Don’t laugh at the name of this dessert! OK, you can laugh, it is funny. I have no idea why it’s called sex in a pan, maybe because it’s so good. I remember a long time ago, before I was married, and used to live on my own, one weekend my friend came over and she introduced me to this dessert. I had no idea what it was, but she promised me I was going to love it so we made it. We did not come up with the name, that is the name that it was known to her and her mom had been making it for her for as long as she could remember. I know a lot of readers have commented on the name of this dessert, so I know it goes under many different names, apparently it just depends where you’re from.
Oh my God, it was unbelievable.
I was in love, I had never had anything like it before. Now I don’t know how popular this dessert is, or if it’s a dessert for children or what, because I don’t really care. I’m an adult and I like it. The bottom layer is the crust made with pecans and flour and butter, the next layer is a layer of cream cheese sweetened with powdered sugar and made fluffier with whipping cream. Then you have a layer of chocolate pudding, then another layer of vanilla pudding and top it off with whipping cream and sprinkled with chocolate. Does that not sound good?
I don’t have step by step pictures of me making this recipe, well simply because I was too excited while making it and couldn’t waste any time taking pictures. 
Maybe some day I will though. I just had to share this wonderful dessert with you. Have you guys had this before? Isn’t it to die for?
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 3 tbsp white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup flour
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese
- 1 cup powdered sugar (use 1/2 cup for less sweetness)
- 1 cup whipped cream or cool whip
- 1 package of instant vanilla pudding (5.1 oz or 144 g)
- 3 cups milk (use 2 cups if you want a firmer pudding)
- 1 package of instant chocolate pudding (5.1 oz or 144 g)
- 3 cups milk (use 2 cups if you want a firmer pudding)
- 2 cups whipped cream or cool whip
- shaved chocolate
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
- Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a mixer mix all the crust ingredients together and press the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake it for about 20 minutes.
- Prepare the vanilla pudding as per the instructions on the package.
- Prepare the chocolate pudding as per the instructions on the package.
- In a mixer add the cream cheese, powdered sugar and the cup of whipped cream. Mix until light and fluffy.
- Let the crust cool. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust evenly. Spread the chocolate pudding over the bottom crust, then the vanilla pudding. Top with the whipped cream and sprinkle with the chocolate.
- Refrigerate for a couple hours so that it sets.
Enjoy!
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FYI–It appears there is a Facebook page that is using your photo without attribution or permission.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=634560486561485&set=a.554923157858552.143097.554920351192166&type=1
Thanks Michelle, some people have no respect for other’s property.
I found it on facebook maybe that’s a good thing because I would have never heard of it
Can you use something different than chocolate pudding? I am allergic to chocolate but this looks so good.
You sure can, if you read all the comments you’ll find lots of ideas, any pudding will work really.
I remember when I was a kid and my mom would make this… used to make me cringe.. but damn it tastes goooood!
There’s a very similar recipe that I have.. It’s been in our family forEVER! We call it Mississippi Mud Pie though. Very Delish
I love this recipe. My mother would just use whole graham crackers for the crust. Couldn’t be easier!
My husband is allergic to all nuts, what could I use in place of the pecans for the crust?
You could make an oreo cookie crust.
You could make a graham crust.
Oh my gosh! I’ve been looking for this recipe for YEARS! A woman at church when I was small always brought this to potlucks and it was my absolute favorite. She called it “Mississippi Mud”, but googling Mississippi Mud never brought up this recipe. This is awesome and I’m going to make it this weekend! You just made my night!
Lol, glad I could help.
This has been named so many different things…better than sex…cool whip delight and the names posted on this link. One of my favorite things about this dessert is that I can change the type of nuts in the crust based on preference or on allergies. I also change the flavor of jello pudding based on the season, the mood or the preference of whom I am making this for. My Mom’s favorite is lemon and I love using pistachio!! Chocolate was always my favorite but using other flavors makes it so much lighter!
Well….to add to a few other names, way back around 1985 a sandwich shop in the Hill Country started making this, but they called it, “Better Than Sex Cake/Pie.” It is SO GOOD, no matter what it is called!!!
At the sandwich shop, you could get a homemade bread sammie either a half or a whole, but on days they had this dessert, we always got half a sammie so we’d be able to eat a whole piece of the dessert!!!
We’ve always called this chocolate delight, but it is delicios. Also, people asking if they can substitute things..when you cook you are supposed to put what you like.
Thanks Julle.
This is exactly like my moms fruit cheesecake recipe except you are using pudding instead of fruit. So I know how amazing that recipe is, I can only imagine this one!!! I have to try it!!!
Just tried a “dirty” version (using Caramilk liqueur in the puddings) that uses crushed Oreos as a crust. Holy crap is it good! Thinking of calling it “Oral Sex (in a Pan)”.
Lol, that’s a good one.
