Satisfy Your Inner Pumpkin-aholic with this 4-Layer Pumpkin Delight Dessert!
You’ll be in pumpkin spice heaven with this delicious and creamy Pumpkin Delight treat, perfect for any fall gathering!
Love creative pumpkin desserts? 🎃
If you’re looking for a unique alternative to traditional pumpkin pie this holiday season, try making this drool-worthy light and fluffy four-layer pumpkin delight dessert! It’s a perfect way to kick off pumpkin season and celebrate fall with friends and family.
Hello GOURD-geous!
This pumpkin delight features a buttery pecan crust, followed by a creamy pumpkin pudding layer, a sweet cream cheese filling, and a whipped topping finale. It’s a DELICIOUS no-bake recipe—perfect to bring along to your next fall potluck!
You’ll love how easy this is to pull off, and kids can even help stir and compile everything as the toughest part will be waiting for it to set up overnight in the fridge! Yep, this is a make-ahead dessert that could be really convenient for Thanksgiving!
Tips for making 4 layer pumpkin delight:
- Everyone makes their pumpkin delight slightly different so some ingredients can definitely be altered to taste. For instance, if real whipped cream is desired instead of whipped topping, feel free to make that swap!
- If nuts aren’t your thing, switch out the pecans for more graham cracker crumbs or crushed gingersnap cookies as another idea! 😋
- You can make this in a deep 9×9 square cake pan for taller beautiful layers as I did here, or a 9×13 casserole dish can work in a pinch as the crust does puff up a bit. I have made it in both sized pans. Note though that an 8×8 pan will result in super tall pieces.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge for up to a few days… if there are any!
I do have to share one more helpful tip and funny blooper about this dessert…
Years ago, I accidentally grabbed the ground cumin instead of cinnamon. Oh man, I smelled my mistake immediately and tried to scoop all of it out but it still tasted like a pumpkin taco. LOL!
I am always so careful now when looking for cinnamon in the spice cabinet. 😂
4-Layer Pumpkin Delight Dessert
yield: 8 SERVINGS
prep time: 30 MINUTES
total time: 30 MINUTES
You'll be in pumpkin spice heaven with this creamy layered dessert, perfect for any fall gathering!
Ingredients
1st layer (crust):
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (8 whole crackers, crushed)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2nd layer:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 oz. whipped topping
3rd layer:
- 2 cups milk
- 2- 3.4 oz. boxes instant vanilla pudding
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (from the can)
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Top Layer:
- 4 oz. whipped topping
- additional chopped pecans for garnish (optional)
- caramel sauce drizzle on top
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a baking dish with nonstick spray.
2
Mix the 1st layer crust ingredients together. Press the mixture into the 9×9 dish. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
3
Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar together, then fold in about 4 oz. of the whipped topping. Spread it on top of the crust. Place in the fridge while mixing up the next layer.
4
Mix together the 3rd layer of the pumpkin pudding ingredients. Spread it over the top of the cream cheese layer.
5
Spread remaining whipped topping over top and place in the fridge to chill for about 3 hours or overnight until set.
6
Garnish the top with additional chopped pecans and a drizzle or caramel sauce before serving. Enjoy!
Additional Notes
Recipe adapted from Food.com.
Pumpkin delight is a little bit of fall in each delicious bite!
I could just dive into the pan with a spoon, and this is something my family really loves.
It will satisfy your pumpkin cravings for sure.
My teammate Chelsea followed this Pumpkin Delight recipe and here’s what she had to say:
“This layered pumpkin dessert is SO easy to make! My daughter loved helping me with each layer and although she doesn’t like pumpkin, it was super easy for her to eat the other layers around the pumpkin one. Plus, your house will smell amazing while you’re baking the crust and making the rest of the pie — it definitely got me in the mood for fall.
I put this pie to the taste test with my husband and grandparents who swear that pumpkin pie by itself is the ultimate pumpkin dessert…and they all loved this recipe! Also, I think it would be super easy to swap out the pumpkin and try different types of layers like chocolate or butterscotch!”
Do you love desserts as much as we do? There are more dessert recipes where that came from!
Is there anything that can be substituted for cinnamon? My DIL has an allergy to cinnamon.
Maybe allspice, cloves or nutmeg. Those are similar tasting to cinnamon and still are fall spices that are in pumpkin pie spice.
Agree with these recommendations, and would maybe add ginger to the list. I would make a mixture of the above spices BUT start with adding half the amount, as they are all a bit more pungent than cinnamon (esp cloves and nutmeg).
Lol! My mom has twice used paprika instead of cinnamon! Definitely not a good substitution!!!
Hmmmmmmmm………..I’m wondering if there’s any chance this would be good modified a little to be a completely no bake recipe, and layered in a trifle bowl? Similarly, we make a blueberry delight version with vanilla wafers and dream whip that is to die for! My family calls it blueberry crack 😂
Oh yummy! Ya I say go for it 💕🙌
Omg I’d love that recipe if you wouldn’t mind sharing!! It would be greatly appreciated in this home!! 😊
I just made this and it is so good! My whole family loved it. The only thing I changed was substituting crushed pretzels for graham crackers. Because I completely forgot to buy the graham crackers, but the saltiness of the pretzels also seemed to work really well.
Oh that is a great idea! Thanks so much for coming back to share 🙌💕
This was a huge hit!! I made several desserts over the holidays and this one was gone in no time. Lots of requests for the recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Ohhh yay! That is great news! Thanks Hope for sharing 🙌💕
This looks delicious! It is so similar to a pistachio pudding dessert that my grandma used to make. Thanks for sharing!
Oh yum Beth! Yes, I love the old-fashioned dessert ideas like this 😍