Southern Chocolate Delight

Name: Southern Chocolate Delight Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: 1.5 cups self rising flour; 1 cup pecans (chopped); 3/4 cup butter (melted); 8 oz cream cheese (softened); 20 oz whipped cream; 1 cup powdered sugar; 3 cups milk; 1 package instant chocolate pudding (5.9 oz); 1 oz dark chocolate (grated or shaved)

Jump to Recipe

This Southern Chocolate Delight recipe is just like you remember when Grandma made it. An easy layered dessert with a crunchy shortbread crust. We show you how to make it with staple ingredients so all of the memories can come flooding back.

A slice of dessert with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on a blue decorative plate sits next to a larger dish of the same dessert atop a wooden surface. A spoon rests beside the plate.

This make ahead Southern Chocolate Delight recipe is perfect for any occasion. Some of my best childhood memories are from Sunday lunch at church where people would wait for this recipe. Because it is a layered recipe, people tend to think it is difficult. We are here to squelch that myth today.

We use easy ingredients that show you how this no bake chocolate delight can come together quickly. This recipe, just like our BUTTERMILK POUND CAKE, can help make you dessert famous, so get ready!

Ingredients

We use a couple of shortcuts on this one. Including instant pudding mix and prepackaged whipped topping. You can make these from scratch, just like grandma did pretty easily. However, we wanted to share the easiest method we could here.

A piece of dessert on a blue and white plate. The dessert consists of layers with whipped topping and chocolate shavings. A larger portion in a glass dish with a serving utensil is in the background, all set on a wooden surface.

What You’ll Need

Self rising flour
Chopped PECANS
Butter, milk, cream cheese
Powdered sugar
Instant chocolate pudding
Whipped topping

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

Instructions

Lots of other recipes say that you need to let each layer set before adding, we do not here. Instead, we show you how to carefully add each layer. The only must is letting the shortbread crust cool completely for optimal results.

Hands pour flour from a small glass bowl into a larger blue bowl on a wooden surface. Nearby are a measuring cup with more flour and a small dish with chopped nuts. A clear baking dish is on the right.

Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large bowl, add 1&1/2 cups of self rising flour.

A hand holds a measuring cup with chopped nuts over a blue bowl containing flour. A glass dish and a small glass cup with water sit on a wooden countertop.

Mix in 1 cup of chopped pecans.

A person's hand pours melted butter from a glass measuring cup into a blue mixing bowl containing flour. A wooden spoon rests in the bowl. Nearby are a glass baking dish, a small glass bowl, and measuring cups on a wooden surface.

Drizzle in 3/4 cup of melted butter and mix well.

A person holds a can of avocado oil spray over a glass baking dish containing a crumbled mixture. A blue bowl with remnants of flour mixture is nearby, all set on a wooden counter. The person's wrist has multiple bracelets.

Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non stick spray. Also add a bit of spray to your hands before spreading.

Hands are spreading a crumbly mixture in a glass baking dish on a wooden countertop. A blue bowl with a wooden spoon is on the left, containing some of the mixture. The person is wearing bracelets.

Press and spread crust mixture into prepared pan. Bake 15 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely.

Person stirring ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a whisk. The bowl contains a pinkish powder and liquid being mixed. A baking dish with a cooked crust is on the left. The setting is a wooden countertop with a visible stovetop edge.

We make our pudding first. In a large bowl, add in one 5.9oz package of chocolate pudding. Add in 3 cups of milk.

A person wearing a maroon sleeve pours milk from a measuring jug into a mixing bowl with chocolate batter. A measuring cup with remaining milk sits nearby. A baking dish with a crumbly dessert is on the left, all on a wooden countertop.

Whisk pudding and milk until smooth.

A person is whisking chocolate batter in a large white bowl with blue speckles on a wooden countertop. To the left, there is a glass dish with a baked crumbly dessert. The stove edge is visible on the left side.

Cover and refrigerate to set until ready to use.

A wooden cutting board holds a white bowl with cream cheese and a spatula. Next to it, a hand is scooping sugar from a container. On the left, a baking dish filled with an oat-topped dessert rests on a stovetop.

Next, we make the cheesecake layer. In a large bowl, add 8 oz of softened cream cheese and 1 cup of powdered sugar. Mix or whip well.

A person is adding a small plastic cup of a white substance, such as sour cream or yogurt, into a mixing bowl containing flour. A spatula rests in the bowl. A baked dish is on the stove to the left. A container of flour is to the right.

Fold in one cup of whipped topping and gently mix well.

A person spreads cream cheese frosting over a rectangular baking dish filled with baked cookies or cake. The frosting is being smoothed with a spatula. A bowl with leftover batter sits on the wooden countertop beside a stovetop.

Spread cheesecake layer over cooled crust. Doing this carefully so crust doesn’t come up into that layer

A person spreads chocolate batter over a creamy layer in a rectangular glass dish. Nearby, a speckled mixing bowl with remnants of the batter is on a wooden cutting board next to a stove.

Next, we carefully spread the chocolate pudding layer over the cream cheese.

