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4.5 from 1664 votes

Sex in a Pan

Jump to RecipeVideoPrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •12/18/22 900 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

pin for sex in a pan.

This Sex in a Pan has a crazy name for a dessert, but it’s one of the best desserts you’ll ever have! It’s mostly a delicious pudding dessert with a crunchy pecan crust.

a slice of sex in a pan on a white plate.
Table of Contents Open
  • Why Is It Called Sex In A Pan?
  • Why You’ll Love Sex In A Pan
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
    • Crust
    • Cream Cheese Layer
    • Vanilla Pudding
    • Chocolate Pudding
    • Toppings
  • How To Make Sex In A Pan
    • Preheat The Oven And Prep The Pan
    • Make The Crust
    • Make The Pudding Layers
    • Make The Cream Cheese Layer
    • Assemble The Dessert
  • What Is Sex In A Pan?
  • Expert Tips
  • Storage
  • Other Delicious Dessert Recipes To Try
  • Sex in a Pan
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

Over 10 years ago I shared this amazing dessert with you and you guys loved it! It’s one of my most popular recipes here on the blog, even after all this time, and there’s a reason for that. It’s incredible, it’s decadent and it’s luscious.

Why Is It Called Sex In A Pan?

The name itself is hilarious for a dessert, and hundreds of you have commented on here telling me all the other names that this pudding dessert goes by. I think it’s called sex in a pan because it’s six layers and from six layers in a pan it got to sex in a pan.

A long time ago, before I was married, my friend came over on a weekend and made this dessert for me. 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 was known to her and her mom had been making it for her for as long as she could remember. I think this dessert has really been around for decades but it’s still popular, not because of its name but because it really is incredible.

sex in a pan with a slice cut out on a spatula.

Why You’ll Love Sex In A Pan

  • Easy Recipe: This simple but divine dessert is nearly effortless to make. By using a cheesecake-like crust, instant pudding, and whipped topping you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen.
  • Delicious Creamy Layers: With 5 yummy layers, sex in a pan does not disappoint! The pecan crust adds a nice crunch while the cream cheese filling, chocolate pudding, and vanilla pudding make the dessert a total show stopper.
  • Perfect for Parties: This is a versatile dessert that you can serve at any event from children’s parties to dinner parties. And it’s the perfect crowd pleaser at potlucks!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Crust

ingredients needed to make sex in a pan.
  • Pecans – You will need some chopped pecans for the crust. You could also use walnuts if you don’t have any pecans on hand.
  • Sugar – A bit of white granulated sugar is used to sweeten the crust.
  • Butter – The butter needs to be melted. Always use unsalted butter in cooking to control the amount of added salt unless a recipe states otherwise. 
  • Flour – I just use basic all purpose flour to make the crust. 

Cream Cheese Layer

ingredients needed to make sex in a pan.
  • Cream Cheese –  I love using Philadelphia cream cheese. It needs to be at room temperature for this recipe.
  • Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar. You need to sift out the lumps to ensure the cream cheese layer is super smooth.
  • Cool Whip – Any brand of frozen whipped topping or whipped cream will work.

Vanilla Pudding

ingredients needed to make sex in a pan.
  • Vanilla Pudding – I use instant vanilla pudding mix. You will need a couple of boxes.
  • Milk – I always use cold whole milk to make the pudding.

Chocolate Pudding

ingredients needed to make sex in a pan.
  • Chocolate Pudding – You will also need a box or two of your favorite instant chocolate pudding mix.
  • Milk – Cold milk is needed to make the pudding. As mentioned, I always use whole milk.

Toppings

ingredients needed to make sex in a pan.
  • Cool Whip – Your favorite brand of whipped topping or whipped cream will do just fine.
  • Shaved Chocolate – Used to garnish the whipped topping. You could also use a few mini chocolate chips if you like. 

How To Make Sex In A Pan

This amazing dessert may have a few steps, but it’s super easy to make! The instant pudding comes together in minutes and the crust is pretty effortless. Easy peasy!

Preheat The Oven And Prep The Pan

First, preheat your oven temperature to 350°F (177°C) so that it is hot once the crust is made. Next, spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or grease it with oil. 

Make The Crust

process shots showing how to make sex in a pan.

To start, the crust needs to be made! Add the chopped pecans, sugar, melted butter, and flour to the bowl of a stand mixer. Then mix everything together until it’s fully combined.

process shots showing how to make sex in a pan.