I make this too with a basic graham cracker crust…no nuts. And I mix the chocolate and vanilla pudding together and use it as one layer. Never any left when I take it anywhere. We just call it chocolate layered dessert! Very yummy!
We have always called it four layer dessert.
My mom made this every time company came. She called it a Lush…I lost my mom when I was 18, I’m now 40….this brings back sooooo many wonderful memories. Thank you so much…. now I can share it with my children.
Hi Diane,
This is what’s so wonderful about this dessert, it’s an old dessert that brings back many great memories for people. I love to hear these stories.
I make it several times a year, but I use butterscotch pudding instead of the vanilla and chocolate. We have always called it Something Else Dessert. I guess it’s a hit everywhere. It’s really good with the butterscotch, but I’ll have to try it with the chocolate and vanilla.
Thank you so much for sharing this – I have very fond memories of my mom’s version of Sex in a Pan for all of those 1980s family get togethers! This turned out great for me except I would definitely use only the 2 cups of milk for the puddings next time. I used 3 cups and the pudding layers weren’t quite firm enough, so it kind of smooshed together when I served it. But it was a huge hit and I have passed on your recipe to a few friends!.
(ps) the crust is really tasty as a base for lemon meringue squares!!
Hi Jody,
I only used 2 cups of milk too, so glad it brought back good memories for you.
This looks delicious! Yum definitely a bookmarker.
I stumbled upon this recipe on Pinterest. It’s funny after scrolling through the comments how many different names there are for it! In my family we called it Pucki Nucki or Nukumpucki. (I think Pucki Nucki came from me because I couldn’t say Nukumpucki when I was a child). I usually use chocolate pudding but my italian grandmother also made it with pistachio pudding and pistachios rather than pecans. It’s VERY good that way, too! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
Hi Traci,
Yeah, I’m loving hearing about all the names for this pudding, it’s like everyone had their childhood memories of it. It’s great.
My Auntie used to make this when I was 10 yrs old.. I’m 42 now.. its been around for a while but always goooood
My family knows it as Possum Cream Pie. Its delicious!
We make this every holiday! We call it Fat Man’s Pie
Crust: Butter, flour, and pecanse
1st layer: cream cheese, conf.suagr, and cool whipe
2nd: chocolate pudding
3rd: Cool Whip and conf.sugar
We also dust the top, looks pretty.
SO YUMMY!
We love this dessert but don’t make it often since it makes such a large quantity. Our name for it is HEAVEN’S DELIGHT!
Is there anything I can sub for the chopped pecans? Im not a nut person but I really want to make this for my first Christmas with my husband’s family!! Gotta impress : )
You could make the crust out of anything you want really, if you read some of the comments, some people have tried oreo cookies, I think even graham crackers would work for the crust. Just be creative and use your favorite ingredients. Have fun.
I’ve had a variation that including cherry pie filling. It’s heavenly. I wonder if my brother & SIL would mind if I made this one weekend? It has been years since I’ve had it.
They call it Yum Yum Pie at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Tomball, Texas! Made into a 9 inch pie plate!
I am familiar with “Better Than Sex Cake” and it is really nothing like this recipe. It’s more simple- german chocolate cake box (what I use, anyway), poke holes and pour sweetened condensed milk and caramel in, top with whipped topping and sprinkle with chopped heath bars or skor bars (my personal favorite) or toffee chips from the baking aisle. Then drizzle again with more caramel. It’s pretty good and there is the pumpkin variation, but I prefer the original recipe.
can you use regular pudding instead?I am not too crazy about the instant sugar-free stuff?
can you find instant pudding that is not sugar free?
Of course you can, just make sure you cool it before using it.
I have never liked the taste of instant pudding, either, but in this desert you do not notice the diff. n taste – it is delicious and much easier to make. However, in making banana pudding I always use the regular pudding mix, not the instant – do not like the taste, at all!
I know it as Chocolate Delight and you can use Lemon or Butterscotch puddings too…..Great Stuff it is!
How far in advance can you make this cake? It’s Monday and I want to have it for thanksgiving, can I make it Tuesday? Or will it all be soggy and messed up?
Hi there,
Good luck with it. Remember is a kind of messy dessert so don’t worry about it being pretty.
You could absolutely make it a couple days in advance, and it will not get soggy. I even froze mine, though if it’s just a couple days before Thanksgiving you don’t have to freeze it. The trouble is can you resist until Thursday to eat it.
I loved reading all the different names for this dessert. When I have had this, it was called Piggy Pudding. I think I like Sex in the Pan better!
Lol I like Piggy Pudding too, haven’t seen this name before.
I have made this dessert for over 30 years. My cousin used to bring it to every family reunion and I always told her to leave if for me when she died and she did!!
I make it double the chocolate leave out vanilla and add cherries to the top. In my house we call it Mississippi Mud.
