desserts when you want something everyone will ooh and ahh over without the fuss and muss. I like to think when I bake I’ll do it from scratch. And usually that’s true.
But let’s be honest – there are moment’s in every cook’s life when it’s just not realistic to start sifting and all and mess up the whole kitchen. Great idea!
Yum, I’m thinking a simple homemade chocolate ganache for the top and we’re good to go! Thanks for the recipe.
yum, this looks decadent and delicious!
Fantastico! Anything that has the same name as a doughnut or would resemble its taste is a must in my food book. I will be trying this recipe soon!
I cant eat chocolate so the pumpkin idea sounds pretty good. What do you think would be a good topping?
I make a version of this with Nutter Butter cookies. Yum!
Kathy, if you like pumpkin you might want to see if your grocery store has the pumpkin flavored Jell-O pudding mix. I looks like it’s a seasonal product, but I saw it and *almost* bought it to make a pumpkin flavored eclair cake. In the end, I opted to go for our old favorite, but I think this same recipe made with pumpkin pudding and topped with either chocolate (though not in your case) or vanilla frosting with a touch of cinnamon mixed in would be great.
I LOVE this stuff!! I haven’t made it in years. I think I need to make for the holidays.
Hi!!! This cake sounds awesome, but I am looking for something to bring for the holidays, so need the full size recipe. Do I just double it, or can someone let me know the website for the fullsize one. I did a search for it but nothing came up.
Thanks!
Oh my gosh Anna! This was my all-time favorite dessert that my mom used to make for me! Her recipe used sour cream but I had to stop eating it since I couldn’t find a good lactose-free replacement for it. This recipe looks great and I can make it lactose free! You rock!!!!
this looks really delicious, This was my all time favorite dessert, Still my mouth is melting to seen this delicious,thanks for share it.
This looks amazing! Hope you are doing well! Alison