Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Aimee 65 comments
Published: Apr 29, 2011 Last Updated: Mar 20, 2024

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This Chocolate Eclair Cake recipe is an old fashioned icebox cake with layers of graham crackers, pudding, and chocolate frosting. An easy no bake dessert recipe that everyone loves!

If you love no bake desserts, be sure to try this easy S’mores Icebox Cake and of course my no bake cheesecake recipe is always a hit!

Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe (1)

Why This Eclair Cake Recipe is Best

There are desserts on this website that I have created over the years, and then there are some that my family made that are childhood treasures.

For example, this cinnamon swirl zucchini bread is the only one I grew up eating, even though I have created dozens more zucchini bread recipe variations!

And these Pecan Tassies were at every holiday gathering. You’ll love their buttery crust with pecan pie filling!

Today’s Eclair Cake though is the one dessert that I knew how to make at a young age. It’s easy enough for the kids to help make, and it tastes incredible.

Similar to our family’s dirt cake recipes, you’ll love the pudding filling!

A chocolate eclair cake is an easy, no bake dessert the resembles chocolate eclairs. Very similar to a Boston Cream pie.

Slightly different than my cream puff cake and cream puff desserts!

Ingredient Notes

Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe (2)

Today’s recipe has layers of graham cracker with pudding and whipped cream filling. It’s topped off with a homemade chocolate frosting!

  • Graham Crackers– you’ll need a whole box for this recipe!
  • Pudding Mix– be sure to choose INSTANT pudding. I like french vanilla, but regular vanilla works great too!
  • Milk– any variety
  • Cool Whip– or homemade whipped cream
  • Frosting- you can use canned frosting, or follow my homemade frosting recipe below!

How to Make Chocolate Eclair Cake

Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe (3)

STEP 1: In a medium size bowl, whisk together pudding and milk. Fold in thawed cool whip and set aside.

STEP 2: In the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish, layer graham crackers, then half of the pudding mixture. Top with second layer of graham crackers and remaining pudding mixture. Finish with third layer of graham crackers.

STEP 3: Frost the cake by either making the homemade frosting recipe below. Or use a can of milk chocolate frosting. Remove foil liner, microwave 20 seconds. Stir and spread over the top of the cake.

STEP 4: Refrigerate cake for at least 8 hours. This is NON-negotiable. Refrigerating the cake allows the graham cracker layers to soften, which gives this dessert it’s signature flavor and texture.

Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe (4)

For the Eclair Cake Frosting

STEP 1: In a small saucepan, with double boiler, combine the baking chocolate with corn syrup. Heat on medium heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat.

STEP 2: Add vanilla, butter, milk and powdered sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined.

STEP 3: Frost the top layer of graham crackers. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

PRO TIP: heat up a can of chocolate frosting and pour over the top of the cake! Either way works!

Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe (5)

Flavor Substitutions

  • ThisStrawberry Eclair Cakeis made usingCheesecake JELL-Oin the filling. Plus there’s no oven needed which means it’s perfect for the warmer weather!
  • Layers of cinnamon graham crackers, vanilla pudding and fresh banana make this no bakeBanana Eclair Cakea huge summer hit! To top it off, I literally topped it off a cinnamon glaze!
  • I couldn’t resist making a No Bake Pistachio Eclair Cake recipe, using pistachio pudding mix! Topped with a classic chocolate frosting, you’ll love this version.
  • Too hot to turn on the oven? Try making thisNo BakePeanut Butter Eclair cakeversion of aChocolate Eclair Cake! Packed with Reese’s and peanut butter, it’s a chocolate lover’s dream.

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Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe (10)

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Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe

4.71 from 118 votes

By: Aimee

This Chocolate Eclair Cake recipe is an old fashioned icebox cake with layers of graham crackers, pudding, and chocolate frosting. An easy no bake dessert recipe!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours hours

Total Time: 8 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 servings

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 box honey graham crackers 14.4 ounce
  • 2 packages instant french vanilla pudding 3.4 ounce each
  • cups milk
  • 12 ounce cool whip thawed

For the Frosting:

  • 2 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate
  • 2 teaspoons corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • cups powdered sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons milk

Instructions

  • Mix pudding with milk in a medium size bowl. Fold in thawed cool whip.

  • Layer in a 13×9 dish: graham crackers, pudding, graham crackers, pudding, graham crackers.

  • For the homemade frosting, mix the baking chocolate with corn syrup in a double boiler over medium heat. Stir until smooth. Add vanilla, butter, milk and powdered sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined.

  • Frost the top layer of graham crackers. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours until serving.

Notes

  • You can swap out homemade frosting for one can of milk chocolate frosting. Remove lid and foil cover. Microwave 20 seconds, stir, and spread over graham crackers.
  • If you can’t find french vanilla pudding mix, swap it out for instant vanilla pudding mix.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 46mg, Sugar: 12g

Course: Cake

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

This Eclair Cake recipe is an old fashioned icebox cake with layers of graham crackers, pudding, and chocolate frosting. An easy no bake dessert recipe!

Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is chocolate eclair cake made of? ›

To make this super easy dessert, you only need five simple ingredients: graham crackers, milk, heavy cream, vanilla pudding mix, and chocolate chips. Yes, I know instant pudding mix isn't the most glamorous ingredient, but I said this was an easy recipe. There is nothing as easy as instant pudding mix.

What are the ingredients in chocolate eclair ice cream? ›

Nutrition Facts

Ingredients: Lowfat Ice Cream Shell: Skim milk, sugar, corn syrup, cream, high fructose corn syrup, whey, contains less than 2% of artificial flavor, maltodextrin, guar gum, mono and diglycerides, xanthan gum, polysorbate 80, carrageenan, vitamin A palmitate.

What is the history of eclair cake? ›

In the 19th century, Antonin Carême, a famous pastry chef for French royalty, had the idea of removing the almonds, garnishing them with chocolate or coffee custard, and covering it with fondant sugar. The éclair was born! Eclair means “lightning” in French.

What exactly is an éclair? ›

An éclair is a long French pastry made from choux pastry, filled with pastry cream or custard and dipped in fondant icing. The most popular éclair is probably the chocolate éclair, which is topped with chocolate fondant and filled with chocolate custard or pastry cream.

What does eclairs chocolate contain? ›

GLUCOSE SYRUP, SUGAR, MILK SOLIDS, VEGETABLE OIL, COCOA BUTTER, COCOA MASS, EMULSIFIERS (471, 442, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN), SALT, FLAVOURS, ACIDITY REGULATOR (500). MILK CHOCOLATE CONTAINS COCOA SOLIDS 25%, MILK SOLIDS 22%. CONTAINS MILK.

What pastry is chocolate eclairs made from? ›

Choux pastry is used as a base for many desserts, such as eclairs, churros, cream puffs, profiteroles, Paris-brests, gougeres and croquembouches.

What is a milk chocolate eclair? ›

Chou pastry, filled with chocolate cream and chocolate coating.

Do chocolate eclairs contain egg? ›

Ingredients. Stabilised Cream (39%), Pasteurised Egg, Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Sugar, Rapeseed Oil, Belgian Milk Chocolate (6%), Belgian Dark Chocolate (3%), Palm Oil, Dried Glucose Syrup.

Why do my eclairs crack? ›

We found that the popular method of baking the choux logs at a higher temperature, then reducing it, often led to cracked éclairs (the initial high blast of heat causes their delicate structure to expand too rapidly).

What is the oldest cake in the world? ›

Linzer Torte is the world's oldest known cake and is named after the Austrian city of Linz. It has been documented as early as 1696. Its oldest recipe is listed in a 300-year-old cookbook!

What country is éclair from? ›

The éclair originated during the nineteenth century in Lyon, France where it was called pain à la duch*esse ('duch*ess-style bread') or petite duch*esse ('little duch*ess') until 1850. The word is first attested both in English and in French in the 1860s.

What is an interesting fact about Eclairs? ›

Éclair means “flash of lightning” and describes the speed at which these delicacies will disappear if left unguarded. These delicious treats were said to have first been invented by the French Chef Antonin Carême, a man with a tragic history that led to a grand creation in the early 19th century.

What does "éclair" mean in English? ›

: an oblong pastry with whipped cream or custard filling. Etymology. French, literally, "lightning" Word Origin. The English word éclair comes directly from a French word whose chief meaning is "lightning" or "flash of lightning." No one is sure why a pastry was named after lightning.

Why are eclairs so expensive? ›

As Serious Eats reported, luxury eclairs are the result of French chefs facing competition, and putting their skills to the test, which explains the high-end fillings and intricate decoration. For now, the Maitre Choux versions are made in the tiny kitchen beneath the shop.

What's the difference between an eclair and a French eclair? ›

An American eclair is made from frozen ingredients such as frozen pre-separated egg whites and yolks and frozen pre-made cream. A French eclair is fresh: freshly separated eggs, freshly stirred creme, freshly picked or ground ingredients.

What is chocolate cake made of? ›

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda. Add oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla; mix until smooth. Stir in hot coffee last. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

What's the difference between cream puff and éclair? ›

The main differences between the three include the shape and serving method. Eclairs: Oblong choux pastry filled with cream and topped with a glaze or icing. Cream Puffs: Round choux pastry puffs filled with pastry cream and topped with icing or dusted with powdered sugar.

What's the difference between an éclair and a French éclair? ›

An American eclair is made from frozen ingredients such as frozen pre-separated egg whites and yolks and frozen pre-made cream. A French eclair is fresh: freshly separated eggs, freshly stirred creme, freshly picked or ground ingredients.

What is chocolate ice cream cake made of? ›

Over the top delicious and decadent, this Chocolate Ice Cream Cake combines layers of a cookie crust, creamy homemade vanilla and chocolate ice cream, rich chocolate sauce then is topped with a luscious chocolate ganache. It's the ultimate ice cream treat for chocolate lovers!

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