Great recipe!!
Gwen
My momma made this every single time she hosted Bunco and she always made two.
I heart Sex in a P an. By the way she doubled the chocolate and omitted the vanilla pudding.
Pam
I am so happy I ran across this recipe! My mom used to make it for me as a kid and I loved it! Now that I have kids, I was trying to remember recipes I had grown up with, My mom could not remember this one at all. I thought is was something she had made up, and I gave up trying to find it. Then I stumbled across it on Pinterest!! This totally made my day!! Thank you soo much!!
Thanks Cassie, I’m glad you found it.
My first copy of this recipe was called, “Doubt If There’s Anything Left” dessert. Wonderful dessert. Always a hit. I make the lemon version, even though I’m not a lemon fan, this is wonderful. I refer to the dessert as “Lemon Delight” now. Any flavor is great. It is always a request for our family reunion.
I’m altering mine by adding Heath Bar bits instead of chocolate shavings. Complements the cream cheese layer!
Sounds like a great idea, yum!
My husband is from Mississippi and his family has made this dessert for several generations, and they called it Mountain Mama. But since it’s to die for, Sex in a pan fits it too!! lol
Well that’s a new name, haven’t heard that one before.
We called it Mississippi mud pie , it disappeared as fast as it appeared on the table. Great memories .
My family has had this recipe forever! It was my grandfather’s favorite – but ours was made with Butterscotch pudding (not the instant but the cooked kind – hard to find, now!) Makes a large pan so it’s great for potlucks – thanks for reminding me how yummy it was – I’ll have to make this next opportunity! (Our recipe also says it can be made with cherry or blueberry pie filling – but we’ve never even tried that version, we all like the Butterscotch version so much!)
thank you for yummy recipe
You’re welcome.
Ha, ha. I’ve just read all the comments on this dessert. I was introduced to this dessert about 25 or 30 years ago as “Sex in a Pan” just as you have called it. A few years later the school I worked at was doing a fundraiser cookbook where the kids, parents, etc submitted recipes. One of the recipes was this very one but it had been renamed “Heavenly Dessert.” The lady who submitted the recipe was a pastor’s wife and had cleaned up the name. I have used butterscotch and chocolate puddings very happily in this recipe. I also put a layer of whipped cream between the puddings. This is an oft’ requested dessert at our house.
These sound amazing!! I want to make them right now!
We always called it deaths by chocolate. Delicious!!
This looks amazing and aptly named!
How funny! My family has also been making this amazing dessert for years but here in Pennsylvania we call it jimmy carter cake?!?!
We also make the crust with peanuts, and add peanut butter to the cream cheese…. Then sprinkle crushed peanuts on top!
Sounds delicious.
I make one something like this but with peanuts. Sounds good.
We grew up knowing this dessert as “Chocolate Delight”
LOVE this dessert! We called it four layer dessert growing up as well– but for the crust we use wheat germ instead of nuts– TRY IT! You’ll never go back to grahams either. It’s a nice break from all the sweetness. Love the idea of banana or strawberry slices too! Thanks!
We call this Mother Daughter Delight Cake, No matter the name It is awesome!!!!
In the 70′s this recipie was called, “The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford.” Interesting how the name has evolved with the generations.
We call it next best thing to robert redford as well, this is a thanksgiving staple!!!!!
Yes! When I was growing up in the 70s we called this dessert “The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford,” too! I think I will have to give it a try again.
that’s what we call it too. Robert Redford. I am the one that makes it. I made it for thanksgiving and I’m making it again at Christmas. I always get asked to make it.
the crust I make with graham crackers only, with a Lil butter and sugar. I combine the vanilla and chocolate puddings. I think the rest is the same. it is delicious!!
It sounds wonderful Jerianne.
Happy Holidays!
I remember having this as a kid and it was always called The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford too. I think I will rename it TNBT to George Clooney!
When I first had this dessert it was called BETTER than sex in a pan.
I recently had the lemon version of this and it was sooooo good!!! ( and I thought I hated pudding desserts!) The chocolate with the Oreo crust could be really awesome! Thank-you for the recipe: )
You’re very welcome.
I’m not a pecan fan (I know, this fact makes my very southern Nana weep), so I made this with an Oreo crust instead. I also added mini chocolate chips into the whipped topping layer (think I like chocolate?).
It was a huge hit! My brother (not a sweets fan) requested this as his birthday treat for the rest of his life.
Lol, that’s quite a request. That’s what’s great about this dessert, you can make little changes to it, very versatile. But no matter what you do, it’s still going to be delicious.
I make this all the time. We call it slush and make the crust with walnuts and only use vanilla pudding. Everyone loves it and now i am going to have to try it with both types of pudding it sounds great, and i never thought of the chocolate shavings. It looks great cant wait to try this version thanks!
