No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe - One Little Project (2024)

I have to admit, I love trying newdinner recipes, but when it comes to baking sweets and treats, I’m just not very adventurous. Even whenwe have a family get together, I’m the first person to volunteer to bring an appetizer, or a vegetable side dish, or even a fancy salad. But when someoneasks me to bring a dessert, I’m a little lost.

This recipe for chocolate eclair cake is going to be my new, favourite, go-to recipe though! It’s quick, it’s easy to make and it tastes AMAZING! And best of all, you don’t even have to bake it!It tastes just like a chocolate eclair (and who doesn’t love chocolate eclairs!?), but in the form of a cake. And it has gorgeous, creamy and delicious layers. Mmmmm… Are you drooling yet? Because I sure am!

I remember when I was a kid, every once in awhile, my mom would buy us chocolate eclairs as a special treat. It wasn’t very often, but when she did, we were so excited! My sister and I would suck out the cream and lick off the chocolate glaze. I’m sure we ate the pastry too, but it was all about that dreamy filling…

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My 6 year old daughter came home from school right after I made this, and she was begging for a slice. The hardest part about this eclair cake is that you have to let it set in the refrigerator overnight. My daughter was NOT impressed that she had to wait! But I let her eat a slice for breakfast the next morning, so I think that helped make up for it.

No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake

This recipe is PERFECT if you need to take a dessert somewhere. It’s great for pot lucks, barbecues, or any family get together. It transports easily, and it’s a total crowd pleaser.

The full printable recipe is at the bottom of this post, but here’s what you’ll need:

  • Graham Crackers
  • Instant Vanilla Pudding
  • Butter
  • Whipping Cream
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Milk
  • Sugar
  • Cocoa

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Whip the cream for about 4 minutes on medium-high speed until it turns into whipped cream. If you don’t like your desserts too sweet, feel free to skip the extra sugar at this point. It will be plenty sweet when you add it to the pudding mixture.

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After you’ve mixed the instant pudding with the milk, add the whipping cream and mix it all together. If you’re short on time, you could even substitute the whipped cream with a tub of Cool Whip instead. But in my humble opinion, everything tastes better when it’s made from fresh ingredients.

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Line the bottom of a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with a layer of graham crackers. It uses up almost an entire sleeve.

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Pour half the pudding and whipped cream mixture on the layer of graham crackers.

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Spread it out in an even layer using a spatula.

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Repeat by adding another layer of graham crackers.

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And the rest of the pudding mixture.

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And finally, top it with another layer of graham crackers. I used up EXACTLY one box (or 3 sleeves) of graham crackers with none to spare. I was panicking a little at the end, because if any of them had crumbled I wouldn’t have been able to finish my top layer. If nothing else, it’s always nice when there’s no waste!

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I love this chocolate glaze! It settled perfectly over top of the graham crackers in an even and smooth layer!

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I had to tilt the dish a little bit to make sure all the corners were completely covered, but it spread out pretty well on it’s own.

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Mmmmm… Doesn’t it look deliciousalready from the side of the dish!?

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You’ll need to put it in the refrigerator over night for the graham crackers to soften.

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But man oh man, when it comesout of the fridge the next day it’s DELICIOUS!
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It tastes just like a chocolate eclair, but in a cake! And it’s way easier to make!

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Just look at those delicious, creamy layers!!!

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Print Recipe

4.67 from 6 votes

Chocolate Eclair Cake (No-Bake)

This chocolate eclair cake is such an easy dessert! And it tastes AMAZING with its creamy and delicious layers!! Just like a chocolate eclair, but in a cake.

Prep Time25 minutes mins

Chilling Time:8 hours hrs

Total Time8 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chocolate, Eclair Cake, Whipped Cream

Ingredients

Filling:

  • 1-3/4 cups whipping cream
  • Optional - 3 Tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 boxes instant vanilla pudding 4 servings each
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 box graham crackers 3 sleeves

Topping:

Instructions

For the filling:

  • In a 9" x 13" dish, cover the entire bottom with a layer of graham crackers. (Approximately 1 full sleeve).

  • In a medium bowl, add the whipping cream (and optional 3 Tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract). Beat on medium-high speed for approximately 4 minutes until it turns into whipped cream.

