A low carb pumpkin recipe to end all pumpkin recipes! This gorgeous chocolate and pumpkin layered dessert is so rich and creamy, you’ll be in love after the first bite.
The pumpkins are coming, the pumpkins are coming! Whoops, too late. The pumpkins are HERE! And if you’re not a pumpkin lover or if you would prefer to not see any pumpkin-related content until at least October, I am sorry. I truly am. But they seem to arrive earlier and earlier every year now. Even before summer is over, before the kids are back in school, and while you are still embalming yourself with sunscreen every day, your social media feeds begin to clog up with pumpkin recipes. It’s atrocious, it really is. And I blame bloggers. Yes, bloggers! Those damn fools that worship the big orange gourd and can’t even wait until the beginning of September to start cranking out the pumpkin spice this and the pumpkin pie that. Yes, I include myself in that lot of wild-eyed pumpkin addicts. It’s a sickness, it really is. And there is not antidote.
Well, at least I waited until after Labour Day to publish my first pumpkin recipe this year. That’s something, right? And what a recipe it is, with quite the, ahem, suggestive name. Sorry if it offends. It’s meant simply to be tongue in cheek but if you don’t like that moniker, there are a few alternatives. Like Low Carb Chocolate Pumpkin Lasagna. Or Chocolate Pumpkin Dream Dessert. Or the rather boring but descriptive Chocolate Pumpkin Layered Dessert.
I settled on Sex In A Pan because that’s what a reader called it when she asked me to make something similar. And it reminded me of a dessert a friend made back in high school, although she called hers “Better Than Sex”. Which, being rowdy teenagers, we though was hysterical. It was also delicious! The high carb version of the dessert is usually a shortbread-like crust with layers of vanilla pudding, chocolate pudding and whipped topping. Most of which comes out of a box, of course. But making it from scratch is not only healthy, but a lot of fun. And you get to lick the beaters and the bowls of all the various layers. Can’t complain about that!
Just be forewarned about one thing. There is absolutely NO WAY to get the first slice of this beauty out of the pan in one piece. You have to resign yourself to sacrificing that one piece in order to get the others out all nicely sliced up. If you happen to be serving to guests, just delicately remove yourself from their view as you cut into it. Pull out that first mangled, mashed slice in whatever manner you can get it out, and hide it back in the fridge for later. Then you’ll be able to lift the other slices from the bottom and no one will be the wiser. Well, except when you walk back into the dining room with smears of chocolate, pumpkin and whipped cream all over your face…
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Pumpkin Sex In A Pan Dessert
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 366 Calories from fat | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 304 | 468% |
| Cholesterol 134 | 45% |
| Carbohydrate 7.63g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber 3.05g | 12% |
| Protein 5.96g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
A low carb pumpkin recipe to end all pumpkin recipes! This gorgeous chocolate and pumpkin layered dessert is so rich and creamy, you'll be in love after the first bite.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)
- 1/4 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
Pumpkin Layer
- 10 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/4 cup heavy cream, room temperature
- 2/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Pudding Layer
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1/2 cup Swerve Sweetener
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 & 1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 3 tbsp butter in 3 pieces
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Topping
- 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
- 3 tbsp powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 ounce sugar free dark chocolate
Instructions
Crust:
- Preheat oven to 325F and grease a 9x9 inch square baking pan (you can use 8x8 but your crust may take a little longer to bake).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, pecans, and sweetener. Stir in butter until dough begins to clump together. Press firmly and evenly into prepared baking pan.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and just firm to the touch. Let cool.
Pumpkin Layer:
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sweetener together until smooth. Beat in cream, pumpkin puree, spices and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Spread mixture over cooled crust.
Chocolate Pudding Layer:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine almond milk, whipping cream and sweetener. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve sweetener.
- In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks until smooth. Slowly whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture into the yolks to temper. Then slowly whisk tempered yolks back into saucepan.