A person spreads whipped cream over a rectangular chocolate cake in a glass dish on a wooden cutting board. The board is next to a black stove with visible burner grates. A white and blue cloth is on the counter nearby.

Top both layers with remaining whipped topping , spreading evenly and carefully.

A person in a red sweater grates chocolate over a dish topped with white cream. The dish sits on a wooden cutting board next to a gas stovetop. A plastic bag with chocolate pieces and a cloth are nearby. The scene appears to be in a kitchen.

Shave or grate a little chocolate over the top for garnish.

Refrigerate 2 to 24 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Why Brooke loves this recipe!

Recipes are like antiques. They are meant to be handed down from one generation to another. Each one holding a special memory or nostalgic memory. Here is why we love this one!

So many memories are made around the dinner table. As a child, recipes like these were special to me. As an adult they have become more so. Making dinner or dessert is also making a memory for someone else. Whether we like it or not, food is a powerful thing and recipes like this is a memory maker for sure.

Variations and Substitutions

While this a easy and delicious recipe as is , here are a few ideas to make it even better and to make it your own.

Nuts – use peanuts or walnuts in place of the pecans. You can also top the chocolate delight with nuts instead of chocolate.
Chocolate pudding – try another flavor like pistachio, vanilla, butterscotch or even banana cream. Yum!
Shortbread crust – try your hand at another type of crust. Making one from ground oreo cookies and melted butter or brownies or even a traditional graham cracker crust. This can be anything you like!

Equipment

🔧 I love to share recipes that are no special equipment required but here are a few things that would definitely make this recipe easier!

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How to Make This No Bake Chocolate Delight Ahead and Store It!

You can make the cream cheese layer and the pudding ahead of time. Just cover and chill until ready to layer! This will also cut down on set time before serving.

This will keep up to a week covered in the refrigerator.

This is a great dessert to freeze for when you need it. Simply remove the day you need it and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator or a cool kitchen ahead of serving time.

A dessert in a glass dish with layers of cream, cake, and chocolate shavings. A portion is served on a blue and white patterned plate, resting on a wooden surface. A gold-colored fork is placed on the plate.

⭐ LOVE THIS RECIPE? It would mean so very much to me if you would take a moment to rate this recipe and leave me a sweet comment in the recipe card below! ❤️❤️We hope you love all of the Southern and healthy recipes we share here at The Buttered Home and would love to see you back here often!

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A close-up of a dessert topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with dark chocolate shavings. Crumbled bits of a light-colored ingredient are visible among the chocolate. The dessert is in a rectangular dish on a wooden surface.

Southern Chocolate Delight Recipe

Two layers of silky chocolate pudding and sweetened cream cheese topped with whipped cream. What could be better? All of this garnished with shaved chocolate while on a shortbread crust. This Southern Chocolate Delight recipe is the perfect dessert.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Time for Pudding to Set 2

Total Time 2 25

Serving Size

Ingredients

1.5 cups self rising flour
1 cup pecans chopped
3/4 cup butter melted
8 oz cream cheese softened
20 oz whipped cream
1 cup powdered sugar
3 cups milk
1 package instant chocolate pudding 5.9 oz
1 oz dark chocolate grated or shaved

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with a light spray of non stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix flour, pecans and melted butter. Spread in prepared pan and gently press out to cover the bottom of the pan. Bake about 15 to 20 minutes until it is golden brown. Cool completely.
1.5 cups self rising flour, 1 cup pecans, 3/4 cup butter
To make the pudding, whisk or blend milk with pudding mix until thickened. Cover and chill until ready to use.
3 cups milk, 1 package instant chocolate pudding
In another bowl, mix softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and 8 oz of whipped cream. Set aside.
8 oz cream cheese, 20 oz whipped cream, 1 cup powdered sugar
Once crust is completely cooled, spread cream cheese mixture evenly over the crust.
Top with pudding layer and carefully spread evenly over cream cheese layer. Top with remaining 12 oz of whipped cream. Shave or grate chocolate over the top. Refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours until sets. Serve and enjoy
20 oz whipped cream, 1 oz dark chocolate

See How To Make It!

🍴 PRO TIP!

For a clean cut every time so you can see all of the delicious layers, freeze for about 30 minutes prior to cutting. Also, use a sharp knife to cut servings making sure to wipe the knife clean before each cut.

🗹 RECIPE FAQ’S

Do I have to whip my cream cheese layer?

While whipping the cream cheese and powdered sugar is your best option to add fluffiness to this layer, it is not necessary. In fact, in our how to video, we show you how to just combine and you still get a great result.

Can I make the pudding and whipped cream from scratch?

Yes! There are some really great chocolate custard recipes that would be wonderful in this recipe. And homemade whipped cream is also easy with a hand mixer, a cold bowl and heavy cream. Just make sure both have been chilled well before layering as written.

Can this chocolate delight dessert be frozen?

It sure can. You can freeze until you need it and serve it slightly frozen or allow it to thaw before serving. Freezing even a little bit will help keep those beautiful layers in tact.

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