Q Re: Chocolate Eclair Dessert

[little_bopeep]

I love this recipe, but every time I make it, I end up with little lumps of cream cheese that won't blend in. It's still totally tasty, but it looks funky.

Any suggestions?

Chocolate Eclair Ice-box Dessert
24 sheets honey graham crackers
Cooking spray
3 cups milk
2 (3.4-ounce) package instant French vanilla pudding mix
1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese
1 (8-ounce) tub whipped topping -- thawed
4 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoon stick margarine or butter -- softened
2 tablespoon honey
2 ounce unsweetened chocolate -- melted
1 1/2 cup powered sugar -- sifted

Arrange graham cracker sheets in the bottom of a 11 × 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; cover the bottom of the pan, breaking sheets of crackers as needed.

Combine milk, pudding mix, and cream cheese in a large bowl, and beat at low speed of a mixer 1 minute or until thick. Fold in whipped topping, gently, just to combine.

Spread half of the pudding mixture over graham crackers, and top with graham cracker sheets, the same way as in the bottom of the pan. Repeat the procedure with the remaining half of pudding mixture and graham cracker sheets.

Combine milk, softened margarine, honey, and unsweetened chocolate in a medium bowl, and beat well with a mixer. Gradually add powdered sugar to milk mixture, and beat well. Make sure mixture is cold before you use it.

Spread chocolate glaze over graham crackers. Cover dessert and chill in refrigerator overnight, or at least several hours. Can successfully be made with fat-free and sugar-free ingredients. But c’mon—it’s Christmas!! ;-)

[Anne]

This is what I do for cheese cakes - unwrap the creamcheese, nuke it, beat it till really smooth, gradually add warmed milk while beating. Cool to room temp and then add pudding mix and proceed with the recipe.

[Canice]

Do you leave the cream cheese out for a couple of hours first?

[funniegrrl]

Yup, I'd do what Anne mentioned: Have the cream cheese REALLY soft, beat it, gradually add the liquid, then gradually add other ingredients.

[little_bopeep]

I do use really soft cheese, but it never really blends. I'll try Anne's method this time.

Many thanks!