Thursday, September 13, 2007

Chocolate Eclair Dessert



The first time I tasted this sinful recipe I thought I had died and gone to heaven! My aunt, in South Carolina, made it for a family gathering. I knew when she pulled it out of the refrigerator that I was doomed.

All of the other family members were excited, and running for their plates. After taking that first bite, I knew why everyone else was chomping at the bit to get to this delectable dessert. It had layers of graham crackers, lots of pudding, so it was ooey & gooey, and chocolate on top. What else could possibly be better?

While they were enjoying their first helping, I thought to myself, maybe if I grab the pan, and lick the entire top of the dessert, nobody will want anymore! I stared lovingly at it sitting on the counter, and started to get up. Suddenly, flashes of myself being chased out of the house, by angry relatives (that I had just met), made me sit back down in my chair. I decided I would scare away anyone who attempted to go for seconds, with the evil "STINKEYE".

It didn't work!

Eventually, I ended up begging my aunt for the recipe. She reached for her special book that she had written hundreds of recipes down in. (I just knew they all had to be secret family recipes)! While I sat at the table and wrote the recipe down, she told me about all the changes she makes to it. Sometimes she uses the chocolate flavored graham crackers. Sometimes she uses different pudding. This particular time she used one box of vanilla and one box of pistachio pudding. I knew that I would always make it with one of each because I loved the pistachio flavor. After carefully writing everything down, I put the recipe in my purse and proceeded to enjoy the rest of my vacation visiting family in North & South Carolina.

When I arrived back home, all I could talk about was this wonderful recipe I had tried, and told my family that I wanted to make it for them. I went searching for the recipe and I COULDN'T find it. I looked and looked but it was nowhere to be found. Apparently, I had put it in such a safe spot (so that I wouldn't lose it) that I totally lost it. Panic set in. Now my family would NEVER know the wonders of this delightful dish. I wouldn't be able to include it in the cookbook I wanted to make. I was a failure at passing down secret family recipes! What would I do now?

I did what every other SMART person would have done. I "googled" it!

Imagine my surprise when the very same, highly guarded, secret family recipe was all over the internet! O MY! Someone must have found the piece of paper I had written it down on, and dispersed bootleg copies of it EVERYWHERE!

Needless to say, I was a very excited girl! And the next time I see my aunt, I will pretend it's still our little secret! But, I might have to break the news about the Easy Bake Chicken recipe that has shown up on the back of the Stove-Top Stuffing box.

So, would you like the recipe? Shhhhhhh you CAN'T tell anyone! Pinky swear? OK! Here it is:

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

3 Individual Packages Of Graham Crackers (1 box)
2 (3 ounce) Packages Of Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
3 (cups) Milk
1 (8 ounce) Container Frozen Whipped Topping (Thawed)
1 (16 ounce) Can Prepared Chocolate Frosting

Directions:

Line the bottom of a 9"X13" pan with graham crackers. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Stir well. Stir whipped topping into the pudding mixture. Spread half of the mixture over graham cracker layer. Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding. Top all with a final layer of graham crackers and frost with chocolate frosting. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

There you go! It can't be sinful when it tastes so good. Can it? I prefer to say it's HEAVENLY! That way, I feel much better when I keep sticking my spoon into the pan while it sits in the refrigerator. WAIT! I forgot to lick the top of it!

5 comments:

Shannon said...

Kathy, My mother in law makes this too and it is SOOOO good! She usually makes it during the holidays and a few other times during the year if we're lucky. YUM!!

Cheryl Wray said...

Oh YES...I have had this before and it is SO yummy!!
And what's best is it's so easy to make! I love it!!! (Now I may have to go make one for myself! Bad blogger friend!!! lol)

Kelly said...

you totally need to do a lyout about this! I am droolin all over my desk- it looks so yummy!!

Anonymous said...

Kathy I haven't had the pleasure of tasting these but they look yummy and so easy to make. And we won't even talk about the fat and calorie content. lol

Heather said...

I had this for the first time a few years ago when my neighbor made it. It really is delicious.
Heather