This cream puff dessert is just plain fun to make. Besides that, it's even more fun to eat because it's simply delicious and a showy dessert that isn't hard to put together!
Cream cheese added to the pudding makes a soft but firm and meltingly delicious filling. Notice how each piece stands up nicely and tall for a great presentation!
Cream puff batter is fascinating. Combine the water, salt, and butter and bring it to a boil. It's only got five ingredients! When you cook it, the flour, salt, water, and butter magically come together to form a ball of dough that doesn't stick to the side of the pan.
Next, take the dough off the stove and let it cool for about 5 minutes. This is an important step. Use a wooden spoon to stir in four eggs, one at a time.
The eggs are what make the dough do fancy tricks. If you bake it in individual blobs of batter plopped on a baking sheet, the puffs end up hollow inside. When you bake it in a pan, it creates undulating hills and valleys of tasty golden crust.
Spread that eggy batter in a greased 13" by 9" pan.
Bake the crust for about 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Let it cool until it's no longer warm to the touch.
Look at that beautiful landscape of light and tasty crust! Looks fancy, but it's deceptively easy to do!
You'll want to have the cream cheese at room temperature. Warm the milk just a little in the microwave. Add about a cup of the warm milk to the cream cheese and beat until it's nice and soft.
Next, add the puddings and the rest of the milk. Continue to beat the pudding mixture until everything is blended completely and all the flecks of cream cheese are mixed in. This will be a thick mixture.
I can't believe my avocado green mixer from the 1970s is still on the job! When it finally gives up the ghost, I have my eye on a cute red KitchenAid hand mixer, but I'm patient.
Spoon the mixture onto the crust and spread to the edges of the pan. Chill until the pudding is set.
When the pudding is set, smooth a whole tub of whipped topping over the top clear to the edges. Sprinkle on candy bits of your choice. Here I used brickle bits and semi-sweet mini chocolate chips for the chocoholic birthday girl we were celebrating.
I got this recipe from a darling young mom who got the recipe from her mom. The recipe is dated 1992. I still had a high school student at home then!
Chocolate pudding with cream cheese sits atop a cream puff crust then is slathered with whipped topping and sprinkled with candy bits.
This recipe used instant chocolate pudding, but you can use butterscotch, vanilla, or pistachio pudding, too!
Today, we're making this a chocolate dessert for all those chocoholics out there, but butterscotch, lemon, or pistachio pudding would also make this a killer dessert! Try Butterfinger bits on pistachio! Delish!! Another idea is to add sliced strawberries or peaches to chilled and thickened vanilla pudding.
You might also enjoy this No-Bake Lemon Dessert Recipe or this gorgeous Cranberry Cake!
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Love, GB (Betty Streff)
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[…] Cream cheese added to the pudding makes a soft but firm and meltingly delicious filling. Notice how each piece stands up nice and tall for a great presentation! RECIPE HERE —->CRAZY GOOD CHOCOLATE CREAM PUFF DESSERT IT’S THE BOMB […]
Looks amazing, could use the cream puff choux for several toppings as another version. Much quicker than individual puffs.
I love it even more with butterscotch pudding!! Please, please, if you have more ideas I'd love you for sharing them!!
Do you use self rising flour?
No, just regular flour. The eggs are what makes it magic! Sorry for the delayed response! Merry Christmas!
I think your sodium content numbers are way off. I calculated it to be 275mg per serving. a major difference.
I do not calculate the nutrition information, it’s a function of the recipe maker template that happens when I enter the ingredients. Very interesting! I’ll take a look.
[…] I can’t resist sharing another cool, creamy chocolate dessert recipe here! This one has a cream puff crust, and it’s divine, too! Crazy Good Chocolate Cream Puff Dessert. […]
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Can you make this ahead and freeze it?
Hi, I replied to your email because all I had was my phone. The pudding and cool whip would do fine, but I think the crust would get soggy as it defrosts. I've never tried it, so I would not recommend it.
Can I use frozen puff pastry or is that different?
The honest answer is I have never tried it. You may need to bring the sides up somehow- I have some in the freezer- I need to try it! if you do, let me know, please!