How did you make it with Oreo crust
It tastes so good! I can’t get enough of it!!!
forget the laughing lets eat
Agreed!
I make this in four layers. First layer a crust of flour, butter and pecans. Second layer of cream cheese, powdered sugar and sour cream. Third layer of homemade chocolate pudding. Fourth layer of real whipped cream. Try it this way and you will be blown away!
My daughter can’t have nuts, if I made this with a graham cracker crumb crust would use the same amount as pecans and butter?
Hi Valerie,
I would think so, you just want enough to have a nice crunch to the dessert, otherwise it’s just pudding.:)
My mom makes a similar dessert and she does a pretzel crust on the bottom.
Gives is a sweet and salty mix!!!
My mother in law makes her crust without the nuts… Just uses flour and butter. It is like shortbread, and still very delicious. We mix the chocolate and vanilla puddings together (or lemon and vanilla) and we know this dessert as lemon lush, or chocolate lush. Big favorite at my house! I make it on thanksgiving. And we eat while watching planes trains and automobiles… Good times!
Lol, I love that, now I’m in the mood to see that movie.
Love the name of the recipe and my wife got a kick out of it. Thanks for sharing this recipe on http://grubodex.com
my mom and granny called it a YUM YUM cake, soooo good!!!!!!!!!!! but they put a layer of sliced banana between pudding and whipped part, soooo good! the mississippi mud cake they made was sweeter and thicker and richer, wasnt the same flavor not sure but it was different,
This is my all-time favorite dessert. It’s so nice and light that I can always manage to find room for a big plate of it–even after my family’s gigantic Southern Thanksgiving feast. My mother made it when I was a kid. She would always get the top layer of Cool Whip so smooth and then sprinkle on a fine mist of pecan dust. My brother and I named the dessert “On Frozen Pond” because we always imagined ice skating on top of that smooth white layer of Cool Whip.
My family called it Chocolate Icebox Pie
This dessert is a life-time favorite of mine! If you make it with sugar-free pudding it’s very low carb!!!
Growing up it was called 4-layer dessert, but in a school recipe book it’s called ‘Better than Robert Redford’
My mom makes a dessert called ‘better than sex’ but it’s a chocolate cake with holes poked in and condensed milk as well as something else drizzled over the top!
My mother has made it with butterscotch pudding too. She always made with 1 flavor of Jello. We call it Chocolate Quad. It’s always been my favorite!
A layer of cherry pie filling has been part of this recipe for more than 25 years with my friends….very good!
My mom made the same as Deborah’s mom and we called it the Four Layer Dessert. She would replace the chocolate (with no vanilla) with pistachio pudding. OH my goodness! It is fantastic! Got to a point that to this day she has to make half and half in the same 10 x 13 pan. Thanks for the memories! Love the new name! A great way to remember it!
LOL….this is Texas Icebox Pie. A total classic! Glad you gave it a jazzy name, because now that I live in the north people always ask….what’s an “icebox”. It’d just be much easier to use what you’ve named it.
Jo, look at the amount of comments this generated, who said that sex doesn’t sell? It looks sooo delish, I will make it next time I have company or else I will eat it all by myself. Sent you an email as well.
Ciao.
You’re right Dina, sex always sells.
I’ve been making this recipe for years, and my family absolutely loves it. I’ve experimented with different pudding flavors, but my favorite is chocolate and pistachio, and I make my crust with almonds. It’s always been a hit, and I love people’s reaction to the name!!
We make this all the time in Mississippi and we call it Husbands Delight…lol…love it and we change it up with different flavors of pudding. I also have a recipe for Better Than Sex cake that’s amazing, I need to send it to you, I promise you will like it….
Lol, love the name Husbands Delight. I’d love it if you sent me the recipe. Thanks Tammie.
Still are. Take a gander at “The Sting,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” for Redford at his boyishly-handsome best. Tom Selleck’s “Magnum, PI” was appealing to both men and women; guys wanted to be like him and women just wanted to watch him.
Ok, I am trying to make this. It says 1pkg vanilla pudding and 3cups milk. Then in the directions it says to follow pudding directions on package. My pudding is a runny mess. Help!
Hi Marissa,
The pudding instructions should say to use 3 cups of milk, but it depends on which size of pudding you used. I used instant pudding, the large boxes, 5 oz boxes, if you’re using smaller boxes, just add as much milk as the instructions tell you.
You are correct, it is amazing but more than that, when you are thinking you want something, but you don’t know exactly what, this is what will always satisfy that craving!! We call it Delta Pudding-go figure, but whatever it is called – it is wonderful!!
I made it with a graham cracker crust and sprinkled it with chopped up Heath bars. Yummy! My kiddos loved it too!
This recipe is actually a old recipe called Robert Redford. It is one of the first desserts I learned to make in culinary school because it is so easy to make.
