A visit to Olive Garden certainly doesn’t mean you’re going home hungry. Who can get enough of the beloved Olive Garden breadsticks, the chain’s comforting chicken and gnocchi soup and, of course, that tangy house salad? The list of savory options is certainly long, but what about dessert?
Olive Garden offers a range of desserts to finish out your meal, including classics like cheesecake and tiramisu. Another fan favorite? The Olive Garden chocolate lasagna. We’re talking four layers of fudgy brownie paired with layers of vanilla cream cheese frosting. It’s stacked high, then drizzled with chocolate and topped with chocolate shavings to make it that much more decadent. And now, even if you can’t get it at your neighborhood restaurant, I figured out how you can pull off this indulgent, towering chocolate lasagna at home.
How to Make Olive Garden Chocolate Lasagna
Molly Allen for Taste of Home
While this tall treat looks intimidating, you can certainly make a chocolate lasagna at home. It requires a bit of patience to stack each layer, but every bite makes the effort worth it.
Ingredients
For the brownie layers:
For the cream cheese filling:
For the chocolate ganache:
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- Chocolate shavings, for garnish
Tools You’ll Need
Directions
Step 1: Make the brownie batter
Molly Allen for Taste of Home
Prepare the brownie mixes according to the instructions on the box. Incorporate an additional egg into each batch of batter.
Test Kitchen Tip: Deputy Editor James Schend recommends lining the pans with foil or parchment paper before you add the batter. That way, once the brownies are baked and cooled, you can lift them right out of the pan.
Step 2: Bake the brownies
Molly Allen for Taste of Home
Bake the brownies in two 8×8-inch square pans according to the instructions on the box. Once the brownies are fully baked, remove them from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
Step 3: Make the cream cheese filling
Molly Allen for Taste of Home
In a mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese and softened butter. Mix with a hand mixer until fluffy, and then add two cups of powdered sugar. Mix in the powdered sugar, and then mix in the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Gradually mix in the remaining powdered sugar until the frosting comes together.
Step 4: Layer the brownies and filling
Molly Allen for Taste of Home
Once the brownie “cakes” are fully cooled, remove them from the pans. Use a large knife to cut each in half horizontally. This will create your four layers. Place the first layer on the serving platter and frost with the cream cheese filling. Top with another brownie layer and frost, then repeat with each layer. Once you’ve frosted the top layer, place the dessert in the fridge.
Step 5: Make the chocolate ganache
Molly Allen for Taste of Home
Chop the chocolate and put it in a heat-safe bowl. Set it aside.
Pour the heavy cream into a saucepan and heat on medium. Allow the cream to heat just until simmering (boiling will scorch it, so watch carefully). Once heated, pour the cream over the chocolate and whisk until smooth. Now you have ganache. Drizzle it over the chocolate lasagna and garnish with chocolate shavings.
Here’s What I Thought
Molly Allen for Taste of Home
While Olive Garden has never shared its official chocolate lasagna recipe, it’s a simple enough combination of flavors to be able to mimic at home. The restaurant lists this impressive dessert with a description of “Eight decadent layers of rich, fudgy brownie and sweet vanilla cream cheese frosting, topped with chocolate shavings and a chocolate drizzle.” And I set out to make just that.
Brownie mix serves as the ideal base for your dessert. Of course, you could make your own brownies from scratch, as well. The key is to add an extra egg to each batch, which will deliver a fluffier result and make it easier to cut the layers horizontally. Once the layers are cut, layering the brownie and cream cheese filling takes a bit of patience and finesse, but it’s certainly doable. I wanted to be able to see all of the beautiful layers of the dessert, so I stacked it on a platter. Need a totable option to take to a potluck? You could build the treat in one of the 8×8-inch pans and serve it from there.
As for the flavor, this copycat Olive Garden chocolate lasagna is truly something else. It’s one thing to have a brownie with tangy cream cheese frosting slathered on top (or swirled in the batter). It’s a whole other ball game to multiply that four times. With each bite, you get an incredible flavor and contrast in texture, thanks to all of those layers. And of course, the chocolate drizzle on top makes it that much more delicious. It’s definitely a dessert that requires a few steps, but would I make it again? You can count on it!
More Desserts That Start with Brownie Mix
Grilled Banana Brownie Sundaes
My niece Amanda Jean and I have a lot of fun in the kitchen creating different dishes. One of us will start with a recipe idea and it just grows from there—and so does the mess. We always have a blast. That's exactly what happened with this brownie mix recipe! —Carol Farnsworth, Greenwood, Indiana
Also, check out these best
Christmas pies for your sweet holiday season!
Go to Recipe
Not sure which brand of brownie mix to buy? These
brownie mixes are our Test Kitchen's favorites.
Fruity Brownie PizzaI start with a basic brownie mix to create this fruit brownie pizza. Sometimes I add mandarin oranges for even more color. —Nancy Johnson, Laverne, Oklahoma
Fudgy Brownies with Peanut Butter Pudding FrostingThese rich peanut butter fudge brownies are topped with a peanut butter pudding frosting, making this a recipe the whole family will love. These are perfect for a potluck, bake sale or yummy after-dinner treat. —Amy Crook, Syracuse, Utah
Also, check this two ingredients fudge recipe, which is easy to make and will save a lot of your time.
