Easy Chocolate Eclair Cake

Where the classic French eclair is finicky and high-level, the eclair cake takes a much more simplistic approach, with all the same great flavors and one-third of the time. This cake uses graham-cracker cake layers to mimics the pate a choux from traditional eclairs, and replaces the pastry cream filling with instant vanilla pudding. It’s not a chocolate eclair—or even a cake, for that matter—without chocolate frosting on top, so we keep things easy and use a store-bought chocolate frosting (but feel free to make yours from scratch). Eclair cake is creamy and decadent with a luxuriously chocolatey bite, just like any good chocolate eclair should be.

Eclair Cake Ingredients

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• Whole milk: Rich and creamy whole milk hydrates the instant vanilla pudding mix, turning it into a luscious custard.
• Instant pudding mix: We forgo the usual homemade pastry cream in favor of easy and just-as-yummy instant vanilla pudding. Make sure the packaged mixes say “instant” and not “cook and serve.”
• Frozen whipped topping: Buy a frozen whipped topping (like Cool Whip) and thaw it before using in this eclair cake recipe.
• Graham crackers: No need to make a tricky pate a choux here! Graham crackers act as the easy, bready base for our chocolate eclair cake.
• Chocolate frosting: This eclair cake is finished with chocolate frosting. You can use homemade chocolate frosting, but feel free to keep this recipe easy by using the best store-bought chocolate frosting.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the pudding mixture

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

In a large bowl, whisk together the whole milk and the instant vanilla pudding mix for two minutes.

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

Fold in the thawed frozen topping until everything is well-combined.

Editor’s Tip: Switch to a rubber spatula when folding in the frozen topping.

Step 2: Build the cake

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

In a 13×9-inch baking dish, layer the graham crackers evenly over the bottom. Spread half of the pudding mixture evenly over graham crackers, then repeat the layers once more. Top the pudding mixture with the remaining graham crackers.

Step 3: Add the chocolate frosting

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

Spread the chocolate frosting over the top of the graham crackers.

Editor’s Tip: Let the frosting come to room temperature so it’s easy to spread. Otherwise you’ll end up dragging and breaking the graham crackers.

Step 4: Chill and serve the eclair cake

Cover the pan tightly with storage wrap, and refrigerate the eclair cake for at least three hours. Once the cake is thoroughly chilled and set, cut the cake into squares and serve.

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

Eclair Cake Variations

• Use another instant pudding mix flavor: Leave the instant vanilla pudding on the shelf and pick something with a bolder flavor, like chocolate, lemon, pistachio or French vanilla.
• Add fresh fruit: Fold fresh berries into the filling, or dot slices of banana on top of the graham crackers for a banana pudding flavor.
• Change the frosting flavor: You can really use any flavor of frosting you’d like here. We used chocolate since it’s traditional on French eclairs, but feel free to try strawberry, lemon or vanilla frosting. You could also pour a decadent chocolate ganache on top.

How to Store Eclair Cake

Keep the eclair cake in its pan and cover the top tightly with storage wrap. Refrigerate the cake for up to four days.

Can you freeze eclair cake?

No, eclair cake does not freeze well. Pudding-like fillings tend to not thaw very well, and doing so will ruin the texture of the cake.

Can you make eclair cake ahead of time?

Yes, you can make eclair cake ahead of time. I recommend only making it up to a day in advance, though, because the graham crackers will soften and take on a cakey texture the longer they sit. Some people prefer that, though!

Eclair Cake Tips

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

Can you use homemade whipped cream instead of whipped topping?

Unfortunately, I don’t recommend using homemade whipped cream in place of the whipped topping. Whipped toppings like Cool Whip have stabilizers that help the topping keep its shape. Homemade whipped cream is much more delicate and can easily fall.

Can this eclair cake be made gluten-free?

Yes, this chocolate eclair cake recipe can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free graham crackers. I recommend double-checking all of the packaged ingredients to ensure that they’re certified gluten-free and weren’t made in a facility that processes wheat and gluten.

What do you serve with eclair cake?

Eclair cake is perfect by itself, but feel free to serve it with fresh berries, ice cream or chocolate sauce. It’s lovely with espresso-based drinks, coffee, or sweet after-dinner drinks like dessert wine or Kahlua cocktails.

Loading Popular in the Community

One of the guys I work with shared this dreamy, creamy eclair cake recipe with me and I love it! I can make it ahead of time and it only has five ingredients. —Lori Teeple, Carpentersville, Illinois