Not sure how this yummy treat received its name, but I do know, the name is worthy of the dessert! I have made Sex in a Pan off and on now for the past twenty or more years. This is a bit of a throwback/retro type of dessert that you don’t see everyday.
If you decide to make this for your next dinner party, potluck or family get together, I can pretty well guarantee that all plates will come back licked clean. OK, maybe not licked, but they will be clean!
My daughter LOVES this dessert, I recently told her that instead of a traditional cake, she should be asking me to make Sex in a Pan for her upcoming birthday!
The recipe is basically an assembly of a bunch of layers. In fact, over the years I have heard that the recipe is actually called “Six” in a pan, referring to the six layers, which I guess makes sense. Six in a Pan or Sex in a Pan, no matter what you call it, this dessert is yummy!
Mix flour, sugar and nuts together. Add melted butter and stir to combine. (I actually cheated a little here. I melted the butter and then added the flour, sugar and nuts. Turned out fine, and one less bowl to clean!)
Press the flour, sugar, nuts and butter mixture into the bottom of a parchment lined 9″x 13″ pan.
Bake the crust until the edges are just beginning to get golden.
Mix up all the other components of the squares: cream cheese layer, vanilla pudding, chocolate pudding and whipped cream. Now all you need to do is assemble the layers.
I used an off-set spatula to spread the layers, but a regular spatula and the back of a spoon also gets the job done.
I like to add a little shaved chocolate to the top of the squares.
To easily shave the chocolate I heated a one ounce block in the microwave for just 3 or 4 seconds. I then used a vegetable peeler to get the little curls.
- CRUST:
- ¾ cup butter, melted
- 1½ cups flour
- 3 Tbsp. sugar
- ¾ cup finely chopped nuts, I usually use pecans, walnuts would also work. (The nuts may be omitted)
- FILLING:
- 375 g softened, brick style cream cheese (That is 1½ of the 8 ounce pkgs)
- ¾ cup icing sugar
- 1½ cups whipping cream, whipped until stiff
- 1 INSTANT chocolate pudding mix, 4 serving size and 1½ cups milk
- 1 INSTANT vanilla pudding mix, 4 serving size and 1½ cups milk
- Shaved chocolate, optional
- CRUST:
- Mix flour, sugar and nuts together. Add melted butter and stir to combine. Press mixture into the bottom of a parchment lined 9"x13".
- Bake in 325 degree F. oven for 15 minutes or until golden on the edges. Cool.
- FILLING:
- Using a mixer, whip together softened cream cheese and icing sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust.
- Spread ½ of the whipped cream over cream cheese layer.
- Mix chocolate pudding and the 1½ cups of milk, spread over whipped cream layer.
- Mix vanilla pudding and the 1½ cups of milk, spread over chocolate pudding layer.
- Top with remaining whipped cream.
- If desired, garnish with shaved chocolate
- Refrigerate overnight.
- Just before serving, remove from fridge.
- Using parchment as handles, lift squares from pan. Using a long sharp knife, cut into 12 equal pieces. (Squares can be cut while in pan, just makes them a bit more difficult to remove neatly)
I hope you enjoy this delicious dessert and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Ooh, thank you for the recipe! My mom made something similar when I was a kid, only she called it Six in a Pan. :) Which confused me since there were more than six pieces… :)
Julie D recently posted…Let’s shop: Urban Barn Barrhaven + A Giveaway!
You are very welcome Julie! Yes, I think somewhere along the line the “Six” was miscopied (intentionally or unintentionally) to “Sex”.
Monica Parlee recently posted…Reuben Sandwich
That’s looks so good! I think I’d make this for a big gathering.
Nadia, this makes 12 fairly large pieces, so yeah, you will want to have quite a few people around. I make sure there are lots of hungry folks or I’ll end up eating too much myself!
bawhaha, got your newsletter and :) thought you were kinky, look I checked it out!! Looks good
lol…yeah, I thought the name may have that effect on people Doris!! I’m still the same old me, I haven’t moved to the kinky side!
