he Ultimate Hot Chocolate Lasagna Recipe: A Decadent No-Bake Delight

Are you looking for a dessert that truly wows your guests, one that evokes the feeling of a comforting, warm hug in a dish? If that sounds like heaven, then you’ve certainly landed in the right spot. We are delighted to share our definitive Hot Chocolate Lasagna Recipe, a creation we’re sure will become a treasured favourite in your home.

This isn’t your typical lasagna. Instead, it’s a sweet, creamy, and wonderfully indulgent dessert that requires no oven time at all. As the ideal no bake dessert, it’s perfect when you want to make something special without any fuss. With its rich chocolatey layers, fluffy whipped cream, and a crunchy biscuit base, each mouthful is an absolute delight. It’s our go-to solution whether we’re planning a festive celebration or simply need a comforting treat.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Effortlessly Impressive: This dessert appears incredibly sophisticated, yet our straightforward layering technique makes it wonderfully easy to assemble. It’s a surefire way to impress at any gathering.
• Completely No-Bake: You can give your oven the day off and keep your kitchen cool. This recipe is all about chilling, which makes it a fantastic choice all year round, from warm summer evenings to cosy winter nights.
• A Flavour Explosion: It genuinely captures the essence of its name! We’ve meticulously balanced each layer to replicate the rich, milky, and chocolatey taste of a perfect mug of hot cocoa, right down to the marshmallow topping.
• Perfect for Making Ahead: As one of our top christmas dessert ideas, this is brilliant for preparing in advance. You can put it together the day before your event, allowing the flavours to meld beautifully and the layers to set perfectly, which saves you a great deal of time and stress.
• Endlessly Customisable: Don’t hesitate to put your own spin on it! You can easily swap the type of biscuits, experiment with different toppings, or even add a splash of liqueur to the pudding for a more grown-up version.

Ingredients

• 350g Digestive biscuits (or chocolate biscuits like Oreos for an extra chocolatey base)
• 150g unsalted butter, melted
• 25g caster sugar
• 225g full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 100g icing sugar, sifted
• 250ml double cream, whipped to stiff peaks (divided)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (100g) package of instant chocolate pudding mix
• 600ml cold whole milk
• 4 tablespoons of high-quality hot chocolate powder
• 100g mini marshmallows
• Chocolate shavings or chocolate sauce for garnish

How to Make Our Hot Chocolate Lasagna Recipe Step-by-Step

Ready to build this delicious masterpiece? We’ve organised the entire process into clear, easy-to-follow stages. Simply work through them, and you’ll soon have a pan of incredible hot chocolate lasagna setting in the fridge.

Step 1: Prepare the Biscuit Base

1. First, crush the digestive biscuits until they form fine crumbs. A food processor makes quick work of this, but you can also place them in a sealed bag and use a rolling pin.
2. In a bowl, mix the biscuit crumbs with the melted butter and caster sugar. Use a fork to combine everything until the crumbs are evenly coated and have the texture of damp sand.
3. Firmly press this mixture into the base of a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) baking dish. We find using the back of a spoon or a flat-bottomed glass helps create a solid, even layer.
4. Pop the dish into the refrigerator to chill for a minimum of 30 minutes. This is key to helping the base become firm while you prepare the next layer.

Step 2: Create the Fluffy Cream Cheese Layer

1. Using an electric mixer in a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it’s completely smooth and has no lumps. This step is vital for achieving a silky, luxurious texture.
2. Slowly incorporate the sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract, beating until everything is just combined.
3. Now, gently fold in half of the whipped double cream (around 125ml). Take care not to overmix, as the goal is to maintain a light, airy consistency.
4. Carefully spread this creamy cheese mixture over your chilled biscuit base, ensuring it reaches all the edges. Then, return the dish to the fridge.