I see it calls for two cups of cream cheese. How many packets is that?
Hi Cristin,
It’s one package of 8 oz, I’ve updated the recipe to say oz instead of cups.
Thanks! Just finished making it for a pot luck and I think I want to keep it for myself!! Great recipe!
Lol, I know what you mean.
This dessert is also known as a “Robert Redford” The difference is it’s made with hazelnuts.
Quick question – the “1 cup of whipping cream or cool whip” and “2 cups of whipping cream or cool whip” – do you actually mean a measured cup(s) of the ingredient or 8 oz. and 16 oz.? The measured cup of cool whip is significantly less than 8 oz. I’m preparing the cream cheese layer and it’s not very fluffy (I used a measured cup of cool whip.) This makes me think maybe you mean literally 8 oz. Thank you for your time and attention to my inquiry!
You need 1 cup of cool whip… or 1 cup of whipped cream, whipping cream after you whipped it, which ever you use you only need 1 cup. I used cool whip, so I just measured 1 cup of it. However this dessert is not an exact science, so if you want your cream cheese layer fluffier, then by all means use a little more cool whip.
Thank you for responding so quickly! I’ll go with a measured cup(s). I’ll try the “original” recipe first and adjust next time if necessary. Thanks again!
Not a problem, I hope you enjoy it.
My grandma called it Chocolate Good Junk and it was my absolute favorite dessert she made. After she passed away, the recipe was lost and I haven’t had this in twenty years. God I love the internet! Thank you so much for sharing!
You’re welcome Jamie. I had never heard it being called Chocolate Good Junk. Great name for it.
My grandmother made this as long as I can remember. She called it Yummy Yummy Cake (cake? i guess it makes as much sense as Tom Selleck or Robert Redford). Like one person noted, our recipe called for the chocolate and vanilla puddings (both instant) to be mixed together. Through the years we’ve made it with pecan crusts, walnut crusts and graham cracker crusts. No matter how it’s made, it’s gone in a heartbeat. Years ago a lady I knew brought it to a potluck; hers was called Chocolate Dream Pie and was from an old Jello promotional cookbook. Supposedly Jello made up the recipe to get people to buy their puddings. I’ve enjoyed reading all the other comments on here… I never realized so many people knew about and loved this pie. Thanks for posting the recipe!
Hi Kat,
You’re absolutely right. That’s what I’ve enjoyed the most too. I had no idea this dessert had so many names. Whatever you want to call it, I think it’s a great dessert for kids, though I like it myself as well.
Does the whipped cream have to be whipped first or do you put it in liquid form for the cream cheese layer? Thanks
Hi Stephanie,
It has to be whipped, so that it makes the cream cheese layer fluffy.
My mom used to make this for outings when I was a child over 30 years ago. She called it “Amish Dessert”. We are from Ohio and I am assuming the name came from the black clothes the Amish wear along with their white bonnets. Recently I remembered the dessert and got her recipe, but changed it to be coconut and lemon pudding instead of the chocolate and vanilla! It was YUMMY and it now that is my favorite flavor.
Great story Kari, and I bet coconut and lemon pudding instead of chocolate and vanilla would be a great combination. I would definitely have to try that.
Thanks.
I bet it would taste good with the chocolate graham cracker crust. Or even oreo cookie crust. Yummy!
When you say white sugar does that mean powdered sugar?
Hi Alicia,
No, it just means regular sugar.
Been making and eating this since I was a little girl. We always called it “Five Layer Delight”.
when we make this awesome dessert instead of using pecans and flour for the crust we use graham crackers like you would for a cheesecake – saves on the grocery bill and it tastes just as good – also we crumbled up a crispy crunch chocolate bar (or 3) and sprinkled that on top instead of just chocolate shavings – try it – it is sooooo good!!!
We called it “Holy smoke” growing up and ate it at every major function. It’s a great southern concoction, found at every church social, barbeque etc. Always GONE!!!
Here’s a great twist you wont regret trying! Replace the crust with a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough….press it into the bottom of the pan, then bake for about 15 minutes or until done…let cool, then continue with the rest of your original recipe. YummO! Love your site JO!
Thanks April.
Been having s similar dessert for ages; we call it “Luscious” and doesn’t have the vanilla pudding layer. A great hot-weather treat! =)
I have made this recipe for years also, and it was called” Better than Sex Cake”. Whatever the name of this dessert, it is sooo good. I have used various favors of pudding..
Oh!, and I’ve also heard it called “Louisiana Yummy”.
I’m from Oklahoma and we call it “Mississippi Mud” as well. It’s a great dessert regardless of the name.
I agree.
I love this recipe..Yo die for..Thankyou!
I’ve got another name for you…Tom Selleck! Not sure why it’s called that, but I’m guessing it’s the same reason some call it “better than Robert Redford”. I have heard of it as Mississippi Mud Pie, and Lush before also.
