Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert: I am a contributor to Amanda’s Cookin’ and this recipe first appeared on there as Pumpkin Lasagna.
This Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert has a vanilla graham cracker crust, a sweet cream cheese layer, pumpkin spice Jello pudding, Cool Whip topping and it’s topped with toasted, chopped pecans, shaved bittersweet chocolate and drizzled with caramel sauce. This no bake dessert feeds a crowd, filling a 13 x 9 inch pan; having a slice of this delicious dessert will have you craving more!
Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
Hi Everyone, I have the perfect pumpkin dessert for you: Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert. It has creamy, luscious layers of vanilla graham cracker crust, sweet cream cheese, flavorful pumpkin spice Jello pudding, cool whip and it’s topped with roasty-toasty pecans, shaved bittersweet chocolate and drizzled with caramel sauce – whew!
First off, the flavor is incredible, all the Fall flavors are there from pumpkin to pecans and caramel. I knew this dessert HAD to have chocolate involved somehow and the bittersweet chocolate has the right amount of sweetness for this lasagna recipe. You could substitute white chocolate too, if you wish.
You can also drizzle this Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert with chocolate sauce which would be a nice addition. I love the flavors of pumpkin and chocolate together. You can substitute the chopped and toasted pecans for walnuts, if you prefer. I totally recommend toasting the pecans, by the way, it really adds to the flavor. Just a couple minutes in the toaster oven on a foil lined sheet and they’re done! So, this recipe isn’t entirely “no bake” with the toasted pecans but the flavor and texture they add is worth it 🙂
Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
Ingredients for Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
1st Layer – Bottom Graham Cracker Crust Layer:
- 2 (5 ounce) packages of regular or vanilla graham crackers, finely ground using a food processor or manually crushing
- 5-8 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted and cooled *I give a range for the amount because I have found that depending on the humidity, you may need more or less butter
2nd Layer – Cream Cheese Layer:
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or fresh squeezed lemon juice
3rd Layer – Pumpkin Spice Pudding Layer:
- 2 (3.4 ounce) packages Jello instant pumpkin spice pudding mix (I found this on Amazon.com)
- 3 cups milk
4th Layer – Whipped & Toppings Layer:
- 1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping (I used Cool Whip), you can substitute the same amount whipped cream
- 1/4 cup chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts (to toast nuts: spread chopped nuts over a foil-lined sheet, toast in 350 degree oven for 1-2 mins, keep an eye on them so they don’t burn)
- halved pecans to garnish, optional
- drizzle of caramel sauce
Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
Kitchen Tools for Making Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
- dry measuring spoons and cups
- baking spatula
- whisk for making pudding
- food processor for processing graham crackers
- wet measure
- hand held electric mixer
- offset spatula
- 13 x 9 inch pan
- mixing bowls
- mandolin slicer or box grater for shaving bittersweet chocolate
- sharp knife for cutting slices
- serving spatula
Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
Lasagna or Lush?
If you are an avid follower of this blog, you will notice that this Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert looks exactly like one of the several “lush” dessert recipes I’ve done – well, it technically is a “lush” recipe but we realize more people call this recipe “lasagna.”
Modifications
I modified the amount of milk in the pudding layer from the other “lush” recipes that I have contributed, making it 3 cups instead of the usual 3 1/2-4 cups milk. This is a personal taste decision and I find that the slices are more defined when cutting through. Another thing I like to do to get super defined slices with this type of dessert is freeze it overnight (or just at least 6 hours or until its even and frozen through), take it out and slice with a sharp knife. I use a flat serving spatula to get the slices out of the pan. The dessert unfreezes pretty fast (in less than a 1/2 hour – if that) and makes for lovely slices for serving. This is a great recipe for making ahead.