Mini Brownie TreatsI like to take these quick and easy treats to potlucks and family gatherings. They're always well received! —Pam Kokes, North Loup, Nebraska
Fudgy Oat BrowniesThese cakelike brownies have a rich, crunchy oat crust and a smooth homemade chocolate frosting. A packaged brownie mix makes the recipe easy to prepare. You can make it even easier by using canned frosting. —Diana Otterson, Canandaigua, New York
Caramel Fudge CheesecakeIt's hard to resist this chocolaty cheesecake with its fudgy crust, crunchy pecans and gooey layer of caramel. I combined several recipes to create this version that satisfies both the chocolate lovers and the cheesecake lovers in my family. —Brenda Ruse, Truro, Nova Scotia
Brownie CracklesThese chocolate chips and brownie mix cookies pack a rich chocolate taste while remaining simple to make. Rolling the dough in powdered sugar gives them their inviting crackled appearance. —Ellen Govertsen, Wheaton, Illinois
Peanut Butter Brownie TrifleThis rich, tempting, peanut butter brownie trifle feeds a crowd and features the ever-popular combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Try this dessert for your next get-together. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
Pistachio Brownie Toffee BarsThese coveted brownie bars are homey and chocolaty awesome. They've been a sought-after staple on Christmas cookie trays for years. —Troy Shaw, Warrenton, Oregon.
Hungry for more? Here’s our list of
Christmas brownies for chocoholics.
Toffee Brownie TrifleThis decadent combination of pantry items is a terrific way to dress up a brownie mix. Try this trifle with other flavors of pudding or substitute your favorite candy bar. It tastes great with low-fat and sugar-free products, too. —Wendy Bennett, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Magic Brownie BarsWhen I was a kid, one of my all-time favorite treats was magic cookie bars. This recipe combines all the same classic flavors in a magic brownie bar! —Mandy Rivers, Lexington, South Carolina
Banana Cream Brownie DessertI always keep the ingredients for this extremely delicious dessert on hand because I make it quite often for potlucks and family gatherings. I'm always asked for the recipe. After one bite, you'll understand why. —Julie Nowakowski, LaSalle , Illinois
Cheesecake Brownie SquaresBrownies are my grandson Noah's favorite, so we always make some when he comes to visit. These cheesecake brownies are a definite crowd-pleaser. —Barbara Banzhof, Muncy, Pennsylvania
Peanut Butter-Filled Brownie CupcakesI have made this outstandingly delicious recipe for years. These rich cupcakes are sure to delight everyone you make them for. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Chocolate-Almond Brownie PizzaDessert pizza has never been so elegant! Featuring a chewy coconut topping and brownie crust, this treat gives traditional holiday pies and cakes some serious competition. —Pat Cassity, Boise, Idaho
Valentine Heart BrowniesSteal hearts this Valentine's Day with brownies that have cute frosting centers. They're simply irresistible. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Peanut Butter Brownie BitesI used to make these brownie bites with a cherry in the center. Then I discovered that my granddaughter Lily is big on peanut butter, so I switched it up. Now she loves to help me make them. —Donna McGinnis, Taylor Ridge, Illinois
Chocolate & Peanut Butter Crispy BarsTo make a dairy-free dessert, I created chocolate peanutty bars. My kids and their friends gobble them up. I've written about it on my blog, joyfulscribblings.com. —Dawn Pasco, Overland Park, Kansas
Angela's XOXO Shortbread BrowniesEveryone loves a brownie. This one has a buttery crust with a sweet finish, thanks to the touch of candy on top. —Angela Kamakana Baptista , Hilo, Hawaii
Double Chocolate Coconut BrowniesThanks to a head start from a mix, it's easy to bake up these crowd-pleasing treats. It's hard to stop at just one brownie, but don't worry—my recipe makes 30 servings! —Brenda Melancon, McComb, Mississippi
Brownie Swirl CheesecakeIt may look fancy, but this cheesecake is so simple. The secret is the speedy crust—it's from a packaged brownie mix! You don't need to be an experienced cook to make the elegant chocolate swirls on top—anyone can do it. —Janet Brunner, Burlington, Kentucky
Easy Mexican BrowniesI was hosting a fun Mexican-themed cocktail party and needed a quick dessert. Dressing up an ordinary boxed brownie mix made life easy and delicious! —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York
Brownie Mocha TrifleBy using instant pudding and a convenient box of brownie mix, there's nothing to the preparation. The result is moist and chewy. And the layers look so pretty spooned into a glass trifle bowl. —Louise Fauth, Foremost, Alberta
Brownie SundaesCap off dinner with these Brownie Sundaes. With prepared brownies, I can fix this sweet treat in a flash. For extra flair, I roll the ice cream in pecans before placing them on top of the brownies. It's a perfect finish to a mouthwatering meal. —Ruth Lee, Troy, Ontario
Note: Recipes submitted by our trusted contributors are created and tested in their kitchens.
Up Next: Copycat Olive Garden Soups, Salad and Breadsticks
