My mother has always called this Better Than Robert Redford cake. No disrespect to Mr. Redford, but in 2008, I feel its time for a new name. I have often heard it referred to as Better Than S__ Cake, but I am not really keen on actually saying that. I mean, I need a name I can actually use around the children. This is where you come in.
Help me come up with a new word to fill in the blank for this cake.
Better than _________ Cake
So tell me, what is this cake better than?
I’ll choose a winner before I put up my next post and officially change the title of the cake! Have fun, get creative, or just say the first thing that comes to mind!
It pretty much goes without saying that I love this cake. I make it a point not to post any recipe that I don’t love (Which is why you will never see a tuna or shrimp recipe on my blog, at least not authored by me – sorry seafood lovers!).
My mother first made this when I was in middle school and she has always chosen the low fat, sugar free, or light versions of ingredients, as do I. I don’t necessarily do this for health purposes though, I just do it so I can eat more with no guilt! The buttery pecan crust is divine, add a layer of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and cool whip mixed together? I’m sooooooo in! Add some thick chocolate pudding on top? Oh yeah! Make that pudding sugar free? YEAH BABY!
( For those of you interested in notes from my Disney trip, you can view them here! )
First, we have to make our crust. You’ll need: flour, margarine or butter, and chopped pecans.
Melt margarine and pour into mixing bowl with flour and pecans. Mix until well blended.
It will look like this.
Press that into a 9×13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for twenty minutes. Cool completely.
I am using two 8×8 pans for mine because I am freezing one to bring out when my in laws come to visit in two weeks!
Now lets make the filling! You’ll need: cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, and cool whip. I used light but you can use whichever variety you like!
Place cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar in mixing bowl. Take a photograph and use the flash so it practically blinds everyone who will gaze upon it later.
Beat until well blended and creamy. Add one cup of whipped topping, mix again until well blended.
It will look like this!
If you don’t stick a spoon in there and have a lick at this point, you weren’t raised right!
Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust.
Now lets make the next layer! You’ll need two large boxes of instant chocolate pudding and five cups of milk. I used sugar free pudding and whole milk but you can use any variety of pudding and milk that you choose!
Pour milk into mixing bowl…
You know whats coming next, don’t ya?
Add both packets of pudding and mix well.
Until thickened.
Pour that over your cream cheese layer.
Spread it out. See those little lumps of unblended pudding in there? Do you see me being too concerned with those? heck no!
Drop dollops of remaining whipped topping over the top.
Spread it out nicely, careful not to get the pudding mixed up in it. Refrigerate for several hours before serving. If you are impatient like me, just stick it in the freezer for a bit!
Better Than __________ Cake
(Can’t wait for you to fill in the blank!)
Crust
1 C flour
1 stick margarine or butter, melted
1/2 C chopped pecans
Mix all together until well blended. Press into bottom of 9×13 inch dish. Bake at 350 for twenty minutes. Cool completely.
Filling
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 cup whipped topping (Buy a 12 ounce tub, reserve remainder for topping)
Beat cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl until fluffy. Fold in one cup of whipped topping. Spread over cooled crust.
Pudding layer
2 Large boxes instant chocolate pudding (sugar free or regular)
5 Cups mlk (whole, skim, or nonfat)
Beat together until thickened. Spread over cream cheese layer.
Top with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate for several hours before serving.
Thank you for reading Southern Plate!!!
Christy
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Have you noticed that every family seems to have a “Better than ______” Cake?
The cool thing is, most of them are entirely different recipes! What a wonderful pool to choose from!
What about “Better than Sin Cake”?
OOOOOOh Jordan, that IS a good one!
Better than Christmas Cake!
How about “Better than DISNEY Cake”!
BTW - tried your country casserole Friday and oh, my, it was wonderful. Glad I doubled it and have one in the freezer for later.
We called this cake “Chocolate Delight” because it’s just that, a DELIGHT
I think I would have to agree with Jordan — I like “Better than Sin Cake”.