Thanks for the memory – many years ago I lived beside an elderly lady *(86 years old) who told me she had made a new dessert recipe and it was fantastic – I remember her whispering the name of the recipe to me – too cute!
Awhhhh….that is such a sweet story Julie! This is definitely a throwback recipe, something a little different from the norm. I’m sure “back in your neighbours day” it was a very risqué name…lol
It looks so delicious!! Next gathering we have, I may just give it a whirl.
It is very tasty Kathy and perfect for a crowd!
I have had sex in a pan many times and i love it! I know it as a slightly different recipe but still delicious
lol…I have had Sex in a Pan many times too Cheryl, and I also love it! I think there are probably a few variations out there. A reader mentioned that the recipe she tried had more chocolate…yummmm…more chocolate would be perfect!
Monica Parlee recently posted…Kellogg’s Mini-Wheats #TryitHot {Giveaway, CAN}
Sex in a Pan was a big thing in my house 20 years ago. We made it really thick/tall in a round spring form. No nuts for us but some Baileys in the pudding……So decadent!
YUM…Baileys in the pudding, now that is a fabulous idea! Also love the option of putting this in a springform pan, I am trying that next time I make this Guppy, thank you!
Monica Parlee recently posted…Kellogg’s Mini-Wheats #TryitHot {Giveaway, CAN}
oh, my mom used to make a similar dessert, and she called it Better than Sex with Robert Redford. She got the recipe from a coworker.
Lol…Cat, I love your mom’s name for these squares!
My Mom and her friends used to make this one all the time in the ’80s. I haven’t had it in a long time, but I remember that it was delicious!
Teresa recently posted…FFWD – Marengo As You Like It
It certainly is a retro/throwback type dessert isn’t it Teresa! Yummy, but full of calories…lol
What is icing sugar?
Hi Sasha,
Icing sugar is what we call a finely ground sugar that is made by milling normal granulated sugar into a powdered state. You may know it as powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar.
Hope that helps,
Monica
Wow, this recipe looks Delicious Monica (which is also my name) I can’t wait to make this with my best friend.
There aren’t too many Monica’s around, we have to stick together! I hope you and your best friend enjoy this fun dessert Monica, it is so, so good!
Holy moly! This looks like an awesome dessert!
It is a very decadent and yummy treat Karrie!
This looks really good!
Stefani Tolson recently posted…Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Thanks Stefani, it is definitely a tasty treat!
Hi. I confused how do you make the pudding? Is it already cooked or just mix it with the milk before it pour into the layers? Thanks.
Hi Aysha, this type of instant pudding doesn’t need to be cooked. Be sure when you buy the pudding that says “instant”. Then just follow step numbers 8 & 9, NOT the directions on the pudding package.
Hope this helps!
Monica
Whoa! It really instant! I think that kind instant pudding not available here. But maybe I can use “cooked pudding” as well. Thanks for the sharing, Monica. Have a wonderful day ^^.
Want to make this for the upcoming weekend, but is FLOUR plain or SR? Assuming SR, since you don’t mention baking soda or powder. Thanks; looks delicious!
Hi Patti, it is just regular all purpose flour. No baking soda or powder needed. Hope you love this recipe as much as we do!
I have made this & substituted the chocolate pudding for Butterscotch or Pumpkin pudding(awesome for Thanksgiving sprinkled with nutmeg o the top)
That sounds delicious Glenda, will definitely be giving that variation a try!
We gotta give this one a try! Sounds really good(minus the nuts) and perhaps we will eat it in bed!
I have had this dessert a couple of times, & loved it, but have never made it. We are having a siblings week-end soon & thought it would be a fun & delicious one to serve. I found the comment of putting Baileys in it very intriguing . What I was wondering is, would I substitute some of the milk with the baileys, or is there something else you do?
Hi Margo,
I would definitely substitute an equal amount of milk for the Bailey’s. Otherwise, the pudding may not set properly. Have fun at your siblings weekend and let me know how it turns out.
Monica