No-Bake 5-Ingredient Chocolate Eclair Cake
A no-bake layered dessert with creamy vanilla pudding mousse, graham cracker layers that soften into tender cake, and a glossy chocolate frosting topping. Just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time.
- Total Time6 hours 45 minutes
- Yield15 squares 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 boxes (3.4 oz each) vanilla instant pudding mix (or instant French vanilla)
- 3 cups whole milk
- 8 oz Cool Whip, thawed (must be fully thawed)
- 16 oz graham crackers
- 16 oz chocolate frosting (store-bought)
Instructions
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, vigorously whisk together both boxes of instant pudding mix and milk until smooth and thick. Fold in the thawed Cool Whip until well combined and set aside.
- First Cracker Layer: Place a single layer of graham crackers in the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish, breaking as needed to cover the entire bottom.
- Build the Layers: Spoon half the pudding mixture over the graham crackers and spread into an even layer. Add another layer of graham crackers, then spread the remaining pudding mixture on top. Finish with a third and final layer of graham crackers.
- First Chill: Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set the layers before adding frosting.
- Add Chocolate Topping: Remove lid and foil from chocolate frosting. Microwave for 15 seconds, stir well, and microwave again for 10 seconds if needed until pourable. Pour over the chilled cake and spread into an even layer.
- Final Chill: Replace plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. The graham crackers must fully soften into tender, cake-like layers before serving.
Notes
Use instant pudding mix — not cook-and-serve. Thaw Cool Whip completely before folding in. The 30-minute pre-chill before adding frosting prevents the chocolate from sinking into the layers. For cleanest slices, run knife under hot water and wipe dry before each cut. Overnight chill gives the best texture — graham crackers transform into soft, eclair-like cake layers. Leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 32
- Sodium: 340
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 10
