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Chocolate Peppermint Lasagna

This No-Bake Chocolate Peppermint Lasagna is a rich, chocolaty dessert with layers of peppermint cream cheese filling and topped with cool whip.

overhead shot of a slice of chocolate lasagna with more slices in the background

Easy Christmas Dessert

The inspiration for this dessert lasagna came from two of my favorite recipes: Apple Pie Lasagna and Pumpkin Pie Lasagna. Both are perfect fall treats, so naturally I needed to make one for the Christmas holiday!

This no-bake chocolate peppermint lasagna is made up of layers of chocolate graham cracker, dark chocolate pudding, peppermint cream cheese filling, and a Cool Whip topping! Not only is it delicious, but it can be thrown together in about 15 minutes and kept in the fridge until ready to serve. This gives the graham crackers time to soften up so they become almost cake-like in texture which complements the pudding and cream cheese layers so well.

Another bonus? This Christmas dessert is no-bake so it won’t take up oven space when you have other holiday cooking happening in the kitchen! It’s sure to be a hit at all of your holiday parties!

white tray holding a slice of no-bake chocolate peppermint lasagna with a jug of milk in the background

Ingredients Needed

  • Instant Pudding Mix and Milk – makes up the pudding layer for the chocolate lasagna. I love Hershey’s Dark Chocolate pudding.
  • Cream Cheese – bring the cream cheese to room temperature first so it’s easier to incorporate with the other ingredients.
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Heavy Whipping Cream
  • Cool Whip – or homemade whipped cream if preferred.
  • Peppermint Extract – a little goes a long way, so start with less and add more to taste!
  • Andes Peppermint Chips
  • Chocolate Graham Crackers
  • Cool Whip and Hot Fudge Sauce – for the topping!

How to Make a Dessert Lasagna

This no-bake Christmas dessert is the perfect make-ahead recipe. Throw it together in no time, then go on with your other holiday responsibilities while it chills in the fridge!

Make the Filling

Prepare the pudding layer by combining pudding mix and milk then refrigerate it until it’s firm.

Make the cream cheese filling: In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until it’s fluffy and free of lumps. Add the powdered sugar, heavy cream and peppermint extrect and mix it up until it’s well combined. Fold in Cool Whip and peppermint chips until everything is well mixed.

Assemble

  • Line a 9×13″ baking dish with a layer of graham crackers.
  • Spread half the cream cheese mixture over top followed by half the pudding mixture.
  • Add another layer of graham crackers
  • Top with cream cheese mixture, then finish it off with the remaining pudding mixture.
  • Finish it off another container of Cool Whip. Garnish with peppermint chips, and hot fudge sauce.
  • Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.
side view of a slice of chocolate peppermint lasagna on a white tray

Don’t Forget These Tips

  • Go easy on the peppermint. When it comes to peppermint extract, a little bit goes a long way. I recommend starting with less and adding more to taste.
  • Use larger pieces of graham cracker. The larger pieces give the lasagna more structure. You will need some smaller pieces to fill in any gaps, but the bigger the better. If you need to cut them, use a serrated knife.
  • Rotate the crackers. In the second layer, turn the graham crackers so they’re not all facing the exact same way. This also helps add structure to the lasagna.
  • If you can’t find chocolate graham crackers, try using Oreos instead! These will have less structure, so you might have a harder time slicing.
  • Play around with toppings. You can’t go wrong with Cool Whip and hot fudge sauce, but you can definitely get creative. Try crushed Oreos, chocolate shavings, marshmallows, caramel, mini M&Ms, you name it. This would also be great topped with my chocolate whipped cream.
a slice of chocolate peppermint lasagna on a white serving platter

Can This Be Made Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! This actually gets better as it sits, so it makes the perfect make-ahead dessert. Simply assemble as directed but skip the toppings. Instead, cover and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to serve, add the garnish and dig in!

How to Store It

A finished dessert lasagna will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I don’t recommend freezing it because it will become mushy and watery once thawed.

side view of Christmas dessert lasagna on a white platter
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closeup image of chocolate lasagna

Chocolate Peppermint Lasagna

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Julianne Dell
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Chill Time: 2 hours
  • Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: 15 servings
  • Category: Cake
  • Method: Refrigerator
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This No-Bake Chocolate Peppermint Lasagna is a rich, chocolaty dessert with layers of peppermint cream cheese filling and topped with cool whip.


Ingredients

For the Filling

  • 1 Box (3.4oz) Hershey’s Dark chocolate instant pudding mix
  • 2 cups cold milk
  • 8 ounces (226g) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup heavy Whipping cream
  • 8 ounces (226g) Cool Whip, thawed
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 1/2 cup Andes Peppermint Chips
  • 1 Box (14oz) Chocolate Graham Crackers

For the topping

  • 8 ounces (226g) Cool Whip, thawed
  • Hot fudge sauce for drizzling
  • Additional Andes Peppermint Chips for garnish 

Instructions

Prepare the filling

  1. Prepare the pudding by mixing the pudding mix with milk and whisking until well combined. Refrigerate for 10 minutes until firm.
  2. Prepare the cream cheese layer. Beat the cream cheese on medium-high speed until fluffy and free of lumps. Add the powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream and peppermint extract and continue to beat on medium speed until well combined.
  3. Fold in one container of Cool Whip and peppermint chips and beat until all ingredients are well combined.