I’m going to have to add “Better than Shoe Shopping Cake”, cause I love to go shoe shopping
I too was thinking along the lines of a better than shopping cake, but to truly capture the greatness (and give a worthy comparison), I think I’d go with better than Manolo Blahniks… or maybe stick with the original idea, and go with better than Jack Bower (but maybe that’s one that only makes sense to me. ;))
For the guys:
Better than “that new car smell” cake
Better than “You’re my Husband, Of course You’re Right” cake
Better than “Your a God, Honey” Cake
Better than “Honey, I made all your favorites” cake
——————————
For the girls:
Better than “Haven’t you Lost Weight?” cake
Better than “Mommy, I Love You” cake
Better than “Yes dear, I love Shopping with you” Cake
Better than “Of course I’ll watch The Notebook instead of The Super Bowl” Cake
Ok, thats all I got for now. In the meantime.. I have new blogs if anyone is bored.. It’s Karaoke.. be gentle…
Better than “Shopping” Cake!
Better than “eating out” Cake!
Lord, I love you guys! I am laughing myself silly at these great ideas!
Keep ‘em coming, this is fun!
I just fixed the post, by the way. Now the link is there to click on it and see the rest of the post! It wasn’t before in case anyone was thinking I had forgotten to post the tutorial and recipe…….
My poor, heat addled brain!
hehe!
christy
Om my that looks so good Christy. I am trying to come up with some names. All i can think of so far is
Better than Heaven Cake because it just looks Heavenly.
Better than Hitting the Lottery Cake
Better than almost anything cake.
Ok thought of another one. Better than mud cake or better than dirt cake since its chocolate.
Better than Alan Jackson
Better than Whistlin Dixie
Better than a Bubble Bath
Actually, that title’s too long, it just looks like an mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm to me
Better than Chocolate, Candy, Kids, Love, Crafts. I’ll think some more.
Swedie
Better than Elvis.
He will always be King to music lovers.
Swedie
Does it have to start with an S? Because if so, I’m with Jordan…..Better than Sin.
Otherwise, I like Better than pampering at a spa cake. But not really. That sounds lame.
Better than NO SCHOOL TODAY cake!
I’m not in school anymore but my husband teaches so I can still appreciate that!
Hey Angie! It doesn’t have to start with anything, just any old something that this cake is better than is fine!
I just called my mom and read some of these to her! Y’all had her cracking up!
This is fun!
Christy
Better than “A Walmart cashier opening up a new register” cake.
Better than “Finding out a dessert was lowfat AFTER you ate it” cake
Better than “Kids not getting underwear for Christmas” cake
Better than “an honest mechanic” cake.
I can’t think of a sexier man than Tom Selleck, so “Better Than Tom Selleck Cake”.
And this one has absolutely nothing to do with the first, but how about “Better Than A Sunset Cake.”
Love all the other suggestions too.
I know this one won’t win but it made me think of my grandmother. One of her favorite sayings (and she had several unusual ones) was “it’s better than snuff!”
So in my Tennessee Nanny’s memory - “Better than Snuff Cake”
How about “Better than Beating USC” cake? Of course, being a Domer AND living in Ohio, I don’t know what it actually feels like to beat USC - but I’ll bet eating this cake WOULD be even better.
Better than you remember cake.
“Better than a Day Off Cake”
Oh. Poor Robert Redford. to be thrown over for…. hmmmm, I have to think about this one. LOL
Better than CANDY Cake!
Better than a backrub cake!
I made the Raisin Bran Muffins and they were great! They will never last a MONTH! About a week is all they survived in my house! The first batch I added cinnamon and the second batch I added pecans. Great for quick breakfasts!
Better than a butterbean cake!
Gosh…I could go crazy with this.
Better than Vin Diesel Cake
Better than a Foot Massage Cake
Better than the laundry’s done Cake
Better than Perfection Cake
Better than Sunday Cake (my fav day of the week)
Better than I came home from work
and someone else cooked dinner Cake
Better than a little boy that actually hits the toilet Cake
Ok…that last 2 were kind of long
Y’all are killing me! LOL!
Teri, the pecans and cinnamon sound great!!!!!!! I need to try those. I had a little of my raisin bran batter left before our trip so the night before I baked it all up and we had muffins to snack on for twelve hours! I won’t tell you how many I personally ate….
These are all too good! I may have to do what any mature adult would do…..and make my Mama choose!
Christy
How about better than report card day cake?
Mmmmm, Better Than CLOONEY Cake.
Oh how I could eat the whole pan of this.
How about Better than the rest?