Then transfer the crust mixture to the prepared baking dish and press it firmly into the bottom of the pan. You can use a glass to help flatten the mixture out evenly. Then place the crust into the preheated oven to bake for about 20 minutes. Allow the crust to fully cool in the pan when it is done.

Make The Pudding Layers

process shots showing how to make sex in a pan.

While the crust is baking, make the vanilla and chocolate puddings according to the package instructions.

process shots showing how to make sex in a pan.

However, I only used 2 cups of milk instead of 3 so that my puddings came out firmer. So basically I only used ⅔ of the amount of milk that the directions called for. I did this because I find that thicker pudding helps the dessert to hold its shape better. 

Make The Cream Cheese Layer

process shots showing how to make sex in a pan.

Now let’s whip together the cream cheese layer. Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and one cup of the cool whip to your stand mixer. Then whip everything together until it’s light and fluffy. You can also use a hand mixer if you prefer.

Assemble The Dessert

process shots showing how to make sex in a pan.

With all the layers made you can build the sex in a pan! Yet, the crust must be completely cool before you begin. Then spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust evenly followed by the vanilla pudding and then the chocolate pudding.

process shots showing how to make sex in a pan.
process shots showing how to make sex in a pan.

Try your best to make all the layers nice and even.

process shots showing how to make sex in a pan.

Now, top the dessert with one final layer of the remaining cool whip and a sprinkle of some shaved chocolate for garnish. Then put the sex in a pan in the fridge to set for at least a few hours before serving. 

What Is Sex In A Pan?

Sex in a pan is a layered dessert. The bottom layer is the crust made with pecans, flour and butter. The next layer is a layer of cream cheese sweetened with powdered sugar and made fluffier with whipped cream. Then you have a layer of chocolate pudding, then another layer of vanilla pudding and top it off with whipping cream and then lastly you sprinkle it with chocolate. Does that not sound good?

sex in a pan in a glass dish.

And don’t worry about it looking perfect with perfect layers, this dessert is not about that. It will look sloppy with all the pudding and whipped cream layers. Nobody will care about how it looks like once they take a bite. It really is love at first bite.

I just had to share this wonderful dessert with you again because every single time I make it people fall in love with it and so many of them tell me it’s the best dessert they’ve ever had. Trust me, that’s the best compliment you can get for such a simple dessert. Have you guys had this before? Isn’t it to die for?

sex in a pan with a slice cut out on a spatula.

Expert Tips

  1. Sift the powdered sugar. No one wants to bite into a lump of powdered sugar. Sifting helps to ensure that the cream cheese layer is velvety smooth. 
  2. Use less milk. Reduce the amount of milk used to make the pudding to make it a bit thicker. This will help the dessert maintain its shape when cut. 
  3. Chill the dessert. You must chill the sex in a pan for at least a couple of hours to allow it time to set. If you don’t it will taste amazing but it will be a sloppy mess.

Storage

Leftover sex in a pan will keep for up to 4 days in the fridge or for up to 3 months in an airtight container in the freezer. Just let it thaw out in the fridge before serving, which should take about 6 to 8 hours.

a slice of sex in a pan on a white plate.

Other Delicious Dessert Recipes To Try

  • Better Than Sex Cake
  • Tres Leches Cake
  • Easy Tiramisu
  • Apple Pie Cake
  • Easy Pavlova
  • Luscious Lemon Pudding

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

a slice of sex in a pan on a white plate.
Print
4.51 from 1664 votes

Sex in a Pan

Prep 45 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 1 hour 5 minutes
Rate Recipe
This Sex in a Pan has a crazy name for a dessert, but it’s one of the best desserts you’ll ever have, it's mostly a pudding dessert with a crunchy pecan bottom crust.
12

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 cup pecans (chopped)
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

Cream cheese layer

  • 8 ounce cream cheese
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (also known as icing sugar or confectioner's sugar, use 1/2 cup for less sweetness)
  • 1 cup cool whip (or whipped cream)

Vanilla pudding

  • 5.1 ounce instant vanilla pudding
  • 2 cups milk

Chocolate Pudding

  • 5.1 ounce instant chocolate pudding
  • 2 cups milk

Toppings

  • 2 cups cool whip (or whipped cream)
  • shaved chocolate (optional)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Spray a 9×13 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. As noted I used 2 cups of milk instead of the 3 cups on the package instructions to get a firmer pudding. 
  • Prepare the chocolate pudding as per the instructions on the package. As noted I used 2 cups of milk instead of the 3 cups on the package instructions to get a firmer pudding.
  • 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 vanilla pudding over the cream cheese layer, then the chocolate pudding. Spread the whipped cream as the last layer then top with shaved chocolate if preferred.
  • Refrigerate for a couple hours until it sets before serving.