Recipe Customization
For the bottom graham cracker crust, you could also try a couple rows of ground golden OREO cookies or a Nilla cookie crust. Sometimes, there might be special “pumpkin spice” flavored OREOs if it’s pumpkin spice season. I went with the vanilla graham crackers (Honey Maid makes them) because they have some spice to them, you can get them year round and they taste great. If you want a more traditional baked “lush” bottom crust with pecans, flour and butter, check out Banana Split Dessert for instructions. I personally love the no bake, graham cracker crust, option because it’s easy and tastes great. There are endless ways to tailor this recipe to your personal flavor tastes.
Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
This Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert recipe is one of several recent “pumpkin” recipes I’ve done, check out Pumpkin Roll, Pumpkin Spice Donuts and Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies (w/ video). I know you will love this Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert recipe!
Related Posts
Layered Lasagna Lush Dessert Recipes
Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
This Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert has a vanilla graham cracker crust, a sweet cream cheese layer, pumpkin spice Jello pudding, Cool Whip topping and it’s topped with toasted, chopped pecans, shaved bittersweet chocolate and drizzled with caramel sauce. This no bake dessert feeds a crowd, filling a 13 x 9 inch pan; having a slice of this delicious dessert will have you craving more!
Ingredients
1st Layer – Bottom Graham Cracker Crust Layer
- 2 (5 ounce) packages packages of regular or vanilla graham crackers, finely ground using a food processor or manually crushing
- 5-8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled *I give a range for the amount because I have found that depending on the humidity, you may need more or less butter
2nd Layer – Cream Cheese Layer
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, or the same amount fresh squeezed lemon juice
3rd Layer – Pumpkin Spice Pudding Layer
- 2 (3.4 ounce) packages Jello instant pumpkin spice pudding mix
- 3 cups milk
4th Layer – Whipped & Toppings Layer
- 1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping, (I used Cool Whip), you can substitute the same amount whipped cream
- 1/4 cup chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts, optional, halved pecans to garnish (to toast nuts: spread chopped nuts over a foil-lined sheet, toast in 350 degree oven for 1-2 mins, keep an eye on them so they don’t burn)
- drizzle of caramel sauce, optional
Instructions
1st Layer – Bottom Graham Cracker Crust
- In a medium-large bowl, mix melted and cooled unsalted butter with finely ground, processed graham crackers. Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Cover and chill until the next layer is ready.
2nd Layer – Cream Cheese
- Using a hand electric mixer, combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or fresh squeezed lemon juice. Mixture should be even and smooth. Spread evenly on top of the graham cracker crust.
3rd Layer – Pumpkin Spice Pudding Layer
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the milk and instant pumpkin spice pudding mix until set. It may take 4-5 minutes to thicken. Spread evenly on top of the cream cheese mixture.
4th Layer – Whipped & Toppings
- Using an offset spatula, spread thawed whipped topping on top of the pumpkin spice pudding layer. Sprinkle with shaved bittersweet chocolate and toasted pecans. For serving drizzle with caramel sauce. Optionally, you can freeze the Pumpkin Lasagna overnight for more defined slices (as shown in the photos). Do not freeze if you substitute homemade whipped cream because it might not hold up like frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip. Enjoy!
Notes
- I suggest using an offset spatula for spreading the layers and make sure it’s clean before starting a new layer. After refrigerating, for serving to show more defined layers, you can just take a butter knife and “wipe” along the sides and the layers will show nicely. You can freeze the Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert overnight (at least 6 hours) to get more defined slices. Make sure you use a sharp knife to cut down into the bottom crust first before removing with the spatula. It will defrost fairly quickly depending on the room temperature.
- The nutritional information is just an ESTIMATE; we use myfitnesspal.com to generate the nutritional information for this recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12Amount Per Serving:Calories: 501
What holiday gathering would you serve this at? Please let me know in the comments below! Best, ~Sara xo
Pin This! ⇓
Pumpkin Lasagna Dessert
- Fish Tacos - February 24, 2020
- Everything Bagel Seasoned Avocado Toast - February 17, 2020
- Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves on Sofabfood - February 16, 2020
If you make this recipe, please rate and comment on how it came out! Thank you in advance! Best, ~Sara xo