Mom's Chocolate Pie Dessert

Mom never stops
being your mother

This is one of our family's favorite desserts. I got it from my honey's mom. She said it was originally called John Wayne Dessert, but I've seen it called Robert Redford Dessert. Other names are the simple Layered Chocolate Pie Dessert and Chocolate Delight.

Whatever the name is, you will win oohs and aahs at the dinner table when you serve this choc-o-licious dessert.
The best part of this yummy treat is that it is so very easy to make and bake. Well, you only bake the crust. Once the crust is baked, you add the filling and pop it in the refrigerator. It's a definite bake-ahead dessert. I thought it would be a good time to pass this recipe on for the holidays. So here goes.

Mom's Chocolate Pie Dessert

Ingredients:

1 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese (room temperature)
1 cup powered sugar
1 (9 oz) carton Cool Whip (cold but not frozen)
1 (6 3/4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (6 3/4 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
3 cups cold mix
1 large chocolate Hershey bar, grated as shavings

Crust for Bottom of Dish:

It's so easy to make, because the crust is the only part of this dessert that gets baked. There's no rolling pin involved, which makes it almost a no-fail crust.

Prepare bottom crust by mixing flour and butter until crumb like. Add 1 cup of the pecans. Blend evenly. Use your fingers to press dough into bottom of 9 x 13 inch glass baking dish (not sides of dish). Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake bottom crust for 15-20 minutes until sightly golden. Cool.

Layered Chocolate Pie Dessert Filling:

1. Beat softened cream cheese in bowl with sugar until smooth. Fold in half of whipped topping. Spread cream cheese and whipped topping mixture over cooled crust.

2. Combine the vanilla and chocolate pudding mixes in separate bowl. Beat in milk until smooth and thickened. Spread over the cream cheese layer.

3. Spread remaining whipped topping over the pudding mixture.

4. Over top, sprinkle remaining pecans and then top with the chocolate bar shavings (made using a potato peeler).

5. Cover and refrigerate overnight.


To make it super easy to cut serving sizes, use a lasagna server/cutter instead of a typical pie-shaped server spatula.

Serves 12 - 16.

Note: Feel free to add a more generous helping of nuts, if desired. 

You can also substitute pecans for walnuts; or leave the nuts out of this recipe.

You can substitute chocolate chips for the grated Hershey bar shavings. The taste is about the same, but I don't think it looks as yummy when you serve it on the table. The rich look of this dessert is due in part to the scrumptious chocolate shavings on top.

BTW: For Christmas, I sometimes add peppermint candy canes to the dish just to add holiday color. But it doesn't really need dressing up.

This is an amazing chocolate pie dessert. It's easy to make, oh so chocolatey, and serves more people than a traditional round chocolate pie. It's one of our favorite holiday desserts. I like to make this dessert because it not only tastes so good, but it looks absolutely awesome. I believe that delicious dining starts with what the eyes see, before the eating begins.

I make this dish ahead of time, and it tastes awesome the next day. This leaves me more time to enjoy the family gathered at the Christmas table. Enjoy!