- Reduce heat to medium low and sprinkle surface with xanthan gum, whisking vigorously to combine. Whisk in cocoa powder and cook until thickened, about 3 or 4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in chopped chopped chocolate and butter until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Let cool 15 minutes and then spread over pumpkin layer. Cover with plastic wrap flush to the surface and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Whipped Cream Topping:
- Beat cream with sweetener and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Remove plastic wrap from chocolate layer and spread with whipped cream.
- Dust with cocoa powder (this works best through a fine sieve). Use a vegetable peeler or cheese slicer to shave chocolate over top.
- Chill another hour to help set completely.
Recipe Notes
Serves 16 (this is a really rich dessert so could go even farther). Each serving has 7.63 g of carbs and 3.05 g of fiber. Total NET CARBS = 4.58 g.
Food energy: 366kcal Total fat: 33.79g Calories from fat: 304 Cholesterol: 134mg Carbohydrate: 7.63g Total dietary fiber: 3.05g Protein: 5.96g
Well you had me at your title, but the stunning photographs of said pumpkin
p*rn sealed the deal…this recipe to the top of my ‘to do’ list”
I’ll take a huge pan of THAT CRUST. it was always my favorite part of this kind of dessert. pumpkin sounds GOOD.
When at the store what am I looking for when you say, unsweetened chocolate & sugar-free choclate. What exactly did you use?
Unsweetened baking chocolate: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H227SY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000H227SY&linkCode=as2&tag=aldaidrabfo05-20&linkId=AEH4EZPVDF7DIM3L
Dark Sugar-Free Chocolate: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CLFH0EG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00CLFH0EG&linkCode=as2&tag=aldaidrabfo05-20&linkId=ZCQJI5NYH2E6LAHH
Well, that is crazy expensive chocolate!! $50 for 3 oz! Yikes! $16.88/oz. Is that some sort of typo? That can’t be real!
If you look a little closer, you see that it’s actually 12×3. 12 bars, 3 ounces each. So although it says it’s $14.99 per ounce, that’s a weird calculation on Amazon. Look at the title…it says: Lily’s Original Dark Chocolate (12×3 OZ) 🙂
Yea, I don’t see it when I click on that link… but that’s OK! I searched for it and found the multi bar packs!
Looking forward to making this for the family!
Thanks!
When I click on that link, I see the one that says 12×3. Weird!
ChocZero 70% Dark Chocolate, Sugar free, Low Carb. No Sugar Alcohol, No Artificial Sweetener, All Natural, Non-GMO – (6 Bags, 60 pieces) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M09Q8DW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bDOYzb48YKTHZ
Lol I figured your title was a nod to the hugely popular dessert/cake that was flooding the Net a decade or so ago “Better than Sex”. Given the story about you and your girlfriend, I’m guessing it was around longer than that. 😉 This looks really yummy!
Well, since my Sweetie is deployed until next April, this is as close to sex as I am getting! Lol!
It especially included my love of chocolate and pumpkin! xoxo
The name of this recipe certainly got my attention!! Rather like a cake recipe called Sin in Your Mouth – just kinda grabs you! If this is as good as that *grin* I’ll be taking this to the family Thanksgiving dinner (but I make have to change the name for the sensitive folks)!!
Oh, my! I’ll definitely be making this recipe this autumn. I have a “not low carb” recipe for the vanilla/chocolate version you mentioned. I would love it if you would share that recipe with us one of these days. 🙂
Hi, I just love your recipes! and I hope in the future that you will have a chocolate or any other flavor low carb turnover recipe and a low carb strudel recipe.
Two words: springform pan.
Thanks for the recipe!
Not when you want it to be in squares rather than a circle! I don’t know of any square springforms, although maybe someone makes them.
I believe that King Arthur has a rectangular spring form tart pan that may work for this-
I was going to add PIE PAN.
Oh.My.Word. You are now my best friend.
I have had this dessert with pistachio and chocolate, but pumpkin?? Yum!
I also didn’t know anyone else who knew what this dessert was! 🙂
Thank you!
Ok van I use in place of swerve? Xylitol or Erithitol? How much?
Erythritol is fine in the same amounts.
What can I do if I can’t get powdered sweetener? They don’t seem to sell it anywhere in my city. All I have is granulated erythritol.
