• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food Lovin Family
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Tips
  • Appetizers
  • Breakfast
  • Drinks
  • Dinner
  • Lunch
  • Sweets
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Tips
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About Me
    • Recipes
    • Cooking Tips
  • ×

    Home » Sweets

    Robert Redford Dessert

    Published: Jun 16, 2015 · Modified: Dec 16, 2021 by heather · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe

    The Next Best Thing To Robert Redford dessert is a creamy, layered dessert made up of a pecan crust, chocolate and cream layers. A nostalgic dessert that is great for parties, holidays, and more.

    Plate with pudding dessert and cherries.

    This Robert Redford recipe takes me back to my childhood because it’s one my mom would make for family gatherings and potlucks. This dessert became popular in the 70’s and goes by several names like Better than Robert Redford Dessert, Chocolate Delight, and Chocolate Lush. 

    This cool, creamy, pudding dessert has a pecan crust, cream cheese layer, pudding layer, and cool whip layer. It’s the perfect make-ahead recipe if you need something delicious to serve your guests. I guarantee everyone will be asking for the recipe.

    Alright, now go watch Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and make some Robert Redford Dessert!

    Ingredients needed

    Crust: chopped pecans, all-purpose flour, butter

    Cream cheese layer: Softened cream cheese, sugar, Cool Whip, instant chocolate pudding mix, instant vanilla pudding mix, milk

    Topping: Cool Whip

    Bowl of melted butter, cool whip, flour, cherries, pecans, and pudding mix.

    How to make Robert Redford Dessert

    Step one: Make the crust by mixing chopped pecans, melted butter, and flour together. Place the mixture in a 9 x 13 baking dish and form to make a crust by pressing it down into the dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes and then let the crust completely cool.

    Chopped pecans formed into crust.

    Step two: To make the cream cheese layer, mix together softened cream cheese, sugar, and Cool Whip. Spread it over the top of the crust.

    Bowl of cream cheese and sugar.

    Step three: Now it’s time to make the second layer, the chocolate pudding layer. Mix together chocolate pudding mix, vanilla pudding mix and cold milk until creamy. Spread that over the cream layer.

    Chocolate pudding in a bowl and then spread in pan.

    Step four: Finish by topping with more Cool Whip and garnish like cherries, chopped pecans, chocolate shavings, or chocolate curls. Let set up in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.

    Baking dish with layered pudding dessert.

    Recipe tips and substitutions

    • The pudding layer is thick and almost fudgy. 
    • I like to save adding the garnishes until ready to serve. 
    • Have a nut allergy in the house? You can substitute the pecan crust for a graham cracker crust.
    • You can easily substitute the chocolate and vanilla pudding with a different flavor like butterscotch or lemon.

    How to store leftovers

    You will want to store any leftovers in an airtight container or you can cover the dish with plastic wrap. Make sure to keep it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. 

    This dessert does not freeze well. The creamy layers loose the consistency once frozen and thawed. 

    More easy dessert recipes

    • Congo Squares
    • Butterscotch Brownies
    • Ambrosia with Cool Whip
    • Potato Candy

    Make this retro dessert? Let me know in the comments below.

    Piece of layered pudding dessert on plate.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Robert Redford Dessert

    Robert Redford Dessert
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time12 mins
    Total Time32 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: robert redford dessert, chocolate layered dessert
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 520kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • Crust
    • 1 cup chopped pecans
    • 1 cup flour
    • 1/2 cup melted butter
    • 8 oz block cream cheese
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 8 oz cool whip
    • 1 large box instant chocolate pudding or lemon, or butterscotch
    • 1 large box instant vanilla pudding
    • 3 cups milk
    • 8 oz cool whip
    • marchino cherries chopped nuts for garnish

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • For the crust, combine pecans, flour, and butter in a bowl. Spread in a greased 9×13 baking dish.
    • Bake for 12 minutes and then let cool completely.
    • For the first layer, mix together cream cheese, sugar, and 8 oz of cool whip. Spread over crust.
    • For second layer, mix together chocolate and vanilla pudding and milk. Spread over cream cheese mixture.
    • Spread remaining 8 oz of cool whip over pudding layer. Garnish with cherries and chopped nuts.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 383mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 625IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 279mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Follow me @foodlovinfamily or tag #foodlovinfamily!

    More Sweets Recipes

    • 31 Best Blueberry Desserts
    • 27 Best Brownie Mix Recipes
    • Brownie Sundae
    • 28 Best Movie Snacks
    • Facebook

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hello and thank you for visiting Food Lovin’ Family! With 3 kids I know it can be hard getting food on the table. Here you will find easy and delicious recipes that the whole family will enjoy.

    More about me →

    Favorite Recipes

    • 25 Best Fondue Recipes
    • 21 Best Loaded Fries Recipes
    • Chili Cheese Dip
    • How Long To Bake Chicken Wings
    • 31 Delicious Crescent Roll Recipes
    • 35 Best Party Dip Recipes

    Sweets

    31 Best Blueberry Desserts

    Slice of blueberry pie, blueberry ice cream, and piece of blueberry buckle.

    27 Best Brownie Mix Recipes

    Chocolate cookies, brownie sundae, and brownies.

    Brownie Sundae

    28 Best Movie Snacks

    Candy, popcorn, chicken nuggets, and soft pretzel.

    More Love →

    Drinks

    25 Delicious Breakfast Drinks

    Smoothie, hot chocolate, frappuccino, and mimosa.

    25 Delicious Apple Cider Cocktails

    Glass filled with ice and apple juice.

    25 Spooky Halloween Cocktails

    Orange martini, bloody mary, and green martini.

    30 Festive Christmas Cocktails

    Copper much with cranberries, blue drink, green drink, and a milky drink.

    More Love →

    Lunch

    30 Best Fall Soup Recipes

    Four bowls of soup.

    30 Tortilla Wrap Recipes

    Chicken tortilla wrap, hap and cheese wrap, and chicken wrap.

    25 Bagel Sandwich Recipes

    Four different bagel sandwiches

    50 Cold Lunch Ideas

    Chicken wrap, chicken salad, tortilla roll up, and stacked sandwich.

    More Love →

    Breakfast

    Strawberry Muffins

    25 Delicious Breakfast Drinks

    Smoothie, hot chocolate, frappuccino, and mimosa.

    McDonald’s Breakfast Sauce Recipe

    Bowl of yellow sauce and a spoon.

    27 Best Bisquick Recipes

    Breakfast casserole, chicken tenders, pizza, and piece of quiche on plate.

    More Love →

    Appetizers

    25 Best Fondue Recipes

    Cheese fondue with bread, chocolate strawberry fondue, steak fondue.

    28 Best Movie Snacks

    Candy, popcorn, chicken nuggets, and soft pretzel.

    21 Best Loaded Fries Recipes

    Loaded cheese fries.

    Chili Cheese Dip

    Hand holding chip with cheese dip.

    More Love →

    Dinner

    Meatloaf Sandwich

    Meatloaf sandwich and bowl of chips.

    How To Cook Sizzle Steak

    Cooked steak on a plate with green beans.

    31 Breakfast For Dinner Ideas

    Breakfast casserole, steak bagel sandwich, egg and sausage bowl.

    Meatloaf With Brown Gravy

    Meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatoes on a plate.

    More Love →

    Footer

    Collage of logos.

    Copyright © 2022 foodlovinfamily.com. All rights reserved. PRIVACY POLICY.