These four desserts use the same method. You press a cookie crust in a dish. You mix a creamy chocolate filling. You spread the layers. Then you put the dish in the fridge until it is firm enough to cut.
You do not turn on the oven (except if you bake brownies first for Recipe 3). Each recipe below is written like a real recipe: time, servings, ingredients, and step-by-step directions.
Watch how a no-bake chocolate layer dessert is made
This video shows the same idea: crust, cream, pudding, chill.
▶ Watch the recipe video on YouTube
Recipe 1: Chocolate Pudding Delight
Recipe card
Prep time: 25 minutes · Chill time: 4 hours
Servings: 12 · Dish: 8×8 or 9×9 glass pan
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1½ cups chocolate cookie crumbs
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
For the chocolate filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened (leave out 1 hour)
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
- 1 box chocolate pudding mix (3.9 oz)
- 1 cup cold milk
For the cream topping
- 2½ cups heavy whipping cream
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Chocolate shavings, for the top
Directions
1. Make the crust. Stir the cookie crumbs and melted butter until the crumbs look wet, like damp sand. Press the mix firmly into the bottom of the dish. Use the back of a spoon. Put the dish in the fridge while you make the filling.
2. Make the chocolate filling. Beat the soft cream cheese until it is smooth and has no lumps. Pour in the condensed milk and mix again. In a second bowl, whisk the pudding mix with the cold milk for 2 minutes, until it gets thick. Add the pudding to the cream cheese and mix until it is all one color.
3. Whip the cream. Beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until the cream holds a peak (it stands up when you lift the beater). This takes 2–3 minutes.
4. Layer the dessert. Fold half of the whipped cream into the chocolate filling (use a spoon and turn the bowl — do not beat hard). Spread this chocolate cream over the cold crust. Spread the rest of the white whipped cream on top. Sprinkle chocolate shavings all over.
5. Chill. Cover the dish. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight. Cut into 12 squares with a hot knife.
Recipe 2: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Recipe card
Prep time: 20 minutes · Chill time: 4 hours
Servings: 12 · Dish: 8×8 glass pan
Ingredients
Crust
- 1½ cups chocolate cookie crumbs
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Filling
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
Topping
- 1 cup whipped topping (optional white layer)
- Chocolate sauce
- Extra mini chocolate chips
Directions
1. Make the crust. Mix crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press hard into the pan. Chill 10 minutes so the butter firms up.
2. Make the cheesecake filling. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until creamy. Add sour cream and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Stir in the mini chocolate chips with a spoon.
3. Spread the filling over the cold crust. Smooth the top.
4. Add the white layer (optional). Spread whipped topping over the cheesecake. This makes the white stripe you see in the slice.
5. Decorate. Drizzle chocolate sauce back and forth. Sprinkle more chips on top.
6. Chill 4 hours. Cut into squares.
Recipe 3: Brownie Chocolate Trifle
Recipe card
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus brownie bake, if needed)
Chill time: 2 hours · Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 1 batch brownies, cooled and cut into small cubes (use a box mix or leftovers)
- 1 box instant chocolate pudding (3.4 oz)
- 2 cups cold milk
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- Chocolate syrup, for drizzle
Directions
1. Make the pudding. Whisk the pudding mix and cold milk for 2 minutes. Let it sit 5 minutes until thick.
2. Whip the cream. Beat cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until fluffy.
3. Build the layers. Put a layer of brownie cubes in the dish. Spoon on pudding. Spoon on whipped cream. Repeat if you have more.
4. Finish the top. Add more brownie cubes in rows. Drizzle chocolate syrup in lines. Add chips if you like.
5. Chill at least 2 hours so the pudding sets.
Recipe 4: Chocolate Oreo Dream
Recipe card
Prep time: 20 minutes · Chill time: 4 hours
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 1½ cups chocolate cookie crumbs (about 18 Oreos, crushed)
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup whipped topping, plus extra for the top
- 2 cups chocolate pudding, already prepared
- 1 cup crushed Oreo cookies
- Whole Oreos, for garnish
Directions
1. Make the Oreo crust. Crush the cookies. Mix with melted butter. Press into the dish. Chill 10 minutes.
2. Make the cream layer. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in 1 cup whipped topping. Spread this white cream on the crust.
3. Add the pudding layer. Spread the prepared chocolate pudding over the cream. Smooth it flat.
4. Top it. Spread more whipped topping. Sprinkle crushed Oreos. Press a whole Oreo on each slice when you serve.
5. Chill 4 hours, or overnight.
Recipe notes (for all 4)
Soften the cream cheese. Leave it on the counter 1 hour. Cold cream cheese stays lumpy.
Press the crust hard. If it is loose, the slices fall apart.
Chill long enough. These cut clean only when they are cold.
Make them the day before. They taste better the next day.
Four chocolate dessert recipes. No oven. Mix the crust, mix the filling, layer, and chill.