Try powdering it in a coffee grinder. Some people have success with that.
Amazon sells this.
This looks amazing!! I can’t wait to try it! I am the only low carber and only dessert lover in my family and I can’t imagine eating this whole thing by myself before it would be past its prime… Any idea of it would freeze OK or should I just stick with a mini batch?
I’d make a mini batch. I don’t think the pudding layer or whipped cream layer would do well with freezing. Should be pretty easy to do 1/2 or 1/3 or even 1/4, if you have a small enough pan.
I’m not even that much of a fan of pumpkin, and yet I think this looks SO GOOD! It totally reminds me of tiramisu, and that’s a good thing. 🙂 Yum!
Thanks, Joan!
We made this last night. Holy cow, this is SO GOOD! Everyone was taking turns licking spoons, and clearly the biggest problem is going to be not eating six pieces at a go… The spicing in the pumpkin layer takes me right back to my high school years in New England! So, so good.
We did find it really quite sweet for our tastes, but that’s just us (we find everything sweet!). Next time we’re going to reduce the sweetener in the chocolate layer by half, and everywhere else by a third.
We don’t have easy access to Swerve in the UK, so we use Sukrin 1:1 (granulated) and Sukrin Icing, which are both erythriol and stevia combinations that work really well for us as direct sugar substitutes. We find they’re an easy swap for Swerve, and have comparable sweetness.
We ended up using Montezuma Organic 73% dark chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate component, as there was nothing around that was completely unsweetened (aka cacao and cocoa butter, and nothing else) and no sugar-free dark chocolate, so our carb content is definitely higher for this and this is undoubtedly why our chocolate layer came out quite sweet compared to the other layers.
When chilled for that final hour after adding the whipped cream layer, it was definitely still oozing everywhere but we couldn’t resist a moment longer. Yum! By this morning, it’s firmed up beautifully.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! It’s already a favourite, and I can tell we’re going to be making it all the time. 🙂 If anyone’s thinking of making it and runs into some of the minor things I mentioned, hopefully this comment offers a little bit of guidance. The recipe definitely takes a bit of time and effort but is so, so delicious!
Glad you liked it! It may be that the 73% chocolate made it taste quite a bit sweeter. Or it could be the sukrin. Hard to say!
“Best low carb dessert ever.” declared my husband.
Oh my oh my I can’t wait to sink into this. I know it will be good as all your recipes are tried and true!! Thank you!
Hi Carolyn your desert looks stunning and sounds amazing. If I wanted a different sweetener instead of swerve like honey ,maybe maple syrup or regular sugar. Don’t you think it might work. I know you haven’t tested another source. Hey thank you so much!!.
I haven’t been a successful baker but this looks so good, I think I’m going to give it a shot. However, my family prefers sweet potatoes to pumpkin. Do you think I could sub sweet potato for pumpkin 1:1? Would anything else need to be changed? Thank you. Your blog is inspiring.
I think you could sub it in the exact same amount…however, do keep in mind that sweet potato has more carbs than pumpkin
I’d not considered that, thank you.
I adore chocolate and pumpkin together so I just may have to make love to this dessert. I mean, devour…
This is just like a recipe that I’ve made that I got from my grandmother. She always called it The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford! So it has been around awhile. And even with the original, the first piece NEVER comes out of the pan without getting mangled! I love all of the recipes of yours that I’ve tried, and I can’t wait to try this one. I bet my family won’t even be able to tell the difference!
What could I sub for the chocolate layer. I really do care for chocolate anything.
Why not just skip it?
Think I could skip the pumpkin layer. We are not fans of it but my fav pie is the chocolate one… oh this may be the sub I really needed. Thank you tons!
Sure, or you could just go with a vanilla cheesecake type layer.
Looks great but I also have to avoid dairy is their any way to avoid dairy as much. Really want to make all the time.
No this dessert is quite dairy based. But I have several non-dairy recipes, so type “dairy free” into my search box and you will find them.
I made this about a week ago and I’m still sneaking spoonfuls out of the fridge – it’s just really delicious. And I can see how easy it will be to change up the flavors to suit the season or your mood.
