My husband’s birthday was this week and the only gift he wanted (besides his dream of owning a Tesla, LOL!) is Chocolate Lush for dessert. So in the spirit of the 4th of July, I declared independence from calories for the day (don’t tell my hips please!).

Chocolate Lush, yes!

Chocolate Lush

Crust layer:
1 1/3 Cup flour
1 1/3 sticks of butter
1  1/3 C. chopped nuts (I use slivered toasted almonds, chopped)
1/3 C. powdered sugar
Mix together, and press into 9×13″ pan.
Bake at 375 until golden brown for about 15 minutes, let cool.

Cream Cheese Layer:
12 oz. cream cheese (softened)
8 oz. Cool Whip
1 1/4 Cup powdered sugar
Whip the cream cheese until soft.  Mix in the powdered sugar until blended. Fold in the Cool Whip until mixture is smooth and well blended.  Spread over the cooled crust.

 For Chocolate Pudding Layer:
3 small packages of chocolate instant pudding
4 1/2 Cups of cold milk.
*You can use any flavor of pudding you prefer, but seriously, the chocolate is phenomenal!

Top Layer:
Spread 8 oz  Cool Whip over the top of the pudding layer.
* You can whip your own heavy cream, and sweeten it with confectioners sugar & vanilla.

Refrigerate overnight. I also like to sprinkle mini-chocolate chips, chopped nuts, shaved chocolate and/or chocolate syrup over the top, because there is no way you are counting calories with this dessert. It is definitely and completely over the top, yummy!

Layers of lovely chocolate lush!