Black Forest Dream Dessert is a dream. I mean this is one heavenly dessert. It is certainly a fabulous and tasty layered dessert! The baked crust has coconut and walnuts, then it’s topped with a cheesecake layer, this is followed by a cherry pie filling layer.

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The next layer begins with vanilla pudding that has melted chocolate chips stirred in which makes it very thick. Finally, it’s topped with whipped topping, grated chocolate and maraschino cherries. Voila! Beautiful and delicious. This is a rich, decadent dessert that’s incredibly sumptuous. And though it has many layers it’s not overly difficult to make.

Years ago a dish of Black Forest Dream Dessert was brought to one of our Sunday school potlucks after church. I took one bite of this amazing gastronomic delight and knew I had to get the recipe! The gal who brought it got the recipe from a Taste of Home magazine.

That didn’t surprise me since Taste of Home is an excellent source for great recipes. This recipe is a take-off on the “delight” recipes from the 70s and 80s. Those recipes had a crust layer, a cream cheese layer composed of cream cheese, cool whip, and powdered sugar, then a pudding layer and more cool whip. Instead, this one adds a cherry pie filling layer. And to the vanilla pudding layer it adds melted chocolate chips. It makes that layer much more thick than a regular pudding layer.

Some people have questioned why not just do a plain chocolate pudding layer. Well you can do this if you want to scrimp out on the flavor and texture of the recipe. Melted chocolate chips add a lot more flavor than using a plain chocolate pudding layer. Plus, having the vanilla pudding increases the vanilla pudding flavor as well. I certainly recommend making the recipe as stated even though it’s a little more work. The effort is worth it.

I added chopped pecans, grated chocolate and maraschino cherries on top to keep with the Black Forest theme of the dessert. If you’re looking for a superb dessert for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or holiday celebrations, then please consider Black Forest Dream Dessert. It is wonderful!

Black Forest Dream Dessert is a lovely, elegant dessert. If you like chocolate and cherries together, this dessert is a must for your dessert repertoire.

 Black Forest Dream Dessert is great for special occasions and holidays. If you want a rich, decadent, delectable dessert, this is it!

Doesn’t this dessert look yummy? Buried inside is a cheesecake layer, a chocolate pudding layer, a cherry pie filling layer and then lots of whipped topping, shaved chocolate and maraschino cherries. Wow!

Here’s what I did.

I used these ingredients.

For the crust: Put UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour in a mixing bowl. (Bleached flour toughens baked goods). Add sugar and stir to combine.

Cut in butter with a pastry blender.

The mixture should resemble coarse crumbs.

Add coconut and toasted pecans or toasted walnuts.

Stir ingredients to combine.

Press crust layer into a 9×13″ glass baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake crust at 350 for about 15-18 minutes. Set aside to cool. Allow crust layer to cool completely. This will take at least 30 minutes. If you put the cheesecake layer on sooner, it will melt and dissolve and not stay pretty!

After about 15 minutes of cooling, I usually quick cool this in the freezer about 15-30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make cheesecake layer. Soften cream cheese and put in mixing bowl. Mix with an electric mixer until smooth. 

Add powdered sugar and a cup of whipped topping.

Cream ingredients with an electric mixer until well mixed and set aside.

Pour vanilla pudding mix into a bowl. Add milk slowly. If you don’t want splatters everywhere start with about 1/2 cup milk. Once that’s mixed, slowly add the remaining milk and continue blending until the mixture thickens.

Beat with an electric mixer until thick.

Measure chocolate chips into microwave safe measuring cup. Melt chocolate chips in microwave. I think mine took about 3 cycles of 30 seconds at 50% power. 

Add a few tablespoonfuls of the vanilla pudding mixture into the melted chocolate chips.

Stir to combine.

Now add all the melted chocolate chip mixture to the vanilla pudding mixture.

Whisk mixture until very well combined. This is a very thick mixture. Set aside.

Smooth cream cheese over top of cooled crust layer. 

Top cream cheese layer with a can of cherry pie filling.

Top cherry pie filling with chocolate pudding layer.

Top chocolate pudding layer with remaining cool whip.

Grate chocolate over top of the cool whip layer. You can also add more finely diced pecans or walnuts if you prefer. Rinse and dry maraschino cherries. Place on top of dessert. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

Black Forest Dream Dessert is irresistible. Here’s what the inside texture looks like. This smooth, creamy dessert is wonderful for Valentine’s Day, special occasion dinners, or to bring to potlucks. Everyone loves it!

Here’s the recipe.

BLACK FOREST DREAM DESSERT

(Recipe adapted from Kelley Meeks, when we attended Hillcrest Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, TX; source: adapted from  Taste of Home magazine, June/July 2007)

Black Forest Dream Dessert is a multi-layer dessert that is so delicious you will have a hard time turning down a second piece!

Cheesecake, cherry pie filling, chocolate pudding, cool whip–what’s not to love! Each bite of Black Forest Dream Dessert is superb. Every time we have served this decadent dessert, our company has been impressed!

Black Forest Dream Dessert is a dream–it’s heavenly! This dessert is a melt-in-your-mouth smooth, fluffy pie-like dessert that you’re whole family will love.

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