Equipment

  • KitchenAid Hand Mixer

Video

Notes

  1. I used 2 cups of milk for my pudding, because I wanted a firmer pudding for the layers here, but feel free to use 3 cups of milk just as the instructions say.
  2. Sift the powdered sugar. No one wants to bite into a lump of powdered sugar. Sifting helps to ensure that the cream cheese layer is velvety smooth. 
  3. Use less milk. Reduce the amount of milk used to make the pudding to make it a bit thicker. This will help the dessert maintain its shape when cut. 
  4. Chill the dessert. You must chill the sex in a pan for at least a couple of hours to allow it time to set. If you don’t it will taste amazing but it will be a sloppy mess.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 438kcal (22%)Carbohydrates: 53g (18%)Protein: 7g (14%)Fat: 23g (35%)Saturated Fat: 11g (69%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 49mg (16%)Sodium: 360mg (16%)Potassium: 234mg (7%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 39g (43%)Vitamin A: 608IU (12%)Vitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 145mg (15%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

a slice of sex in a pan on a white plate.

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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900 Comments
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lolly
lolly
Posted: 7 days ago

why is your pudding in the photo so yellowy and not creamy looking?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  lolly
Posted: 7 days ago

Well it’s vanilla pudding so it’s pretty yellow and I used less milk to make it a more firm pudding as mentioned in the post.

0
Reply
April
April
Posted: 10 days ago

My sister is allergic to nuts. Can I omit them?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  April
Posted: 10 days ago

Sure, or you can make an oreo cookie crust.

0
Reply
Jessica Berryhill
Jessica Berryhill
Posted: 12 days ago

5 stars
Was delicious! I used walnuts instead of pecans and was amazing! Lives up to its name!

0
Reply
Sara
Sara
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
Really excited to try this! Thanks for the recipe, making it now!!

0
Reply
tonya Scott
tonya Scott
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
No doubt this is a great dessert!

0
Reply
Brenda
Brenda
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
Excellent followed receipe exactly. No leftovers hit at potluck

0
Reply
Shirley Audette
Shirley Audette
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
This is an amazing recipe. My friend renamed it Chocolate Surprise When offering it to her children. I consider this a staple in the dessert category. Thanks for posting this recipe.

1
Reply
Laurie Halliday
Laurie Halliday
Posted: 1 month ago

When I saw the photo, the yellow looked like a lemon layer. Wondering if anyone has ever tried substituting a lemon-curd type layer for the vanilla pudding layer and if it worked out?

0
Reply
K Loom
K Loom
Reply to  Laurie Halliday
Posted: 1 month ago

Sounds delicious to me! I haven’t ever tried it but if you do please consider sharing how it went!

0
Reply
Gladys Masker
Gladys Masker
Posted: 1 month ago

I am not a fan of chocolate. What would be a good substitute to go with the vanilla pudding.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Gladys Masker
Posted: 1 month ago

Any pudding flavor would work, try pistachio or butterscotch, both really great substitutions.

0
Reply
Kara
Kara
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
Love this recipe! Had to make a variation this time, my oven element went out. So I used 1½ cups of finely chopped pecans, 2 cups of pecan shortbread cookies finely chopped and ½ cup mini chocolate chips mixed with ½ cup melted butter to make a crumb crust. My husband loved it!

1
Reply
Leila
Leila
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
Awesome recipe!!
My husbands favorite.
I garnished the top with toasted pecans

1
Reply
Lynda Hardin
Lynda Hardin
Posted: 2 months ago

5 stars
This is the best recipe of all the variations.

1
Reply
Rachel
Rachel
Posted: 3 months ago

How many days ahead can it be made and stored in the fridge?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Rachel
Posted: 3 months ago

Oh you can make this about 5 days in advance, this will last in the fridge for about a week.

2
Reply
NJ hoegger
NJ hoegger
Posted: 3 months ago

5 stars
I have made this recipe before. It is amazing.

1
Reply
Linda
Linda
Posted: 4 months ago

A family member has a food allergy. Can you suggest something in place of the pecans?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Linda
Posted: 4 months ago

You can use oreo cookies crushed up, or graham crackers with a bit of butter and sugar for the crust.

2
Reply

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Hey there!

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More
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