No Bake Eclair Cake

This recipe caught my eye from the get-go. I was so excited to try it that I ran out to get the few ingredients I still needed at nine o'clock at night. I even forgot one item and had my poor husband go back to get the final ingredient.

I made this delicious dessert because we were going to a friend's house for dinner and I wanted to be the best-looking dessert maker I could be. But, of course, humble pie was actually what was going to be on the menu.

Not only did I have too much milk, not enough whipped topping, and the wrong sized graham crackers, but I also over-filled the 9x13 pan and had milk running down the sides and into the back seat of my car on the way to our dinner date. Moral of the story: do not try a new recipe when it is for an event where others will have to eat it.

Overall, though, I do love this recipe. Hopefully next time I attempt it for a special occasion it will work right. :-)

http://www.screencast.com/users/JessicaSolarek/folders/Default/media/942c4601-b908-4f51-9792-89e6af809107

Ingredients:

For the cake:
1 box graham crackers
2 (3 ounces) packages instant vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
8 oz. container whipped topping, thawed

For the chocolate frosting:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Line bottom of a 9x 13 pan with graham crackers. Combine pudding mix and milk. Stir in whipped topping to pudding mixture. Spread half of mixture over graham cracker layer. Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding. Top with a final layer of graham crackers and prepare frosting.

For the frosting, melt the butter with the cocoa powder in a saucepan. Bring to a light simmer over low heat and let it boil for one minute. Whisk in milk and cook for three more minutes, letting the mixture bubble up around the edges. Remove from heat and beat in the confectioners’ sugar with a whisk. When the mixture is smooth, add vanilla. While the frosting is still hot, pour it over the top layer of graham crackers and smooth with a spatula that has been dipped in hot water. Refrigerate until ready to serve.