Ok you got me, I have to admit, I’ve never heard it called Tom Selleck! Tom Selleck and Robert Redford must have been hot men back in the day.
My sister has made this for my mama’s birthday, she called it Mississippi Mud Pie. Very good where ever the name originally came from. I’ve never made one myself, i might give it a try one day soon. I’m glad i saw the recipe here today. Thank you for sharing…
I forgot to add Tom Selleck and Robert Redford were definately hot back in the day.
My mom has made this since I was little only she uses slivered almonds in the crust and it is tasty!!
That sounds wonderful.
My Grandma cleaned up the name for us kids and just called it “Chocolate Yummy.” Better than explaining to an 8-year old about food & sex & why??! =)
I was given this recipe several years ago with the name of Black Forest. The puddings are mixed tother and pecans on top rather than chocolate. It is our family’s favorite dessert.
My aunt has made this for 40+ years…she makes it the same way as your recipe, only she uses butterscotch pudding and then puts chopped pecans on top. YUM!
Hi Michele,
A couple other people mentioned butterscotch pudding, and I think it sounds great, will have to try it next time.
Thanks.
I have always made this 2 sided….half I use chocolate pudding and the other half pistachio……. Been making it for going on 30 years…..
Just adding my two cents’ worth. This is my family’s favorite dessert. My personal preference is to make it with chocolate pudding, but I prefer chocolate over most anything. The rest of the gang loves it with pistachio pudding, because that’s the way the recipe was given to me almost 20 years ago. The friend who gave me the recipe called it “I’ll Make it and You’ll Come Runnin’, and we still call it that.
Someone mentioned using butter pecan pudding. Yummm!! That’s next!!
I think that’s the beauty of this dessert, you can pretty much use whatever pudding you like, I’ve heard people add crumbled up twix in between the layers, or your favorite chocolate bar. It’s whatever you want it to be.
Can you leave the pecans out? I know, I know this makes me strange but I do not like nuts in my food.
You probably can, but the pecans add a nice crunch, so I would replace them with something else.
Could you use graham cracker crumbs instead of nuts? I don’t like nuts either.
Hi Sandee,
I’ve never made it with graham crackers but another reader Cindy said she used graham crackers instead of pecans, so there you go.
This is a family favorite for over 20 years! We’ve always known it by its Better than Robert Redford name and have since shortened it and just refer to it as a Robert Redford
Only difference in ours is that we add a layer strawberries on top of the vanilla pudding before the last cool whip/cream cheese layer! It is AMAZING. I have this dessert every year for my birthday, my mom even taught my husband how to make it 
Glad it’s still going around, by any name 
Wow, the layer of strawberries on top sounds amazing. I’ll have to try that.
This looks great! Cake of any kind, and I am there in a flash. Yum!
Lol, I’m with you.
I am from South Louisiana and we always called it ” Mississippi Mud Pie” . In face,its even sold in some restaurants around here.
Wow, that’s great, I’ve never seen it in a restaurant before. I’m sure I would order it if I did.
Thank you thank you thank you for pinning this! I had lost my recipe for this. LOV ELOVE LOVE IT!!! I think when I made it we put the pudding layers together. Think I’ll try it this way. Thanks again. Sooooo looking forward to making this, just gotta go get some cool whip.
LOL, you’re very welcome.
Hi Diane. Where do you get Butter Pecan Pudding? I live in Alabama and we could find it in the 80′s and 90′s but not anymore. I used to make this dessert a lot and Butter Pecan was my favorite!!!
I’ve made pretty much this recipe for years and I originally got my recipe from a Company’s Coming Desserts cookbook. It’s called 6 Layer Dessert and and although the ingredients are the same some quantities are different and it sets up really nice and the layers show well once cut. For those of you having problems with it setting, use a 4 serving size pudding package and only use 1.5 cups milk for each pudding!
Instead of pudding could you use a pie filling? At my family reunion, there is a cake similar to this but it has blueberry pie filling in the middle.
Hi Amy,
I’ve never tried it with pie filling, so I’m not sure how it would turn out, though blueberry pie filling sounds great.
Can this be frozen, then partially thawed and sliced so the slices come out a bit cleaner?
Yes it can, I actually froze mine and just thawed a piece at a time when I wanted to eat some.
Awesome! I remember having this dessert growing up at family gatherings and loved it! However, its too much for just my husband and I. So I will make it in 2 pans and freeze one. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re very welcome!
one of my favorite names if you run with a church crowd “Sin in a Tin”
great recipe!
I will definelty try that for next time:) Thx for the tip!
My family (all from GA) makes this, and we call it “Chocolate Sundae Pie”– and we put marachino cherries on top
SOOOOOOOOOOOOO yummy.. My mom doubles this recipe when my brothers and I are all home together, because there is NO holding back.