Now THIS is a recipe I know quite well! I got this from my step-mom a few years ago and every time I’ve made it for other people I can’t even describe enough how much it’s loved. For some reason I could never figure out she calls it Baskin Robbins pie which makes absolutely no sense! LOL She said the person she got it from called it that so she stuck with it.
For some reason there is always just enough of the cream cheese layer for me to have a little. But you didn’t hear that from me.. I always sprinkle chopped pecans over the top because it’s purdy.
better than Ice Cream cake?
Looks pretty yummy to me!
Better than Brad Pitt cake.
How about “Better than a dream cake”. It reminds me of a cloud when its done and they are dreamy!
It also rhymes with creamy!
Ha!
Joan
I grew up in NC, and my grandmother used to make this in two halves to please the entire family. One half with chocolate and one with butterscotch. I fell on the butterscotch side—I always had more sophisticated taste. It was great fun looking at your website. I grew up with ALL of these. I now live in NYC and have a farm in upstate NY, but you can take a boy out of the South, but never the South out of the boy
Better than “your house being robbed by a cross dresser who looks better in your clothes than you do” cake
Too much?…
Better than Coke Cake (coca cola, that is)
Swedie
All these suggestions are fun! I don’t envy your choice
I’ll throw these kid friendly ideas in to the ring:
Better than Box Cake
Better than Snow Day Cake
Better than Anything Cake
Better than Snuggling Cake
Better than Pie Cake
Love your blog! Just found my way here last week, and immediately subscribed - thanks for such a great resource!
Thanks Christy, I just posted on the simple family favorites carnival.
Still haven’t thought of a good name to replace the Robert Redford cake tho.
Hey Christy!
I am really enjoying your blog! I love all of your recipes! (Belle205 from Southern Living)
How ’bout…
Better Than Yo Momma’s Cake
Better Than Birthday Cake
Better Than Banana Split Cake
Better Than A Coke Float Cake
Better Than Butter Cake
This is FUN!!!
There ya go….Better Than Fun Cake
Better Than LOL Cake
” Better than Whoopie Cake”
Better than free money cake!
haha
Umm for truly a southern name for this cake…. Better than a Poke of Posies Cake… Gee was I confused when my uncle sent me to get a poke for the Poke Salad he was about to gather for my Mom but still not as eventful day as when they all had to get my picture on a bull LOL.
This cake is delicious, it is “better than bliss cake”.
Better than “The day the hot flashes stopped” cake
how about “Winning the Lottery” cake.
moo_75@yahoo.com
How about “better then getting fat cake”
“better then a new born puppy”
Better Than…
coffee cake
chocolate cake
sweet cake
sleep cake
the World
sugar cake
life cake
Better than cookies cake.
HOW ABOUT BETTER THAN SHOPPING OR BETTER THAN SHOES (MY PERSONAL WEAKNESS)
BETTER THAN DIAMONDS!
“Better than Sugar Cake”
Looks great can’t wait to try it!
Better than Bargains Cake-or, Better than Lovin’Cake-or Better than Brad Pitt Cake….
“Better then Brad Pitt being Single again cake”
How about “Better than Smooching” cake!!
That still starts with an s :).
I recently discovered your website while searching for freezable recipes (I’m going to make your country casserole tonight!) for after our baby comes. Some of your posts have me and my hubby rolling on the floor laughing- like when you dropped the camera in your bowl!!
Thanks for having such an entertaining blog!!
I always hated that name too. I mean, really how good can this cake be? Can’t be that good.
“Not Better Than Sex Cake, But Pretty Close” is my idea.
Better than “Your Grandmother’s” cake. You know grandmothers always seem prepare the best of everything…so if the cake is better than that it’s got to be good. BTW I got a lot of items at the store over the weekend for recipes in the cookbook. I’ll let you know how they turnout…we’re having the country casserole tonight. If I win this cookbook, it will go to my mom…her birthday is next month.
Laura-in Athens
Someone said “Better than Sugar” but in the south it would have to be “Better than Suga”!
Jody
the “better than any other cake” cake.
Better than sleeping in cake
I have had this before and it is sooo good! We actually add crushed toffee bits to the top. Yummy!
If you are looking for a kid friendly name… how about “Better than Santa Claus” cake?
Love the blog… my hubby loves Southern cooking and (being from Maine
I am learning to cook it!