  • In a large bowl, add 3 cups of milk and the 2 boxes of vanilla pudding. Beat it on medium speed for about 2 minutes.

  • Stir the whipping cream mixture into the pudding mixture until smooth and well combined.

  • Add half the pudding mixture over the bottom graham cracker layer in the 9" x 13" dish. Use a spatula to spread it evenly over the graham crackers.

  • Repeat with another layer of graham crackers and the rest of the pudding mixture.

  • Add a final layer of graham crackers on top.

For the topping:

  • In a small pot, add the cocoa, milk and sugar and bring to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute stirring constantly.

  • Remove the pot from the heat and let cool for 1 minute. Keep stirring.

  • Add the butter and vanilla, stirring until the butter is melted and it forms a smooth chocolate glaze.

  • Immediately pour over the top layer of graham crackers. It will spread out on its own, but tilt the dish as needed so that the entire top is covered.

  • Refrigerate over night.

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This no-bake chocolate eclair cake is SO EASY! And it tastes amaaaaaazing!! It tastes just like a chocolate eclair, but in a cake. And it has gorgeous, creamy and delicious layers. Mmmm… It’s definitely a crowd pleaser!

Here’s a few more of our favourite dessert recipes:

Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes:

Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake

No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe - One Little Project (2024)

FAQs

What is tiny cake covered in fondant or frosting small eclairs and tartlets? ›

Petit* fours come in three varieties: Glacé ("glazed"), iced or decorated tiny cakes covered in fondant or icing, such as small éclairs, and tartlets. Salé ("salted"), savory bite-sized appetizers usually served at co*cktail parties or buffets.

How many calories are in a slice of eclair cake? ›

One serving of (3.5 oz / 100g) Eclair Cake has 215 calories (120 calories from fat). One serving has about 78mg cholesterol, so as tempting as it looks, do not indulge. 100g of Eclair Cake has 247mg sodium, 71mg potassium, 19.5g total carbohydrates (11.2g sugar) and about 5g protein.

What do you call a cake tin with a hole in the middle? ›

Bundt pans have holes in their centers for making ring-shaped cakes. These cakes are baked upside-down in the pan and turned over for removal once they are cooled. As a result, Bundt pans usually have either domed bottoms to make a rounded cake, or angular bottoms to create cakes with intricate designs.

What is the middle of ice cream cake called? ›

If you've ever had a Carvel Ice Cream Cake, you may have noticed our signature “crunchies.” They adorn many of our creations and are often found layered between ice creams.

What does "éclair" mean in English? ›

: an oblong pastry with whipped cream or custard filling. Etymology. French, literally, "lightning" Word Origin. The English word éclair comes directly from a French word whose chief meaning is "lightning" or "flash of lightning." No one is sure why a pastry was named after lightning.

How long does an eclair last in the fridge? ›

These eclairs will last for 5 days in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer.

Can you freeze a Portillo's chocolate cake? ›

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How do I store the cake? To store the cake, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you want to freeze the cake, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil, and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Is a petit four decorated or covered with fondant icing? ›

Fondant fancies (also known as petit fours glacés) are small iced cakes that have a layer of icing on the top and bottom. They are often covered with fondant icing which is rolled out to cover the cake. Many fondant fancies also have piped decorations on them.

What are fondant cakes called? ›

Fondant fancies, or small cakes that are coated in poured fondant, are also popular in parts of Europe. In the US, though, “fondant cake” generally denotes a cake that has been coated in fondant rather than buttercream or another icing.

What is fondant icing cake? ›

Fondant is an edible icing with a pliable texture that can be rolled, shaped and sculpted. It's most commonly used to decorate cakes, cupcakes and cookies. There are different types of fondant, including rolled fondant, pour fondant, chocolate fondant, sculpting fondant, marshmallow fondant and gumpaste fondant.

What is fondant for éclairs? ›

Pastry Fondant or Poured Fondant, is a quintessential preparation used widely throughout a bakeshop for glazing and icing baked products. Use to glaze eclairs, napoleons, petit* fours, Danish, coffee cakes, donuts, quick breads, cakes and a wide variety of bakery items.

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