My grandmother makes this for all special occasions, but she calls it the Five Layer Dessert.
It’s a hit and a half anywhere I take it!!!
My family has been making this for years as well. Sometimes with Chocolate and sometimes swapping the chocolate for lemon. It is definitely a family favourite. I have an explanation of how it got it’s name! I have been told that it was first called Six In A Pan because it (originally) has six layers. The Sex In A Pan came from that as a fun play on words!
Hi Nikki,
You might be right, I have heard or read that theory before I think.
This has been my favorite desert since I was a small child. My Grandma made it for us. She called it “Chocolate Yummy”
I made for the first time in years this summer for my mom and my husband could not figure out why it was called “Chocolate Yummy” because it didnt have that much chocolate.
I dont care what you call it, just as long as I get to eat some.
I totally agree with you.
Been looking for this recipe for 20 years. I had it only once and it was amazing. LOL. The lady who made it also called it “Sex in a Pan”. MMMMMM .
Glad you found it.
Also, do I let the pudding cool completely or put it on warm??
Yes, you should let it cool completely, it will be easier to spread and it will not mix with the other layers.
Thanks a bunch for the recipe Jo!
Can’t wait to make it for my hubby and of course me!
Luv the posts!
I have made this for years and we also make a coconut version! Vanilla pudding with coconut folded inside and toasted coconut on top. So delicious but I’m a sucker for anything coconut. I use the big box of pudding but use 2 1/2 cups of milk instead of the 3 that it calls for. Much firmer consistency!
We use to take this to church dinners and we called it “Pure Sin”!!!
Can I make this in a spring form pan? Does it set hard enough??
thanks!
Not sure, I’ve never tried, I’m not sure it would matter though.
If you spread the crust up the sides higher and use less milk in the jello(to make it even firmer) it would work great
Jo,
Was the friend who introduced this to you from southern California?? I lived there as a young boy in the early to mid-80s and my parents took this dessert to a party one time and someone asked my mom what the name of it was and she told them (I think she called it Guadalupe River Dessert) when one of the husbands said “well it tastes like sex in a pan to me”. We’ve called it “sex in a pan” ever since!! Granted it’s an amazing dessert but it’s a little coincidental to find someone else on the internet who calls the same dessert by the same name. In fact, I only found this because someone I’m friends with pinned it to Pinterest which then pushed to Facebook.
Anyway, I’d love to hear more about how your friend came to call this dessert by this name!!
Hi Mike,
That’s too funny, but no, my friend is from southern Ontario, and I had never heard of this dessert until then. It would be nice to know the real origin of this.
Another alternate name, reporting in! My mom has been making this for years, but it has always been called Texas Yum Yum…or “Texas” for short. (And we are from California!)
What a bummer. We always called it are you ready…. ??
‘Chocolate Dessert’.
I’m totally going with your name from NOW on!
I made this for my brother’s birthday this weekend. It was really easy to make, but when I served the dessert it was all falling a part. So I don’t know where I went wrong because I made it the night before and it had enough time to settle. I would love to make it again because everyone surely enjoyed it. Any tips that would help me out for next time I make it?????
Hi Kim
I’m glad you liked it. You could try and use cool whip instead of whipping cream. You could even try freezing it for half hour or so if you want it to look pretty, but remember this isn’t a dessert that’s supposed to be pretty, it is called sex in a pan after all.
Is this ok to make a day in advance and leave it in the fridge the whole time??
Absolutely, as a matter of fact if you leave it for a day in the fridge, the pudding will set perfectly, so it will hold its shape better.
Thanks! Making it for book club tomorrow night!
Why did mine turn out like mush? Tasted great but no shape. Went over the directions again and followed all to the letter. Any ideas?
It’s possible you didn’t leave it long enough in the fridge for the pudding to set. It also depends on the ingredients you used too, like if you used skim milk for the pudding, I find it’s harder to set. Also light whipping cream doesn’t hold its shape as well.
My SIL makes this and calls it “lush”.
Jo, when I saw the picture I knew what it was! This recipe came out in our paper by a very dear friend as “Yum Yum Pudding” in the late 70′s. Using the amount of milk listed for pie, though. The small box of vanilla pudding has whipped cream folded in, and the large chocolate pudding has a large block of cream cheese whipped in. Of course, topped off with more whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Strange that this is my second thought to make this wonderful dessert again, as my friend died a week ago. I better get the ingredients fast. Oh, you can use sugarfree pudding!!
Very nice blog, too. I’ll be checking out more recipes.
Thank you Anne. Sorry to hear about your friend.
You can certainly use sugar free pudding, and you can use the light cool whip as well. Take care.
Sounds similar to banana split cake. Yum
Never had banana split cake, but it sounds really good.
