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Easy No-Bake Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert Recipe

Easy No-Bake Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert

A chilled four-layer dessert with a chocolate sandwich-cookie crust, cream-cheese filling, chocolate pudding, and whipped topping. This no-bake favorite serves about 12 and is best prepared the day before serving.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 4 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Crust
  • 36 cookies Chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed
  • 6 tablespoons Unsalted butter, melted
Cream-Cheese Layer
  • 8 ounces Cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup Granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Milk
  • 1 cup Frozen whipped topping, thawed
Chocolate-Pudding Layer
  • 2 packages, 3.9 ounces each Instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 3 cups Cold milk
Top Layer
  • 8 ounces Frozen whipped topping, thawed
Optional Garnish
  • 1/2 cup Mini chocolate chips, chocolate curls, or finely grated chocolate

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Crush 36 chocolate sandwich cookies into fine crumbs. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter until the crumbs are evenly moistened, then press firmly into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch dish and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes.
  2. Beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in 2 tablespoons milk, gently fold in 1 cup thawed whipped topping, and spread the mixture over the chilled crust.
  3. Whisk two 3.9-ounce packages of instant chocolate pudding mix with 3 cups cold milk for about 2 minutes, until thickened. Spread the pudding evenly over the cream-cheese layer.
  4. Spread the remaining 8 ounces of thawed whipped topping over the pudding layer. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
  5. Add mini chocolate chips, chocolate curls, or finely grated chocolate just before serving. Slice with a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts for tidy layers.

Notes

Use instant chocolate pudding mix, not cook-and-serve pudding, because the pudding must thicken in cold milk. Fully soften the cream cheese to avoid lumps. For the cleanest slices, chill overnight and wipe the knife between cuts.