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.
Over 5 years ago I shared this amazing dessert with you and you guys loved it! It’s one of my most popular recipes on Jo Cooks and there’s a reason for that. It’s incredible, it’s decadent and luscious.
I thought it’s the perfect time to share this with you again with some updated pictures and a video. With Valentine’s day only a couple days away, I think this dessert will be spot on for that special day with a name like sex in a pan.
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 it 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.
That first day we made this dessert I fell in love with it. I had never had anything like it before. It was so easy to make and so good.
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?
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?
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Sex in a Pan
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Cream cheese layer
- 8 oz 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 oz instant vanilla pudding
- 2 cups milk
Chocolate Pudding
- 5.1 oz instant chocolate pudding
- 2 cups milk
Toppings
- 2 cups cool whip or whipped cream
- shaved chocolate optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
- 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.
Video
Recipe Notes
- 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.
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
Nutrition Information:
Products you’ll need:
Originally Shared March 2012:
Fabulous easy dessert – and makes up just as delicious using sugar free puddings, low fat CoolWhip and pre-prepared graham cracker crust! Never any leftovers.
That’s wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Jo! Greatly looking forward to this recipe. Do you feel like it would still work well if I used chocolate/vanilla mousse or custard in lieu of pudding? Just curious 🙂
Oh, that sounds great actually. This dessert is very versatile, so mousse would be wonderful.
Hi Jo, can I make this the day before considering it has to set for a couple of hours, or is it best made for on the day?
You can definitely make it the day before. 🙂
I loved this recipe . Its so easy and tasty
I doubled the Cream Cheese filling.
Very nice recipe.
Easy to make and delicious
I made this yesterday. Halved the icing sugar though. Tested very good.
My favorite summertime dessert. I’ve made it for at least 40 years. Given to me by a dear friend in Arkansas and she called it Four layer dessert.
This recipe is easily made Keto friendly! Thanks so much.
Glad you liked it!
Could I use Honey maid crumbs instead of pecans?
Certainly!
I too loved this recipe as is and same for the same best sex I’ve had these days anyways 😉
Can this be frozen? And what would the thawing instructions be?
Absolutely! Just thaw in the fridge overnight.
Can it be made with graham crackers instead of pecans?
Sure can!!
This recipe is very good! I made it for Christmas dessert and It received many compliments for how simple it is. I’m currently making it again for a friend who just had her wisdom teeth out.
What is the original name for this? I’m not calling it “Sex in the Pan”.
It goes by many other names, Sex In A Pan, Better Than Robert Redford…etc.
My family always called this Chocolate Delight. lol. I don’t think I could call it Sex in the Pan either. LOL