This Next Best Thing to Robert Redford Dessert is layers of chocolate lush with a pecan crust that’s so satisfying and delicious!
This classic layered dessert that’s been around many years as far back as the 70’s has lots of names such as Better than Robert Redford Dessert, Chocolate Lush, Chocolate Delight and more. Growing up we’ve always called it Next Best Thing to Robert Redford Dessert. I don’t know why we called it this, we just did and got so excited when my mom made it for dessert.
A dessert that is so simple and tastes like you slaved in the kitchen for hours is great for potlucks, cookouts, holidays, get togethers and more. Even though, chocolate is a favorite flavor for this decadent dessert, there are plenty more variations you can make using different flavors and such. My second favorite is lemon lush. YUM!! However, you make it, it will sure be a favorite for all to enjoy.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Can substitute the pecan crust for crushed graham crackers or crushed walnuts.
- Want to try a different flavor? Swap out the chocolate and vanilla pudding for lemon or even butterscotch.
- Make it sugar free by using sugar free cookies with pecans ,butter, sugar free cool whip, sugar free pudding mix and low fat cream cheese.
Ingredients
For the crust:
1 cup flour
1 stick butter, melted
1 cup chopped pecans
For the cream cheese layer:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz Cool Whip
For the pudding layer:
1 large box instant chocolate pudding
1 large box instant vanilla pudding
2 cups milk
How to Make Robert Redford Dessert
Make the Crust
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the crust (flour, butter and pecans). Press into a 9X13 inch baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes and allow to cool completely.
Prepare the Filling
In a bowl mix together the cream cheese layer ingredients (cream cheese, powdered sugar and cool whip) and spread half of the mixture over cooled crust. Save the remaining half for the topping.
In a bowl, beat together the pudding layer ingredients (instant chocolate pudding, instant vanilla pudding and milk) until firm. Spread over top of cream cheese layer.
Add the Topping
Spread the remaining cream cheese filling on top of the pudding filling and grate a chocolate bar over top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
More Delicious Desserts
- Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
- Banana Pudding Cheesecake
- Strawberry Lemon Dream Dessert
- Quadruple Chocolate Poke Cake
- Cherry Sheet Cake
- S’mores Dump Cake
Recipe
Next Best Thing to Robert Redford Dessert
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 stick butter melted
- 1 cup chopped pecans
For the cream cheese layer:
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 8 oz Cool Whip
For the pudding layer:
- 1 large box instant chocolate pudding
- 1 large box instant vanilla pudding
- 3 cups milk
Instructions
- Make the Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the crust (flour, butter and pecans). Press into a 9X13 inch baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes and allow to cool completely.
- Prepare the FillingIn a bowl mix together the cream cheese layer ingredients (cream cheese, powdered sugar and cool whip) and spread half of the mixture over cooled crust. Save the remaining half for the topping.
- In a bowl, beat together the pudding layer ingredients (instant chocolate pudding, instant vanilla pudding and milk) until firm. Spread over top of cream cheese layer.
- Add the ToppingSpread the remaining cream cheese filling on top of the pudding filling and grate a chocolate bar over top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
Kt
Hi is a large box of pudding the 5.9 oz one?
Alison
Yes!
Jane
Awful recipe. Add more butter for the crust. Add more milk for the pudding. Just bad instructions
Alison
Add more butter to crust if you’d wish but I would not add more milk or it will be a soupy mess. The 2 cups of milk is one cup per pudding box. It’s the same ingredient amounts as what’s on the pudding box.
Shari
It’s actually 2 cups of milk for the large pudding size.
Dawn
Horrible recipe! 2 cups of milk for two lg boxes of pudding produced a sickeningly over sweetened glob of a mess. As stated above by the author, incorrectly, 1 cup of milk is not the directions on the each box. More milk is ABSOLUTELY NEEDED. Since I had already mixed the pudding I had to fold in some extra cool whip to try and save the dessert. This recipe should be corrected or removed!
Trish
This recipe is wonderful if you buy SMALL packages of instant pudding. Also, I bake the crust longer. I spread all of the cream cheese mixture on it when it is cooled, then the pudding mixture, then straight up cool whip. Chill overnight, or make it way ahead and freeze it.