I don’t know if eclair originated in Lancaster County or not, but to me it did!
As a kid, eclair was my favorite summer dessert. I could not wait to attend certain family get-togethers and reunions, because I knew this eclair dessert would be served by my Grandma!
Even today, it is still a favorite. I like to make it once a year, for our Memorial Day picnic (although sometimes I’ll make it for one other special occasion during the year too, like 4th of July!)
Not only is it incredibly delicious, it is incredibly simple to make! Oh how I love simplicity!
It consists of graham crackers, vanilla pudding and chocolate frosting, all layered together. However, my husband does keep bugging me to try adding some Nutella in the middle. I do agree, that does sound quite delectable!
Many recipes for eclair, have you make your own chocolate frosting. This is an extra step that I usually skip, and just buy a tub of chocolate frosting instead. (I often get these FREE through local Giant gas deals—otherwise I’d probably make my own frosting.) I will be honest, if you make your own chocolate frosting, it will more than likely be easier to spread. It’s your choice!
When I’m making this with kids, their reward is they get to lick the bowls at the end. (This is the ONLY time I let them do this!) 😉
Begin by layering the graham crackers.
Whisk the pudding and milk together. Do you like my purple silicone whisk? I think it adds happiness to my kitchen. 🙂
Fold in the Cool Whip.
Layer on some pudding and then some more graham crackers.
This is where I have learned to spread the chocolate frosting (for the next layer) on the graham cracker first. I find it much easier to spread this way.
It is just too difficult to spread the frosting on the crackers once they are on the pudding. Technically, you usually don’t put chocolate frosting on this layer, but I like that extra chocolate flavor inside the dessert too – not just on top!
Spread another layer of pudding and crackers.
Top with more chocolate frosting to cover the entire dessert.
Eclair: A Simple Summer Potluck Dessert
Ingredients
- 1 box graham crackers
- 2 small boxes vanilla pudding
- 3.5 cups milk
- 1 tub of cool whip
- 2 tubs chocolate frosting
Instructions
- Whisk together the boxes of pudding mix with the milk.
- Fold in the cool whip.
- Layer graham crackers on bottom of greased 9x13 pan.
- Spread some of the pudding mixture on the crackers.
- Add another layer of crackers. (This is when I like to put a little chocolate frosting on the top of each cracker before I lay it down. Then I add a little frosting on top to smooth it all out and make a nice even layer of chocolate frosting.)
- Add another layer of pudding.
- Top with chocolate frosting.
Notes
Spread the frosting on the crackers before layering, to make it much easier! 🙂
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Eclair really is one of my favorite desserts, although rhubarb crunch makes a close second. If you are visiting Lancaster County – Shady Maple always has eclair on their dessert smorgasboard, so you can try some there! Yoders Restaurant does too.
