No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (2024)

Though this no-bake Eclair Cake recipe is so easy to make, it tastes wonderful! Layers of graham crackers between a sweet vanilla pudding cream then drizzled with chocolate.

It’s the perfect dessert recipe that requires no baking!

No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (1)

There are days I just don’t want to bake but I still crave dessert. That’s when we go with a no-bake dessert! This recipe is almost as easy as our no-bake cheesecake and delicious spartak cake.

Éclair Cake –

This cake is like an eclair minus all the work you put into one. The layers of graham crackers softened by the creamy vanilla pudding give you so much flavor in every bite!

No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (2)

Ingredients-

Here are the easy ingredients needed for an eclair cake.

  • Graham crackers – You want to use the honey graham crackers, we like to use the Honey Maid brand. For a cholate version, use chocolate graham crackers.
  • Instant vanilla pudding – This recipe calls for instant french vanilla pudding, you can also use cheesecake instant pudding.
  • Milk – The key to this recipe is cold milk, you can use whole milk or 2% milk.
  • Cream cheese – Be sure the cream cheese is at room temp for easy mixing.
  • Cool whip -You can use original cool whip, sugar free cool whip, or light cool whip.
  • Ganache – For the ganache we use chopped milk chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream. You can totally opt out of the ganache altogether.
No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (3)

HOW TO MAKE ECLAIR CAKE-

You will not believe how simple and fast this graham cracker dessert comes together!

  1. MAKE CREAM– In a medium bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the instant vanilla pudding mix and milk until creamy and thick. Add in the creamed cream cheese and cool whip and mix until combined.
  2. ASSEMBLE CAKE– Add a small amount of pastry cream to the bottom of your cake platter. Add four graham crackers on top of the custard cream in a row.
  3. Top with crackers with cream. Repeat this process until you have six layers. Cover the sides and tops of the cake with the remaining pudding mixture.
  4. DECORATE CAKE– You should have 3 graham crackers left, crush the crackers and use to cover the sides and final top layer of graham crackers.
  5. GANACHE– In a saucepan, over low heat, melt the chocolate and whisk in the cream until a thick and creamy ganache has appeared. Allow the ganache to cool.
  6. Drizzle the chocolate glaze on top of the cake. Refrigerate at least two hours or until graham cracker layers have softened.

Pro TIP: You can also make the eclair cake in a baking dish or rimmed pan and serve it that way.

No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (4)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS-

Can I add fruits to this dessert?

Yes, when serving this cake for events I like to top the cake with the ganache and fresh fruit for a prettier look!

Can I substitute the chocolate ganache?

You can substitute the chocolate ganache for chocolate frosting. Just add a layer of chocolate frosting on top of the layers. Or just opt out of the chocolate part completely, but we like the flavor the chocolate gives.

How long will this cake last?

This delicious chocolate eclair cake will last for up to 2-3 days in the fridge!

How to store eclair cake?

You want to tightly cover the cake to avoid drying and store it in the fridge.

Can I make this cake ahead of time?

Yes, you want to make it ahead of time to allow the layers to soften. Makeup to 24 hours ahead of time.

Can I freeze my eclair cake?

This no-bake eclair cake freezes great! Cover tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
To thaw, allow thawing overnight in the fridge.

Can I make this recipe healthier?

You can make this a little healthier by using sugar-free instant pudding and sugar-free cool whip.

Can I substitute the cool whip?

Yes! You can use homemade whipped cream.

How long does the dessert need to chill or sit for?

You want this to chill for at least a couple of hours before serving. You want the graham layers to soften and soak into the vanilla pudding cream.

Can I use different flavors for this no-bake dessert?

Yes, you can use different flavors of instant pudding such as chocolate or cheesecake pudding. We also like to use cinnamon or graham crackers sometimes to switch up the flavors.

No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (5)

More Easy Dessert Recipes –

  • Chocolate Oreo Pudding
  • Chocolate Covered Pretzels
  • Rice Krispies Treats
  • Tiramisu Cake Recipe
  • Black Forest No Bake Cheesecake
  • Oreo Truffles Balls
  • Peanut Butter Mousse Parfait

No Bake Éclair Cake Recipe

Author: Valentina

No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (6)

Print

5 from 8 votes

Though this no-bake Eclair Cake recipe is so easy to make, it tastes wonderful! Layers of graham crackers between a sweet vanilla pudding cream then drizzled with chocolate.

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups cold milk
  • 5.1 oz instant vanilla pudding
  • 4 oz cream cheese, room temp
  • 8 oz cool whip
  • 1/2 cup chopped milk chocolate
  • 3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
  • 14.4 oz graham crackers

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, whisk together milk and instant pudding until it starts to thicken, about 1 min.

  • In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy. Add cream cheese to the pudding, mix just until cream cheese is incorporated. Add the cool whip, beat again.

  • Refrigerate until ready to assemble the cake.

  • Place a mixing bowl over a double boiler, bring water to a boil.

    Add heavy whipping cream and milk chocolate to the bowl. Keep mixing until the chocolate begins to melt. Remove from heat and continue mixing until there are no chunks of chocolate.

    Set aside to cool.

  • Spread a small amount of cream over a platter.