To Assemble

  1. To prepare the lasagna, line a 9×13 inch pan and with a layer of chocolate graham crackers. Place as many whole sheets of crackers as you can, and fill in the gaps by cutting the crackers as needed.
  2. Next, spread half of the cream cheese mixer over the graham crackers followed by half of the pudding mixture on top. Spread evenly.
  3. Add another layer of chocolate graham crackers in the middle, place them in the opposite direction as the first layer. Top with remaining cream cheese mixture followed by remaining pudding mixture.
  4. To finish it off, top with another container of Cool Whip, Andes Peppermint Chips and drizzle with warm hot fudge sauce. Chill for at least 2 hours, and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.


Notes

  • This is better the longer it sits, so feel free to prepare this up to 2 days in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 
  • Cool Whip can be substituted with homemade whipped cream

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 178
  • Sugar: 30.9g
  • Sodium: 86.4g
  • Fat: 13.6g
  • Carbohydrates: 33g
  • Fiber: 0.7g
  • Protein: 3.9g
  • Cholesterol: 22.5mg

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48 thoughts on “Chocolate Peppermint Lasagna”

  1. Lasagna has been a long-standing tradition for our annual family Christmas dinner. The tradition will continue, not main course, but dessert! I have no doubt there will be no tears shed when the crowd learns we are exchanging pasta for pudding! Thanks for sharing!

    1. Julianne - Beyond Frosting
      Beyond Frosting

      This is sure to impress. I made it with Oreos a few days ago and doubled the recipe to feed a crowd!

  2. I made this for the Christmas party at work today. It was a HUGE hit! Thanks so much for the recipe!

  3. This is GORGEOUS!!!! WOW. So pretty and looks delicious! Okay, snowboarding. Tried it for my first time and totally hated it! Chipped my tooth with the board, pretty sure I broke my tailbone… should I give it one more try? I’ve heard the first time is the worst but it gets easier?? Colorado sounds amazing! And so does this lasagna! Pinning to my desserts board and cannot wait to try!

  4. Avatar photo
    Julie @ This Gal Cooks

    Wowza! This looks amazing, Julianne! Thanks so much for sharing at Marvelous Mondays. Pinned and sharing on social media! Have a great week!

  5. This was amazing. So many happy people at work today enjoyed this. I substituted Andes Creme De Menthe Thins. Next time I would use 2 packages and reserve about 1/2 cup to sprinkle on the top. I crushed these with my mini food processor. Also, I might replace the 2nd cool whip with an aerosol whipped cream (like Redi-Whip) to make a more decorative top layer. By accident, I used a cooked chocolate pudding box- and that worked! Just had to microwave it for 6 minutes. Simply easy ….simply amazing! Thanks, Jules!

  6. So clever, love the name! I think I might make this in individual parfaits for Christmas, thanks so much!

  7. Hi! I made the pumpkin pie lasagna so when I saw this, I was super excited! I would love to try it in the springform pan because I love how it looks. Do you think any adjustments need to be made? Comparing it the the pumpkin recipe, it doesn’t seem like it. Thanks!!

  8. Avatar photo
    Jessica Knott {Swankyrecipes}

    This looks absolutely amazing! I’m adding this to my holiday baking list this weekend. Can’t wait to try this!

  9. Your dessert lasagna recipes are always amazing, Julianne! They are no-bake, look fantastic, and taste wonderful! Please keep inventing. 🙂 This chocolate peppermint lasagna will be at several holiday celebrations!

  10. Avatar photo
    Renee@Two in the Kitchen

    I love all your lasagna desserts! And with chocolate and peppermint??? It really doesn’t get better!!

  11. Avatar photo
    Gloria // Simply Gloria

    I soooo wish Christmas didn’t come so fast! I love the days building up to it…don’t you? All the holiday stuff to do…
    When I saw this recently, I seriously could not stop eyeballing it. (Think I already told you that!) But, I’m being honest! It’s not only gorgeous…but it’s calling my name!

  12. Avatar photo
    Beth @ bethcakes

    Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! And that crepe sounds like it was amazing too! Anyway, I love all the layers of this lasagna, and the soft pink color the peppermint chips give it. So pretty!

  13. Avatar photo
    Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen

    Totally worth indulging! I love this chocolate lasagna! The peppermint makes it so festive 🙂

  14. Avatar photo
    Trish - Mom On Timeout

    *Mouth dropping to the floor* You are seriously the dessert lasagna queen!! Totally, totally incredible. Pinned 🙂

    1. Julianne - Beyond Frosting
      Beyond Frosting

      Thank you Trish! I can’t take credit for the original idea of dessert lasagna but I love coming up with my own variations of it!

  15. Avatar photo
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    I am in love with all your lasagnas!! This is gorgeous, and my favorite flavor!

  16. Avatar photo
    sally @ sallys baking addiction

    Oh my gosh! This chocolate lasagna looks downright indulgent and incredible. I love Andes Peppermint chips!

    Kevin used to live in CO and snowboarded everyday with his buds. I would love to visit someday!

    1. Julianne - Beyond Frosting
      Beyond Frosting

      Hi Sally! Thank you! I was seriously hunting the shelfs for the Andes Peppermint Chips before Halloween hahah. Colorado is so amazing, we go for Thanksgiving every year. I hope to move there some day. GORGEOUS! You must go!

  17. Avatar photo
    Rebecca @ Dorm Room Baker

    Pumpkin pie crepes!? I must say I’m quite jealous. When you get a chance to recreate it, I’ll definitely try it out! I love how easy this lasagna is. And like you said, it’s perfect for a party (or a horde of hungry college students studying for finals haha)!

    1. Julianne - Beyond Frosting
      Beyond Frosting

      oh my lord, yes! They were amazing! You can TOTALLY make this in your dorm room- no baking required. BUT if might not fit in your mini fridge hahahah!