Great recipe. Easier to make a chocolate ganache for the topping. Allow cake to chill for an hour in the fridge. Bring one cup heavy cream heated to a simmer. Pour heated cream over one cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Pour chocolate ganache over the top.

This cake is a winner. I made a few substitutions - I don't care for Cool Whip so I whipped up 1/2 pint of heavy cream 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/8 cup powdered sugar and folded it into French vanilla pudding for the filling. For the frosting I used 6 tbsp. cocoa, 2 tbsp. oil for pre-melted choc. Icing was definitely worth making it from scratch. Raves all around! Would make it again and again. Easy and delicious!

I used a 16 oz container of cool whip. I like the way it tasted a lot more.

I have been making this for 20 years. It is the most requested dessert I have in my repertoire. I use regular vanilla pudding (not the French) and it tastes wonderful. The Nestle's choco-bake can be difficult to find; I usually get it at Walmart Superstores. It is definitely worth the effort of making the frosting... nothing compares! Also, be sure to let it sit overnight before indulging. It makes the frosting more like the texture of eclair frosting. Much better that way!

Is there a substitute for the Nestle product. I can't find it at our WalMart. Is that like a package of chocolate chips or a bar?

This is fantastic! Other recipes call for melting a can of frosting for topping but that is way too sweet. This tastes like the bakery! The frosting is worth the extra effort!