  • Add four graham crackers in a row. Cover generously with cream. Repeat until you have six layers.

  • Cover top and sides of cake with remaining cream.

  • Take the 3 leftover crackers and finely crush.

  • Coat sides and top with the graham crackers.

  • Drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the cake.

  • Enjoy immediately or refrigerate. The cake is best if eaten the same day.

Nutrition

209kcal Calories13g Carbs4g Protein16g Fat9g Saturated Fat38mg Cholesterol98mg Sodium162mg Potassium11g Sugar480IU Vitamin A107mg Calcium0.5mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts

No Bake Éclair Cake Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 209Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Cholesterol 38mg13%

Sodium 98mg4%

Potassium 162mg5%

Carbohydrates 13g4%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 480IU10%

Calcium 107mg11%

Iron 0.5mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (7)

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36 comments

  • No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (8)

    • Wioletta

    Hi,
    How many cups of cool whip?

    • Reply
    • No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (9)

      • Valentina’s Corner

      Hi, Wioletta, if you go to the recipe card at the end of the post, we have the measurements there. I hope you enjoy the dessert.

      • Reply
  • No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (10)

    • Angelina

    When you add the cool whip, do you add it while it’s still frozen, or do you defrost it?

    • Reply
    • No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (11)

      • Valentina’s Corner

      Angelina, the cool whip should be defrosted. Hope you love this recipe!

      • Reply

More Comments

No-Bake Eclair Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is eclair cake made of? ›

This easy no-bake Chocolate Eclair Cake is a classic Midwestern dessert. Made with graham crackers, pudding, whipped topping, and chocolate frosting, in comes together in about 10 minutes plus chilling time.

Is an éclair a patisserie? ›

A: In France, the éclair is an incredibly popular dessert available in nearly every patisserie. They're typically filled with chocolate cream or whipped cream and piped with icing, although there are many variations of this delightful treat.

What is the meaning of éclair in baking? ›

: 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.

How many calories are in a slice of eclair cake? ›

One serving of (3.5 oz / 100g) Eclair Cake has 215 calories (120 calories from fat). One serving has about 78mg cholesterol, so as tempting as it looks, do not indulge. 100g of Eclair Cake has 247mg sodium, 71mg potassium, 19.5g total carbohydrates (11.2g sugar) and about 5g protein.

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

The main difference lies in the shape; regardless of size, éclairs are oblong and cream puffs are round. Both are filled with some type of cream or custard, be it whipped cream, pastry cream, or chiboust cream, either plain or flavored.

What is éclair dough made of? ›

Choux pastry is made by heating milk, water, sugar, salt, and butter to a boil, stirring in bread flour to incorporate it, allowing it to cool a little, then adding eggs. The dough is then placed in a pastry bag and piped onto a baking sheet in the long shape desired for eclairs.

What does the French word éclair mean in English? ›

Translation of éclair – French–English dictionary

a flash of lightning. lightning [noun] a flash of electricity between clouds or from a cloud to earth during a storm, usually followed by thunder.

What are eclairs called in France? ›

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

Other than form and name, they are continents apart in taste. 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 the name of the cream in eclairs? ›

Chantilly cream (French whipped cream for éclairs) – Simply beat together cream, vanilla, icing sugar (powdered sugar) and, if using the stabilised cream option which I highly recommend (see below), mascarpone as well until firm peaks form.

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

Like all non-cake doughnuts, Long Johns are made with a yeasted dough, which gives them their trademark chewiness. Eclairs, meanwhile, are made with a French Choux pastry, which uses no leavening agent whatsoever and consists primarily of butter, flour, water, and eggs.

What do eggs do in eclairs? ›

The Eggs: Eggs loosen the thick, cooked flour-water-butter paste thanks to the high water content of the whites, and enrich it with more fat from the yolks. And because eggs solidify as they cook, they also help ensure the cooked choux will set properly and hold its final shape.

How many calories in a Dunkin Donuts Eclair donut? ›

Dunkin Donuts Donuts Eclair (1 eclair) contains 52g total carbs, 50g net carbs, 19g fat, 5g protein, and 390 calories.

Can you freeze a Portillo's chocolate cake? ›

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How do I store the cake? To store the cake, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you want to freeze the cake, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil, and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

How many calories are in a banana split eclair? ›

Energy: 509 calories

Proportion of total calories contributed by protein, carbs and fat.

What is eclair paste made of? ›

Choux paste – Éclair Paste – La Pate a Choux

In a saucepan bring to a boil the water, milk, sugar, salt and butter. Remove from heat and immediately add the sifted flour. Stir well until combined. Return to heat and stir until the dough releases from the sides and bottom.

What is an éclair donut filled with? ›

Delicate choux pastry filled with a rich vanilla bean pastry cream and coated in a shiny glaze of chocolate, matcha and black currant.

Are eclairs sweets or chocolate? ›

Classic Cadbury chocolate eclairs – chewy caramels with a chocolate coating. These classic chewy sweets are often the last ones left in the Christmas tin..

What is eclairs chocolate made of? ›

A Chocolate Éclair is a French dessert that features an airy choux pastry shell, filled with rich and luscious vanilla pastry cream, all topped with a thick layer of chocolate glaze.

References

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