Chocolate Delight Yummy Dessert (4-Layer Pudding Dessert)

This four-layer chocolate pudding dessert, known by many other names like chocolate delight, chocolate yummy, and mountain mama, is one of my favorite desserts as a kid. It has four creamy layers: a pecan shortbread crust, sweet cream cheese, chocolate pudding, and homemade whipped cream on top.

This chocolate delight dessert is always a hit on special occasions.

Any friend, family member, or enemy that has tried this dessert has gone back for seconds. It seems like a relatively simple chocolate pudding dessert, but it's much more than that. It's the layers of creamy goodness, kind of like a chocolate lasagna, that make this chocolate delight so yummy.

Another one of my favorite pudding desserts is this banana pudding with vanilla wafers. Oh god, it's so good! Or, try this no-bake biscoff cheesecake or peach dump cake if you are looking for something super easy.

What I Love About This Recipe

This layered chocolate pudding dessert is AMAZING. It's hard not to eat the whole thing in one sitting. I like to get a little bit of each layer in every single bite. The combination of the layers is what makes this recipe so good.

Ingredients

Butter pecan crust: The bottom layer (or first layer) of this layered pudding dessert is a buttery pecan crust made with all-purpose flour, chopped pecans, and salted butter.

Cream cheese layer: The second layer is a cream cheese layer made with cream cheese, confectioner's sugar, whipping cream, and vanilla extract. I prefer to use full-fat cream cheese.

Chocolate pudding layer: The third layer is a pudding layer made with instant chocolate pudding, instant vanilla pudding, and milk. Use whole milk, 2% milk, or fat-free milk. Get the large pudding mix size that's 5.9-ounce box.

Whipped cream layer: heavy cream, confectioner's sugar, and vanilla extract.

See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.

How To Make Chocolate Delight

This chocolate delight yummy dessert is very easy to make, however, it has a few layers. Make the buttery shortbread crust first, and while it's cooling, prepare the other 3 layers: rich chocolate pudding layer, sweetened cream cheese filling, and homemade whipped cream (or use cool whip to save time).

Once the layers are all made, assemble the 4-layer chocolate delight. I've broken the steps down below in the sequence I recommend making this recipe.

Make The Butter Pecan Crust

Heat the oven to 350℉ (175℃). In a medium bowl, combine flour and chopped pecans. Melt the butter in the microwave (about 30 seconds). Mix the melted butter, chopped pecans, and flour. Press the butter pecan dough into a 9" x 13" glass baking dish (it's a thin layer about ¼" to ½" (about 1 cm) thick).

Place the baking dish in the middle rack of a 350℉ (175℃) oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove the baking pecan crust from the oven and allow it to cool completely while preparing the other layers.

Cream Cheese, Pudding, and Whipped Cream Layers

In a large bowl, add the vanilla and chocolate pudding packet. Measure out the milk. Mix with a whisk until the pudding thickens (about 5 minutes). Set it aside.

Hint: The pudding package will call for 6 cups total. However, this pudding dessert needs less milk in order to form a more robust middle section.

Add softened cream cheese, confectioner's sugar, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla extract in a second large bowl. Using an electric mixer, mix the ingredients together. Set aside.

Hint: Stop whipping the cream cheese once it has a cake frosting-like texture.

Add the remaining whipping cream, confectioner's sugar, and vanilla extract in a third large bowl. Using a hand mixer, whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Set the homemade whipping cream aside.

Assemble The Four Layer Dessert

Scoop the cream cheese layer onto the cooled crust. The crust is crumbly, so expect pecan crumbs to intermix when spreading the cream cheese layer.

Spread the chocolate pudding.

On top of the pudding layer, add the whipped cream.

Add some chopped pecans on top. Put the chocolate delight yummy dessert in the fridge for 1 hour to set it prior to serving.

Tips and Tricks

• Weigh out the flour for the butter pecan crust. I weigh the flour instead of measuring flour because it can overpack into a measuring cup very easily.
• Make thick chocolate pudding. Use 1 cup to 1.5 cups less milk for the pudding layer than what's recommended on the box.
• Make ahead. This is the perfect make-ahead dessert for family gatherings or holidays.

Variations and Substitutions

• Substitute cool whip for homemade whipped cream. I prefer making homemade whip cream, but store-bought cool whip or store-bought whipped cream works.
• Make your own chocolate pudding. I like the convenience of using the pudding packets, however, you can make a chocolate pudding from scratch.
• Add some shredded coconut to the butter and pecan dough. Prior to forming the butter pecan dough into the baking dish, add some sweetened shredded coconut.
• Add chocolate shavings on top.

Equipment

Prepare this chocolate delight yummy dessert in a 9" x 13" baking dish. You will need 3 large bowls to prepare the cream cheese layer, chocolate pudding layer, and whipped cream layer. The chocolate pudding is mixed with a hand whisk. The cream cheese layer and whipped cream are made using an electric hand mixer.

Storage

This chocolate pudding dessert can be made ahead by 2 days. Store in the fridge with a plastic wrap cover for up to 5 days. I do not recommend heating this dish nor storing it in a freezer.

FAQs

My Favorite Desserts

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