Also – the chocolate pudding layer was so tasty, i’m just going to make the pudding on it’s own!
I assume that the xantham gum is to thicken. Could you use Gluccie for that instead? Thanks! Can’t wait to melt into some of this!
It is to thicken and I am sure you can use gluccomannan but I am not sure how much you would use.
Thanks for the info. I found more on this. If you read the comment in the following link, I think it says that you can sub one to one except for meringues.
http://trimhealthymama.freeforums.net/thread/1588/guar-gum-xanthan
Can I use xylitol instead of swerve and not powder it or will it be weird? I don’t have a coffee grinder.
It would definitely be weird and gritty.
Do you have a blender with a “grind” setting? I also don’t have a coffee grinder, and my blender, on that setting, has been working fine for this.
This is going to be my Thanksgiving dessert this year!!
Made this dessert today, and my goodness, you weren’t kidding. It’s absolutely delicious, and so pretty with all the layers. Thank you for sharing!
Do you think it would be okay to omit the almond milk and just use hwc?
No, because your pudding would be much too thick. Better to use half HWC and half water in place of the almond milk.
Trying to make this tomorrow and I wanted to know is it heavy whipping cream for all parts or HWC and like, Cool Whip or Reddi-Whip?
Thank you 🙂
I don’t ever use cool whip or redid-whip.
so you just use HWC for all three parts?
Yes.
This is so good. I’ve made it three times and it does not get old. Question – I wanted to make it for Christmas for my pre-diabetic family members to have a dessert, but my brother doesn’t much care for pumpkin. Any suggestions for making that layer a different flavor? I can’t think of what to swap in for the pumpkin.
Just make it a vanilla cheesecake layer. Use some full fat sour cream in place of the pumpkin to get the right consistency. Maybe about 1/2 cup?
Looks and sounds delicious. My sister is diabetic so when I go to her house for holidays I try to bring something low carb. There are alot of artificial sweetners that spike her blood sugars. I am also new to this so could I replace Swerve with I believe she uses Stevia in the Raw.? Thank you so much
Yes, i think stevia in the raw would work for this.
To avoid wrecking the first slice and – knowing me – several more than one, could I just line the pan with a heavy tin foil, letting the sides hang over, so that I can lift that lump of yummynes out of the pan in one piece?
You can certainly try that.
Can I substitute glucomannan for xantham gum?
Thank you for this wonderful recipe 🙂
Yes, but I am not sure how much.
I made this but used your cheesecake recipe instead of the pumpkin layer (the blueberry cheesecake but without blueberry and lemon elements) bc I was craving the original version of this dessert, my childhood favorite. It is DELICIOUS, I predict I will finish the whole pan in a week or less!!!! Any ideas for how I can lower the calorie count next time? With the chocolate pudding, can the butter be reduced or do you think it would work if I reduced cream and increased the almond milk (like .5 cup cream and 1.5 cups milk)? I need to be able to eat bigger portions of this stuff! Thanks so much!
I doubt your pudding layer would thicken properly with any of those changes. I really don’t know how you’d lower the calorie count…carbs are my only real concern, to be honest.
Okay, thanks for the feedback.
If I want to cut the recipe in half do you think a 4″ X 8″ loaf pan would work? I’ll be the only one eating it but might make it for Thanksgiving.
I think so, but keep in mind that loaf pans tend to flare outwards so your base will be smaller than your top.
My only challenge is I hate the taste of Swerve. I use Truvia and Stevia but the powdered sugar effect requires Swerve. I think it has a chemical taste.
Oh my goodness! I just made this tonight and it was a process, but so, so worth it. I used Truvia instead of Swerve and the only problem was that the chocolate layer was a little butter, but I bet it would be perfect with Swerve! I am so not deprived on my low carb “diet”! Thank you for sharing this delightful recipe.
*bitter, not butter
I have to say this is one of the most expensive and complicated dessert recipes I have followed in a long time, and I did not get anything that came close to looking like this pic. I was disappointed. The best part was learning to make a great crust for other recipes.
Sorry to hear it didn’t work for you. Most people just love it!