Step 3: Whisk the Rich Chocolate Pudding Layer

1. In a separate large bowl, whisk the instant chocolate pudding mix with the high-quality hot chocolate powder to combine them.
2. Gradually pour in the cold milk while you continue to whisk. Keep whisking for approximately 2 minutes, until the mixture starts to thicken into a lovely, smooth pudding.
3. Take your dish out of the refrigerator and pour the chocolate pudding over the cream cheese layer, spreading it evenly.

Step 4: Add the Finishing Touches and Chill

1. Spoon the remaining whipped double cream on top of the pudding layer, spreading it gently to cover the surface completely.
2. Sprinkle the mini marshmallows generously over the cream. For an even more decadent finish, you could add some chocolate shavings or a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
3. Cover the dish with cling film and place it back into the fridge. For the very best results, we recommend chilling it for at least 4-6 hours, or ideally overnight. This chilling period is crucial for the layers to set correctly and for the flavours to deepen.

Tips for the Perfect Hot Chocolate Lasagna

We want your dessert to be a resounding success. Here are a few of our top tips to help you achieve perfection every time.

• Room Temperature is Key: For the cream cheese layer, it’s essential that your cream cheese is at room temperature. If it’s too cold, you’ll end up with a lumpy texture that’s difficult to spread smoothly.
• Don’t Rush the Chill: We cannot emphasise this enough! Proper chilling time is what turns this dessert from separate layers into a perfectly sliceable treat. If you rush this step, it’s likely to be too soft.
• Quality Matters: Always opt for a high-quality hot chocolate powder. As it’s a key flavour component, a richer, more premium powder will significantly enhance the final taste. For more great advice on setting no-bake desserts, this guide from BBC Good Food has some wonderful tips.
• Perfect for Parties: This dessert is a brilliant choice for making ahead of a party or gathering. It serves as the perfect sweet conclusion after a popular main dish, like our fantastic Bruschetta Chicken.

Planning Your Menu

Although our hot chocolate lasagna recipe is wonderful on its own, it also serves as a glorious finale to a lovely meal. It contrasts beautifully with savoury dishes, offering a cool and creamy finish. We love to serve it after a comforting family meal, such as our much-loved Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe, to round off the evening perfectly.

FAQ

A Sweet Conclusion to Any Meal

And that’s our guide to a simple yet spectacular dessert that presents the cherished flavour of hot chocolate in an entirely new format. This recipe is wonderful proof that you don’t need to turn on the oven to make something truly memorable. The combination of a crunchy biscuit base, tangy cream cheese, rich chocolate pudding, and light whipped cream creates a perfect harmony, making each spoonful an experience to savour.

So, why not give it a try? The next time you’re in need of an easy dessert that will please everyone, this is the one. We are confident it will be a huge success with guests of all ages. Simply gather your ingredients, follow our straightforward instructions, and get ready to enjoy what might just become your new favourite dessert. Please do leave a comment below to let us know how your Hot Chocolate Lasagna Recipe came out—we always love to hear from you!

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Prep: 20 mins
Chill: 4 hours 30 mins
Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 350g Digestive biscuits
• 150g unsalted butter, melted
• 25g caster sugar
• 225g full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 100g icing sugar, sifted
• 250ml double cream, whipped to stiff peaks (divided)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (100g) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 600ml cold whole milk
• 4 tablespoons hot chocolate powder
• 100g mini marshmallows
• Chocolate shavings or chocolate sauce for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Base: Crush the digestive biscuits into fine crumbs and mix with melted butter and caster sugar. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch dish. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
2. Make the Cream Cheese Layer: Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Mix in the sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract. Gently fold in half of the whipped cream (125ml). Spread this mixture evenly over the chilled biscuit base.
3. Create the Pudding Layer: In a separate bowl, whisk together the instant chocolate pudding mix and hot chocolate powder. Gradually add the cold milk, whisking for about 2 minutes until it thickens. Pour and spread the pudding over the cream cheese layer.
4. Add Toppings and Chill: Spread the remaining whipped cream over the pudding layer. Top with a generous layer of mini marshmallows and optional chocolate shavings. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours, or overnight, before serving.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: —, Carbs: — g, Protein: — g, Fat: — g