I have been making this dessert for years…. the only difference is I buy the tube of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough for the crust. Just bake and go. So good!!
Ooh. This looks like a fancier Tiramisu but sounds way more delicious.
It does look like a tiramisu, what’s really great about this dessert is really the pecan crust which you don’t really have with a tiramisu.
This is my husband’s requested birthday cake every year. We make the crust with walnuts and sprinkle walnuts on top. His mom gave me the recipe when we got married so I could continue making it for him, and we’ve always known it as Slush Cake.
My mom received this recipe sometime in the early ’80s. Her recipe was called “Better That Robert Redford”.
Hi Jessica,
I’ve heard about that name as well. Who knew this recipe had so many names. Lol!
I make the version with Walnuts in the crust instead of pecans and use either pistachio or lemon pudding. Sooooooo good. haven’t tried the chocolate yet but I think I’ll have to after reading all the reviews.
My mom made this during the summer when I was little! At the time she called it “Paradise Pie”, but as I grew older we called it “Better than Sex Pie”. I’ve made it several times for pot lucks and everyone loves it! The only difference is I cream the vanilla pudding in with the cream cheese, then my chocolate layer, and then cool whip (or whipped cream). I also make it with a gram cracker crust because I am allergic to tree nuts. Either way it is made it is heavenly!!!
In our neck of the woods it’s known as BETTER THAN SEX., in our Methodist cookbook it’s fantastic layered dessert. Changing flavors is a great options and it’s easy to change to a different kind of crust. My friend uses the cooked pudding variety, but I’m too lazy. My kids love this dessert, mostly for the name.
I know, I think it’s a great dessert for kids, as long as you change the name a bit.
In the 80′s my aunt always made this and it was called “Better Than Sex Dessert”. Really good stuff!
I like your name too, whatever it’s called, it’s good.
Do you think you could use a graham cracker crust my mom can’t have nuts and would like to make it for my family?
Thanks
Yeah, absolutely. In fact, that’s another variation of the crust, graham crackers and just add some sugar and butter, pulse it in a food processor, and press it down at the bottom of a pan, then bake it for a few minutes.This way you still have that crunch to the dessert. Good luck and let me know how it turns out.
I am dying to try this with white chocolate and butter pecan pudding. I am going to try it this weekend and will let you know on Monday how it was. Can’t wait!
Hi Diane,
You’ll love it, let me know!
hahahaha this cake must be good
You know it!
I’ve been making this dessert for years, with many variations. I’ve used different kinds of crust, from the crust you describe to graham cracker crust to pretzel crust. Topped by the cream cheese layer, topped usually with vanilla pudding layer (small size box with 1.5 cups milk mixed with cool whip), followed by chocolate pudding layer (small size box with 1.5 cups milk mixed with cool whip), topped off with more cool whip, then either chocolate shavings or curls or even drizzled chocolate.
My MIL recently gave me a recipe for a Green Dessert, but it used pistachio pudding.
I’ve also made it using banana pudding, sliced bananas, and chocolate pudding.
So yeah, very popular dessert regardless of name or exact flavoring used.
Hi Miss Tori,
I agree with you, very versatile dessert, if you switch some flavors for the puddings and different crust you can end up with a different tasting dessert, but just as good.
Jo
I have made a similar dessert but the puddings are mixed together as one layer and it doesn’t have chocolate shavings. I am altering my recipe to include the shavings and separate the pudding layers. Oh, and it has to have the new improved name. Has always been a winner and it just got better.
The chocolate shavings give it that extra chocolaty flavor.
Awesome name for an awesome treat!
Are these small or large boxes of pudding? Thanks in advance!
Hi Lorrie,
I used the 5.1 ounce (144 g) Jell-o instant pudding, so the larger size that requires 3 cups of milk.
Jo
Oh my! My mother used to make something like this when I was little, and I couldn’t keep my fingers out of it while it sat in the fridge! It is indeed amazing! My mom’s might have had a peanut crust, and after the cream cheese layer was the chocolate pudding (no vanilla pudding) and topped off with Cool Whip instead of real whipping cream. It was indeed heavenly! Sex in a Pan is a really appropriate name for it!
Deborah
I agree, it is so good, it’s not the best looking thing, but it sure tastes great.
I have been making this dessert since the 1970′s and it called “Pecan Supreme”.
Hi Penny,
I’m sure it has many different names, but this is how the dessert was introduced to me and I think I like it.
I was introduced to this desset once in my life when i was 7. 25 years ago. As Sex in a pan. I will never ever forget, because i loved it so much but would never ask for it to be made again because i was to embarrassed to ask for it! So glad i stumbeled on it! Brought back a laugh about being a kid again!! Thanks!
Hi Laura,
You’re very welcome. That’s the great thing about this dessert, from what I gather, it’s a really old dessert, but it’s so good and it’s got a cool name to go with it too.
Jo