Magic Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe (No-Bake!) – This easy layered dessert tastes just like a French éclair, but is made with graham crackers, French vanilla pudding, and a quick chocolate ganache to create a simple no-bake “cake!”

No Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake - sliced and resting on white plate

Eclair Cake with Chocolate Ganache

This easy no-bake Eclair Cake with Chocolate Ganache recipe is made with French vanilla pudding, graham crackers, and chocolate icing that mimics the flavors of classic French éclairs. The graham crackers absorb the moisture from the “pastry cream” layer, making them soft and cake-y. Every bite is like that perfect section of an éclair that’s loaded with creaminess and thick chocolate ganache.

It takes very little time to put together the ingredients in this Eclair Cake recipe, and then it just sits in the fridge until chilled and ready to serve.

Sommer headshot.

Sommer’s Recipe Notes

My friend Sherrie is one of the lovely folks who often treats me to her own culinary creations. She is a great cook, a busy mom, and is a whiz at coming up with effortless family-friendly recipes!

For my birthday this year, Sherrie made me a dessert that all the members of her family request for their birthdays… Magic No Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake. It is so wonderfully creamy and chocolatey and tastes just like a French éclair. I had to share this no-bake pudding cake recipe with you and your family!

It’s terrific to bring to a potluck or to serve to the family as a fun weekend dessert. And I can attest to the fact that it is an excellent twist on a classic birthday cake!

easy no-bake eclair cake with chocolate ganache - overhead shot on plates with blue napkins on table

What Ingredients You Need

This Eclair Cake with Chocolate Ganache is one of my favorites because of how few ingredients are needed. Most of them are pantry staples, too!

  • Graham crackers – for the crust
  • Instant vanilla pudding mix (we like French vanilla instant pudding)
  • Milk
  • Cool Whip (or whipped cream)
  • Semisweet chocolate chips – for the chocolate glaze
  • Half and half
  • Corn syrup

Note: The corn syrup adds a lovely shine to the Éclair Cake frosting, but it is not necessary if you’d prefer to leave it out.

sliced chocolate eclair cake no-bake on plate

How to Make No Bake Eclair Cake

You only need a couple of minutes to put together this no-bake pudding cake, and then it chills in the fridge for a few hours until ready to serve. It’s great to make ahead in the morning and enjoy it as dessert that night!

Find the full Eclair Cake with Chocolate Ganache recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructuons, and video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.

RECIPE HACK: I love this ganache-style chocolate topping because it reminds me of the chocolate on real French Éclairs. However, you can also use a southern-style brownie frosting, or in a pinch, even a tub of chocolate frosting from the grocery store.

Ingredient for eclair cake - graham crackers, chocolate chips, vanilla pudding

How to Make Chocolate Brownie Frosting from Scratch

What ingredients you need:

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ tablespoons corn syrup, or honey
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 5 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 1 pinch salt
  1. In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed to beat the softened butter and cocoa powder together until very smooth.
  2. Scrape the bowl, and then beat in the corn syrup or honey and vanilla extract. Turn the mixer on low, and beat in the powdered sugar and a pinch of salt.
  3. Next, add one tablespoon of heavy cream at a time while continuing to blend, until the frosting is perfectly smooth.

I hope you give Sherrie’s fabulous No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake recipe a try soon, and that your family loves it as much as we do!

magic no bake eclair cake - cut on plate with fork

Looking for More Easy Dessert Recipes?

The recipe below includes all Nutrition Facts, such as Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, Cholesterol, and Sodium.

Chocolate Eclair Cake Recipe
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Eclair Cake with Chocolate Ganache

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Chill Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 16 minutes
Magic Chocolate Éclair Cake – This easy layered dessert tastes just like a French Eclair, but is made with graham crackers, vanilla pudding, and a quick chocolate ganache to create a simple no-bake "cake!"
Servings: 12 servings

Video

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Set out a 9X13 inch baking dish. Lay graham crackers over the bottom of the dish, in a single layer. Break them, if needed, to fit the bottom of the pan.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the pudding mix and milk. Beat with an electric mixer, on medium-high, until thick and smooth. Then use a spatula to fold in the Cool Whip.
  • Spread the pudding mixture evenly over the graham crackers. Then lay a second layer of graham crackers over the top.
  • In a clean mixing microwave-safe mixing bowl, combine the chocolate chips, cups half & half, and corn syrup. Microwave for 1 minute. Then stir to melt the chocolate chips. If needed, microwave another 30-60 seconds. Stir until smooth.
  • Pour the chocolate ganache topping over the graham crackers. Smooth into an even layer. Then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Cut and serve.

Notes

In a pinch, you can skip the chocolate ganache topping a use a tub of chocolate frosting of quick “brownie frosting”.
Chocolate Brownie Frosting from Scratch
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ tablespoons corn syrup or honey
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 5 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 1 pinch salt
  1. In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed to beat the softened butter and cocoa powder together until very smooth.
  2. Scrape the bowl, and then beat in the corn syrup or honey and vanilla extract. Turn the mixer on low, and beat in the powdered sugar and a pinch of salt.
  3. Next, add one tablespoon of heavy cream at a time while continuing to blend, until the frosting is perfectly smooth.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 369kcal, Carbohydrates: 43g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 209mg, Potassium: 329mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 237IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 146mg, Iron: 3mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, French
Author: Sommer Collier
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