Mocha Lush

This Mocha Lush recipe is a light, airy and cool dessert that serves up delicious, chocolatey, mocha flavor. This layered dessert recipe has a no-bake option and is creamy and sweet. Have you seen my Coconut Cream Lush and Lemon Lush recipes? They are also great options for Summer dessert recipes and just like this Mocha Lush, they feed a crowd with 12 big slices per recipe.

Mocha Lush

This Mocha Lush dessert is a one-pan dessert recipe and I give a no-bake option for the bottom crust for those hot, Summer days when you do not want to turn on the oven. It looks similar to our chocolate lasagna, but I assure you it tastes different!

Ingredients for Mocha Lush

Bottom Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust Layer (for no-bake crust option):

• 2 (5 ounce) packages of chocolate graham crackers, finely ground using a food processor or manually crushing
• 5-8 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted and cooled *I give a range for the amount because I have found that depending on the humidity, you may need more or less butter

Bottom Pecan Crust Layer (for baked crust option):

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1/2 cup finely chopped or food processor processed pecans (great for the mini food processor)
• 1/4 cup granulated white sugar

Cream Cheese Layer

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

Mocha Pudding Layer:

• 2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant chocolate pudding mix
• 4 cups milk (you can also do 3 1/2, if you want it slightly thicker)
• 2 packets of Starbucks Via (Italian Roast or another dark roast flavor) or 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder

Whipped Topping & Chocolate Morsels Layer

• 1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping (I used Cool Whip), you can substitute the same amount whipped cream
• 1/4 cup (or more) mini semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• Optional: Sprinkle finely chopped pecans on top (this would go if you chose the bottom pecan crust option

Kitchen Tools for Mocha Lush

Here is a helpful list of kitchen tools for making this Mocha Lush.

• 9-inch x 13-inch baking pan
• Food processor
• large mixing bowls
• Measuring cups
• Wet measure
• baking spatula
• whisk
• offset spatula
• Spatula for serving

I use mini semi-sweet chocolate morsels because they are easier to bite on the Mocha Lush than the larger size.

This Mocha Lush recipe is great for any Spring/Summer holiday like Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Father’s Day or Labor Day – likewise any BBQ or potluck gathering.

The instant coffee powder adds an extra flavor boost to the chocolate. Enjoy a slice of this Mocha Lush with a tall glass of milk or a mug of coffee.

Who can resist a slice of this luscious Mocha Lush?

I know you will love this Mocha Lush recipe!

Check out more one-pan desserts for your next BBQ or gathering below!

• Pineapple Dream Dessert
• Boston Cream Poke Cake
• No Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake
• Strawberry Icebox Cake
• Pistachio Lush
• Cherry Lush

Mocha Lush

This Mocha Lush recipe is a light, airy and cool dessert that serves up delicious, chocolate-y, mocha flavor. This layered dessert recipe has a no bake option and is creamy and sweet.

5 from 6 votes

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Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12 slices

1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Calories: 739

Author: Amanda Davis

Ingredients

Bottom Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust Layer (for no bake crust option):

• ▢ 10 ounces chocolate graham crackers, finely ground using a food processor or manually crushing 2 5-ounce packages
• ▢ 5-8 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled *I give a range for the amount because I have found that depending on the humidity, you may need more or less butter

Bottom Pecan Crust Layer (for baked crust option):

• ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
• ▢ ½ cup finely chopped or food processor processed pecans
• ▢ ¼ cup granulated white sugar

Cream Cheese Layer:

• ▢ 16 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
• ▢ 1 cup granulated white sugar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

Mocha Pudding Layer:

• ▢ 6.8 ounces instant chocolate pudding 2 3.4-ounce packages
• ▢ 4 cups milk you can also do 3 1/2, if you want it slightly thicker
• ▢ 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder or 2 packets of Starbucks Via

Whipped Topping & Chocolate Morsels Layer:

• ▢ 8 ounces Cool Whip
• ▢ ¼ cup mini semi sweet chocolate morsels
• ▢ Optional: Sprinkle finely chopped pecans on top (this would go if you chose the bottom pecan crust option

Before You Begin

I suggest using an offset spatula for spreading the layers and make sure it's clean before starting a new layer. After refrigerating, for serving to show more defined layers, you can just take a butter knife and "wipe" along the sides and the layers will show nicely. You can freeze the Mocha Lush overnight (at least 6 hours) to get more defined slices. Make sure you use a sharp knife to cut down into the bottom crust first before removing with the spatula. It will defrost fairly quickly depending on the room temperature.

Instructions

• Bottom Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust (for a no bake crust option): In a medium-large bowl, mix melted and cooled unsalted butter with finely ground, processed graham crackers. Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Cover and chill until the next layer is ready.
• Bottom Pecan Crust Layer (for traditional lush baked crust option): Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, melted and cooled butter, finely ground pecans and 1/4 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes (25 mins works best for me) until golden brown. Allow to cool completely before adding any layers.
• Cream Cheese Layer(2nd layer): Using a hand electric mixer, combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 1-2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (2 tablespoons works best for me). Mixture should be even and smooth. Spread evenly on top of the baked and cooled bottom pecan crust or no bake graham cracker crust.
• Mocha Pudding Layer: In a large mixing bowl, dissolve 2 packets of Starbucks Italian Roast (or 1 teaspoon other instant coffee) into milk. Whisk coffee-milk mixture and instant coconut cream pudding mix until set. It may take 4-5 minutes to thicken. Spread evenly on top of the cream cheese mixture.
• Whipped Topping & Mini Semi Sweet Chocolate Morsels Layer: Spread thawed whipped topping on top of the mocha pudding layer. Optionally, you can freeze the Mocha Lush overnight for more defined slices. Do not freeze if you substitute homemade whipped cream because it might not hold up like frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 739cal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 558mg | Potassium: 339mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 1315IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 191mg | Iron: 2.7mg

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This post originally appeared here on June 12, 2016.