Robert Redford Dessert {My Way}

Robert Redford Dessert {My Way} puts finely chopped or blended chopped pecans or walnuts, heavy whipping cream + 1/4 cup powdered sugar and homemade chocolate pudding at the center of a chocolate recipe and finishes in about 35 minutes, enough for 12 servings.

• Yield 12 servings
• Ready in 35 minutes
• Prep 25 minutes
• Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients

Crust

• ½ cup ( 113 g ) butter , cut into 8 pieces
• 1 cup ( 142 g ) flour
• 1 cup finely chopped or blended chopped pecans or walnuts

Cream Cheese Layer

• 1 ½ cups ( 171 g ) powdered sugar
• 12 ounces ( 340 g ) cream cheese , softened to room temperature
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream + 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Pudding Layer

• 4 cups homemade chocolate pudding

Extra

• Reserved whipped cream and chocolate curls for garnish

Instructions

1. For the crust, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the flour in a medium bowl and cut in the butter with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chopped nuts. Press the crust into a 9X13-inch aluminum or glass pan and bake for 8-10 minutes until set. Remove the pan to a wire rack and let it cool completely before proceeding.
2. For the cream cheese layer, in a medium bowl, combine the heavy whipping cream and 1/4 cup powdered sugar and whip at high speed until stiff peaks form. In another large bowl, whip together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Fold in about 3/4 of the sweetened whipped cream and mix until blended, taking care to mix gently so as not to deflate the whipped cream. Set aside both the cream cheese mixture and the remaining sweetened whipped cream.
3. To assemble, spread the whipped cream cheese mixture over the cooled crust. Top the cream cheese layer with the chocolate pudding, spreading all the way to the edges of the pan. Top with the remaining sweetened whipped cream. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut into slices and top with chocolate curls or shaved chocolate, if desired.

Let the center settle before you cut it, or the slices will slump.