I Made Kraft’s Back-of-the-Box Chocolate Eclair Squares and Yes, I’m Obsessed with the Recipe
Updated: Feb. 08, 2024
These effortless chocolate eclair squares have all the flavor of the classic pastry, but with less than half an hour of hands-on time.
This is one of the back-of-the-box recipes that has become a staple for potlucks and family gatherings. For good reason, too—I’m always intrigued by a recipe that only requires a handful of ingredients and can be whipped up in minutes.
If it mimics one of my favorite French pastries? Even better.
I love recipes that require almost no effort but are elegant enough to serve to company. It doesn’t need to be a special occasion, but will feel like it when eclair squares are on the table. It’s definitely among our favorite no-bake desserts!
Chocolate Eclair Squares Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package (3.4 ounces) vanilla instant pudding mix
- 2 cups cold milk, divided
- 1 tub (8 ounces) whipped topping, thawed
- 22 graham cracker sheets
- 1 package (4 ounces) unsweetened chocolate
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
Directions
Step 1: Make the filling
In a large bowl, whisk the vanilla pudding mix with 1-3/4 cups of the cold milk for 2 minutes. Fold in the thawed whipped topping until no white streaks remain. (This is how to fold in ingredients to keep the filling light and airy.)
Step 2: Layer with graham crackers
Layer 1/3 of the graham cracker sheets into the bottom of a 13×9-inch baking pan. You’ll use up about 7 of the sheets plus 1 additional square in each layer to fit the pan. (Don’t worry if some small gaps remain.)
Top with half of the filling mixture. Repeat the layers and finish off with the remaining graham crackers.
Step 3: Make the chocolate layer
In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute and stir. Then, microwave in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted, and the mixture is blended. Add the confectioners’ sugar and remaining 1/4 cup milk and mix well.
Step 4: Refrigerate to set
Spread the chocolate layer over the top layer of graham crackers. Refrigerate 4 hours or until set.
Here’s What I Thought
I loved the ease of preparation with this no-bake chocolate eclair squares recipe. The creamy pudding filling along with the rich chocolate topping reminded me of the classic French pastry but without any fuss. I also liked the simple swap of using graham cracker sheets for layering instead of making choux pastry dough. Plus, the flavor combination of chocolate and graham crackers gave the whole dessert a s’mores vibe.
I would definitely make this dessert again, especially during the warmer months when it’s nice to make a dessert without having to turn on the oven. No bake desserts are summer’s best friend.
How to Store Chocolate Eclair Squares
I found the dessert was soft-set from chilling in the refrigerator, but if you want firmer squares that are easier to cut, feel free to pop the pan into the freezer for an hour or so. The squares can be stored in either the refrigerator or the freezer, depending on your preference.
Originally Published: March 30, 2022