Better than vacation cake
Better than the kids are gone for the weekend cake
Better than a first kiss cake
Better than a date with my husband cake
How about “Better than McDreamy Cake”!
Better than my sister -in- law cake.
My mom makes this every year with one big difference - she uses pistachio pudding instead of chocolate and it is a family FAVORITE - even the kids love it. So delish.
Mmm now I’m thinking this with lemon pudding would be yummy, too. So many options!
Better than YOUR BIRTHDAY cake!
Oh WOW I HAVE to try some of these ideas for variations! First of all, butterscotch sounds divine. THEN someone suggests pistachio!!! How did you know Pistachio pudding was my favorite???????/
Alright, now for the name before I start getting my next recipe post up…
I did it! I called Mama…….
“Mama, I need you to go to Southern Plate and read over all those name ideas for that cake.”
“Why? Which one did you pick?”
“I haven’t picked anything yet, you’re gonna pick it”
“I am? But they’re all good. Why don’t you choose?”
“Because they’re all good so I’m going to make you do it.”
~grins~
She chose….finally.
Congratulations to Bill Gent for naming out “Better Than ‘Have You Lost Weight?’ Cake”
I tweaked the working just a wee bit by changing “Haven’t” to “Have” mainly to just cut down on another syllable.
We really did like them all, though! Y’all are some FUNNY people! Thank you so much for giving your ideas! I may use them for future recipes, if I do, I’ll be sure and send you a cookbook!
Bill, email me your mailing address and I’ll have the head of my shipping department (A.K.A. Mama) get that out to you tomorrow! Christy
WOOHOO! Thanks Christy. That’s awesome. Had a rotten day today and the cable TV is out lol.
Emailing asap!
I appreciate it!
HI there. Great to see you back.:) How bout “Better than Hollywood Cake”. Only cause people tend to call the cake after actors or muscians.:) Hope you are having a great week.:)
Sharon:)
How about “Better than a day at the spa” cake or “better than winning the lottery cake” or “Better than words cake”
Christy,
I knew you were a Southern gal when I saw the chocolate gravy recipe last week. This “Better than…” recipe is in several of our local church cookbooks as ‘chocolate delight’ and ‘husband’s delight.’ It’s a favorite no matter WHAT it’s called! OH! Your mama’s chocolate cobbler? The first and the second ones didn’t last to get cold! It’s our new “stubbed-toe-make-it-feel-better” dessert.
Finally, a blog I can sink my teeth into. Thank you, heartily, from the Deep South of Mississippi.
How about, “Better than a Million Cake.”
My mom makes this cake too and she calls it ‘Chocolate Surprise’
How about ‘Better Than Johnny Depp Cake’ or ‘Better Than Your Mom’s Cake’
BETTER THAN SUNSHINE CAKE
JOANNE MATTHEWS
Better than store bought cake
BETTER THAN YOUR BEST
OR If you ask a 3 yr. old BETTER THAN BESTEST
BETTER THAN PAULA DEANS CAKE
I don’t know how I’ve missed this recipe. It’s called Chocolate Surprise in our family which I like but I love it made with lemon pudding instead of the chocolate. I cannot make it more than once a year well because I will eat the whole thing by myself. And that isn’t good at all.
How about…. “Better then your Mama’s cake”
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
“Better than paradise cake”
OR
All of our church recipes call it “Better than Heaven cake”
Love this it is the best so we call it the V.I.P Pie insted of cake for Very Impressive Pie just so the kids don’t ask all kinds of questions and it fits just perfect! Let me know what ya think about The V.I.P Pie
BETTER THAN A FIELD FULL OF CHOCOLATE CAKE
I have a few names I have heard this cake made. Paula Dean calls it millionar pie. Momma called it mississippi mud pie. I have always called it four layer delight. But it is my fav to make. I also lemon for the pudding too and it is great..
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OH MY GOSH!!! I made this wayyyyyyyyy back in the early 70’s. It was delish! Also good with pistachio pudding! I lost the recipe and could never find one like the one I had.
Thank you so much!!!
I make this as a special family treat and discovered that if I use graham cracker pie crusts it makes two of them. One to eat and one to give away. Plus it saves baking time and heating up the kitchen. We do little variations too…like putting in mini chips in the pudding or on top…couple of times I skipped the coolwhip on the top and just added a dollop when serving, out of the can of course…kids love that.