Sex In A Pan

Have you heard of this dessert before, Sex in a Pan? It has been around for a long time. It has a yummy nutty cookie bottom followed by layers of cream cheese and pudding mixes and topped with Cool Whip. Pretty much can’t go wrong with that!!!

This is one of those popular recipes that you will want in your easy dessert section. A dessert that feeds a crowd, one that everyone loves, easily portable and casual for any family or friend get-together. 

All of the ingredients are easily layered up in a 9×13″ pan. This makes for a quick make-ahead dessert that is great for parties and gatherings. 

There are so many theories as to how the Sex in a Pan dessert got its name. There is the obvious one – someone liked it so much they declared “It’s like sex in a pan” and the name stuck. That’s possible but I’m not so sure about that one.

One of the most common theories is that it came from the fact that when you include the chocolate shavings on top, there are six layers in this layered dessert – so six in a pan – and over the years it morphed into sex in a pan. 

That’s the PG version of the story I’m going to go with if anyone asks! I’ve also seen it called the “Robert Redford” dessert and “Better-Than-Sex” – both of which would probably require more explanation than Sex in a Pan dessert already does! Whatever you call it, it is one of the best dessert recipes with all those pudding layers.

I made this for the kids mainly, as it keeps well in the fridge for many days. They thought the name was so funny!! I should have maybe called it something else because that is all I heard about for days, along with giggles!!

The kids staying with us were Zack 11 and Halen 12. Something they will remember from the summer of 2013!! Great memories plus a great dessert that we could pull out of the fridge for a snack or dessert many times while they were here. 

Try this very easy and delicious recipe next time you have a house full, they will love it!! ENJOY!!

Recipe Ingredients

• butter
• all-purpose flour
• chopped pecans
• icing sugar
• light cream cheese
• instant chocolate pudding
• instant vanilla pudding
• 2% milk (5 cups of milk)
• Cool Whip
• semi-sweet chocolate square

How to Make Sex in a Pan?

To make Sex in a Pan, you’ll need a baking dish that can go from hot to cold – so a glass baking dish works well.

First make the crust with the pecans, flour, and butter mixed together in a medium bowl, press into the pan, and bake it. Then the next layer is made using Cool Whip, cream cheese, and powdered sugar.

Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust. Then mix the puddings separately with cold milk and layer first the vanilla pudding, then spread the chocolate pudding on top of the vanilla layer.

Finally spread the remaining Cool Whip on top of the chocolate pudding, add the grated chocolate, chill, and serve!

Recipe Variations

Try using different flavored puddings in this recipe like pistachio, lemon, butterscotch, French vanilla, coconut cream, devil’s food, or cookies and cream. Then come up with your own flavor combinations. You can change the chocolate pudding layer to a chocolate fudge pudding also.

Expert Tips!

This is best served very cold after a few hours letting it set.

It makes a nice big dessert to feed a crowd and is easily portable in any 9×13″ casserole dish. Keep in the refrigerator before serving.

This dessert can be made ahead of time, even the day before, just save the chocolate sprinkles until just before serving.

Storage Instructions

To be honest, it never lasts long enough around here that I’ve tried to freeze it, but if your family isn’t as big a fan of it as mine is, yes you can freeze it. 

You’ll need to find a cover that fits your baking dish tightly. Just pop the whole thing in the freezer and when you want some you can cut off what you need and let it thaw while leaving the rest in the freezer.  

If you want to wrap with plastic wrap you can freeze it ahead of time uncovered and when it is solid then it is easier to wrap and not lose half the topping as it won’t stick as easily to the plastic wrap. I then like putting a layer of aluminum foil on to help seal it better. 

What To Serve With This Recipe

The layered dessert recipe is absolutely great on its own but at times I like to serve some fresh berries such as:

• sliced strawberries
• raspberries
• blackberries
• blueberries

Pin it HERE!!

Sex In A Pan Recipe

Tara Noland

A wonderfully easy dessert to have at the ready in your refrigerator!!

4.42 from 124 votes

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Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 10 servings

Calories 435 kcal

Video

Ingredients

 

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1-8 oz. light cream cheese
• 1 large package 144 gm instant chocolate pudding
• 1 large package 144 gm instant vanilla pudding
• 5 cups milk divided
• 4 cups cool whip divided
• 1 oz. semi-sweet chocolate square grated

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350F. Mix together the butter, flour and chopped pecans in a medium bowl. Press into a 9 x 13" pan and bake for 15-20 min. Set aside and cool.
• In the bowl of a stand up mixer, beat together cream cheese, sugar and 1 cup of Cool Whip. Spread onto top of cooled cookie layer.
• Next beat your puddings with 2 1/2 cups milk each, until stiff. Layer on vanilla, then chocolate pudding onto the cream cheese filling. Place the last 3 cups of Cool Whip on next and top with grated chocolate.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 435kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 8gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 270mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19g

Nutrition calculation is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!