I Love This Recipe Because It Requires Very Little Effort Yet Creates A Dessert That Looks Impressive. The Layers Form A Soft, Cake-Like Texture After Chilling, And The Combination Of Strawberries And Creamy Filling Always Feels Refreshing.
I Also Enjoy That It Is A No-Bake Dessert. I Simply Assemble The Layers And Let The Refrigerator Do The Work. This Makes It Perfect When I Want A Delicious Dessert Without Turning On The Oven.
Ingredients
(Here’s A Tip: Check Out The Full List Of Ingredients And Measurements In The Recipe Card Below.)
1 Pound Fresh Strawberries, Washed, Hulled, And Sliced
16 Ounces Store-Bought Strawberry Frosting
Directions
I Start By Whisking The Cheesecake-Flavored Instant Pudding Mix With The Whole Milk In A Large Mixing Bowl. Within A Few Minutes The Mixture Thickens Into A Smooth Pudding.
Next, I Gently Fold The Thawed Whipped Topping Into The Pudding Mixture Until It Becomes Light And Creamy.
In A 9×13-Inch Baking Dish, I Arrange A Single Layer Of Graham Crackers Across The Bottom So The Surface Is Covered.
I Spread Half Of The Pudding Mixture Over The Graham Crackers And Smooth It Out Evenly.
Then I Add A Layer Of Sliced Fresh Strawberries Over The Creamy Pudding Layer.
After That, I Place Another Layer Of Graham Crackers Over The Strawberries.
I Spread The Remaining Pudding Mixture Over This Second Layer Of Crackers.
Next, I Add Another Layer Of Sliced Strawberries.
I Finish The Base Layers By Adding One Final Layer Of Graham Crackers On Top.
To Prepare The Topping, I Warm The Strawberry Frosting In The Microwave For About 10 To 15 Seconds So It Becomes Easy To Pour. I Make Sure Any Metal Seal Is Removed Before Heating.
Once The Frosting Is Smooth And Pourable, I Spread It Evenly Over The Top Layer Of Graham Crackers.
I Cover The Dish With Plastic Wrap Or Aluminum Foil And Refrigerate It For At Least 4 Hours, Or Overnight. This Allows The Graham Crackers To Soften And The Layers To Blend Together.
When I Am Ready To Serve, I Slice The Dessert Into 12 Pieces And Sometimes Garnish With Extra Fresh Strawberries.
Servings And Timing
This Recipe Makes About 12 Servings.
The Preparation Time Is About 15 Minutes, And The Total Time Is Around 4 Hours And 15 Minutes Including Chilling Time. I Prefer Letting It Chill Overnight For The Best Texture.
Variations
I Sometimes Replace The Strawberry Frosting With Chocolate Frosting For A Chocolate And Strawberry Flavor Combination.
Another Variation I Enjoy Is Adding A Thin Layer Of Cream Cheese Frosting Instead Of The Strawberry Frosting For A Tangy And Creamy Finish.
If I Want Extra Fruit Flavor, I Mix A Few Chopped Strawberries Directly Into The Pudding Mixture Before Layering.
For A Slightly Different Texture, I Occasionally Add A Layer Of Crushed Graham Crackers Or Cookie Crumbs Between The Cream Layers.
Storage/Reheating
I Store The Eclair Cake Covered In The Refrigerator For Up To 3 Days. The Chilled Layers Hold Their Shape Well And Stay Creamy.
Since This Dessert Is Served Cold, I Simply remove it from the refrigerator and slice it when I am ready to serve.
I Keep The Dish Covered So The Dessert Stays Fresh And The Creamy Layers Do Not Dry Out.
FAQs
Can I Make This Dessert Ahead Of Time?
I Often Prepare This Dessert The Night Before Serving. The Extra Chilling Time Helps The Graham Crackers Soften And Gives The Cake A Perfect Texture.
Can I Use Homemade Whipped Cream Instead Of Whipped Topping?
I Sometimes Use Homemade Whipped Cream Instead Of Store-Bought Whipped Topping. It Gives The Dessert A Fresh And Light Flavor.
What If I Cannot Find Cheesecake Pudding Mix?
I Replace It With Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix. The Dessert Still Tastes Delicious And Creamy.
Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?
I Prefer Using Fresh Strawberries For The Best Texture, But Frozen Strawberries Can Work If They Are Thawed And Drained Well.
How Do I Cut Clean Slices?
I Use A Sharp Knife And Wipe It Between Cuts. This Helps The Layers Stay Neat When Serving.
Conclusion
I Think This Strawberries And Cream Eclair Cake Is One Of The Easiest And Most Refreshing Desserts I Can Prepare. The Soft Layers Of Graham Crackers, Creamy Pudding, Fresh Strawberries, And Sweet Frosting Create A Dessert That Is Light Yet Satisfying. Whenever I Make It, The Sweet Strawberry Flavor And Creamy Texture Make It A Favorite For Sharing With Family And Friends.
Fresh strawberries, fluffy cheesecake pudding, graham crackers, and sweet strawberry frosting create a creamy no bake dessert that is perfect for summer gatherings.
Author:Sarah
Prep Time:15 minutes
Total Time:4 hours 15 minutes
Yield:12 servings
Category:Dessert
Method:No-Bake / Layering
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
3.4 oz box cheesecake-flavored instant pudding mix