Carolyn this recipe rocks! I made it last year around this time and forgot that my Swerve/erythritol/stevia hating husband even tried it and liked it. (He was doing one of his low carb stints to lose some weight and wanted sweets, but otherwise usually doesn’t go for my healthy sweets) Last night he brought this recipe up and I’m excited to make it again ( he is low carb this month😉)… I just can’t remember what brand pumpkin I used and I know in the past with your recipes, some brands of pumpkin had more liquid and needed to be squeezed out… is this the case here? Thanks for all you do!
If you open your can and it’s really liquidy, you may want to consider drying it out a bit. But the cream cheese really holds things together so I think it’s not critical.
Back in the 80s when I was stationed in Spain, someone taught me how to make this minus the pumpkin,and it was called ‘chocolate lasagna.’
My dad and brothers back then used to beg me to make it.
Anxious to try it with the pumpkin. Thanks
This dessert is incredible! I am actually relieved that it requires more work and time than I will usually spend on a sweet treat. Otherwise I would be making this every week, and eating ALL OF IT!
My only issue was with the whipped cream topping- it fell and separated in less than 24 hours. But this is so easy to fix! I add a small amount of softened gelatin, which is a Maria Emmerich tip.
But seriously, this is the BEST dessert I’ve ever made, low carb or otherwise. Thank you so much for posting this recipe!!!
I tried this recipe and it works for my keto diet!!. I used dark baking chocolate unsweetened. turned out fantastic. used all gluten free ingredients so worked for my dietbetic father and my step mom who has a gluten allergy… PLUS my boyfriend who doesn’t like sweets loved this dessert!! thanks for sharing
So glad you liked it!
Hi Carolyn, just wanted to share that I made this tonight and EVERYONE loved it! It is one of the best low carb desserts I’ve made. Everyone was shocked it was low carb. Just wanted to say thank you for creating these wonderful and delicious recipes. Fan for life!
So glad to hear it!
Hi Carolyn! I want to make this dessert for Thanksgiving, but the only sweetener I have is the Trim Healthy Mama Super Sweet. Can I use this, and should I grind it in place of the powdered Swerve? I don’t know what Swerve is, so how do you think I should measure out the Super Sweet? Thank you!
You can probably do this. Swerve measures like sugar so use as much Super Sweet as you would to equal that amount of sugar (I think you really only want about 1/4 to 1/3 the amount of Swerve). Grind it well!
Thank you for this! YUM!!
I made it for Thanksgiving and it was the hit. I might as well have skipped cooking the rest of the meal. (Not really, we ate it all.)
I didn’t want the pumpkin flavor so i omitted the spices in that layer and it came out very well. The chocolate layer was perfect! I’m so grateful to find a version that doesn’t call for box pudding! Smooth, creamy and firm enough to hold up to cutting.
I love your site. Keep ’em coming!
So glad you liked it!
It’s always just been called “4-Layer Dessert” in our house. My Grandmother has made it for 50 years! I’ve been making a version of it regularly around here lately, with your easy blender chocolate mousse recipe as the chocolate layer. It’s amazing! I’ve always resisted the chocolate-pumpkin combo thing because it just sounds so WRONG but I have to admit that this looks delicious!
Thanks for all you do Carolyn!
Thanks, Sarah. And that’s a much more pleasant name for it. 😉
Can you please tell me the size of the pan you used
It’s very clear in the instructions.
I use a 9×9 clear Pyrex dish just as the recipe calls for and it’s full, but perfect.
I put the dark chocolate in the chocolate layer instead of the unsweetened chocolate! I hope it is still great! I will report back after church on Sunday.
I don’t think I am going to be able to get my hands on swerve before Canadian Thanksgiving (this weekend), do you think stevia would work as a replacement for the swerve?
Yes, but for the chocolate layer, you may need some more xanthan. Swerve has some fiber in it that helps set the pudding a bit.
Holy. Man. Sooooo gooood! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Wondering if I can substitute coconut milk for almond milk since I have coconut milk in the cubbard? If yes, would it be a 1:1 substitution?
Yes, that should work.