Better Than Sex Cake with Pecan

Don’t let the cheeky name fool you, this layered chocolate-pecan dessert has earned its reputation at potlucks and church suppers for decades. It builds in tiers, each one doing a different job.

The base is a buttery shortbread-style crust shot through with chopped pecans, baked until golden so it stays sturdy under everything that follows. Toast those pecans first if you want a deeper, nuttier crunch.

Next comes a sweet cream cheese layer folded with whipped topping, then a thick blanket of chocolate pudding, and finally more whipped topping and pecans on top.

The magic is in the chilling. This cake needs hours in the fridge so the crust firms, the pudding sets, and the layers hold clean lines when you cut into it. Make it the day before a gathering and you will thank yourself, since it slices best straight from cold.

Pro Tips

• Cool the crust completely before adding the cream cheese layer, or it will melt and slide.
• Beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar smooth before folding in the whipped topping so there are no lumps.
• Make the pudding with cold milk and let it set a few minutes before spreading it on.
• Chill at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, for clean slices.

Variations

• Swap the chocolate pudding for vanilla, butterscotch, or pistachio.
• Use walnuts in place of pecans, or build a pecan-graham crust.
• Drizzle caramel or chocolate sauce over each slice before serving.