Sex in a pan – yes that really is the name of this luscious and creamy dessert recipe! And this version is keto and sugar-free, so it’s a delicious way to indulge. Layers of cheesecake and creamy chocolate pudding, with a chocolate cookie crust.
Why yes, I already do have a Sex in a Pan recipe here on All Day I Dream About Food. But that original one is a seasonal variation with pumpkin and apparently not everyone like pumpkin.
Shocking, I know!
From the moment that first keto sex in a pan was published, I had readers asking me how they could make it without the pumpkin puree. And I got tired of trying to explain in detail how to make a vanilla cheesecake layer so I decided it was time to write it out in full.
But ever the recipe creator, I couldn’t help but give it a slightly different twist and do a chocolate crust instead of the regular one. Not to worry, though. If you would prefer the traditional crust, you can easily grab that from my low carb pumpkin version here.
What is Sex In A Pan?
Despite the rather lewd moniker, this is really a dessert made of creamy layers of chocolate pudding and no bake cheesecake. It’s also known as chocolate lasagna. And sometimes a layered dessert like this are known as a lush.
Whatever you want to call it, it’s incredibly rich and decadent. I suppose the name indicates it’s as good as, or possibly better than, sex. But if you’re in certain company, you may want to come up with a less controversial name.
Now the traditional version is made with a cookie crust with pecans. Then you make a cream cheese layer, top that with a vanilla pudding layer, and then a chocolate pudding layer. Then you top the whole thing off with some whipped cream topping.
WHOA! Now you can see where the name comes from!
Sugar-Free Sex In A Pan
In a traditional sex in a pan recipe, the layers are all from a box. Box pudding mixes and store-bought whipped topping, full of carbs, sugars and other assorted junk. No thanks.
When I made my pumpkin version, I wanted to simplify so I skipped the vanilla pudding layer altogether and just went with a pumpkin cheesecake layer and a chocolate pudding layer, plus the whipped cream. It was a huge hit and one of my most popular recipes.
So I did the same for this vanilla version as well. But it wasn’t quite as simple as leaving out the pumpkin puree, since that adds a lot of moisture to the layer. I had to play with the amounts of cream cheese and whipping cream to get it right, and I found that it needed to be refrigerated for a while to firm up.
Then I proceeded to make the chocolate pudding from scratch, which is really quite easy to do. Pudding does not have to come from a box, my friends!
Now again I confess to messing about with the original and doing a chocolate “cookie” crust instead of a regular one. It’s really great this way but if you want to steal the crust from my pumpkin sex in a pan, that’s fine too. They will both work out nicely!
How to Serve this Keto Dessert
I won’t lie, friends. It’s next to impossible to get that first slice out in one pristine piece. So be ready for a bit of mangled keto sex in a pan and tuck that bit away for another time.
After that first one comes out, you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting a small lifter underneath the next pieces. They come out beautifully and you can see the delicious layers.
Well, that is if you have the patience to let it all chill in the fridge to firm up properly. But I won’t blame you if you get in there a bit early! This is definitely one low carb dessert that’s hard to resist!
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Sugar Free Sex In A Pan
Ingredients
Chocolate Crust:
- 1 1/4 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 tbsp water
Cheesecake Layer:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
Chocolate Pudding Layer:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp butter, cut into 3 pieces
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Topping:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
- 3 tbsp powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 ounce sugar free dark chocolate
Instructions
Crust:
- Preheat the oven to 325F and grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, cocoa powder, sweetener and salt. Add the melted butter and water and stir until the mixture begins to clump together.
- Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan and bake about 15 minutes, or until just firm to the touch. Remove and let cool.
Cream Cheese Layer:
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sweetener together until smooth. Beat in the vanilla..
- Add the cream and beat until smooth, then spread over the cooled crust and refrigerate while preparing the chocolate layer.
Chocolate Pudding Layer:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine almond milk, whipping cream and sweetener. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sweetener.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the 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 the xanthan gum, whisking vigorously to combine. Whisk in the cocoa powder and cook until thickened, about 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add the butter pieces and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.
- Let cool 15 minutes and then spread over cheesecake layer. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Whipped Cream Topping:
- Beat the cream with sweetener and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Spread over the chocolate pudding layer. 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.
Linda Warner says
I prefer using gelatin powder instead of xanthan gum. Have you ever tried mixing in some black coffee?
Carolyn says
Coffee would be delicious! I’d only use it to replace some of the other liquid, though, so you don’t throw off the ratios.
Cheryl says
Made this yesterday. It turned out great and everyone devoured it exclaiming that there was no way it was low carb or sugar free. Another home run! Fantastic!🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎
Allison M Bench says
YUM!! My boyfriend is keto now and I’ve been searching for a dessert recipe that you can’t really ‘tell’ is keto, and this is DEFINITELY that! I was blown away at how good it is! The almond flour cookie bottom is so good and forms together perfectly, the cheesecake, pudding and whipped cream are a DELICIOUS pairing, and I ate two full pieces as a non-keto convert! Will definitely make again!
Carolyn says
So glad you liked it!
Denise says
Sounds delicious, will have to add this to my recipe box. Tip for layered desserts in pans; if you make an aluminum foil sling for your pan, once the dessert has chilled and firmed up, you can simply lift it out of the pan and slice to serve. Make sure you line your pan in both directions with enough foil to go up the sides and have a good over hand so you can lift it outater. Just treat your foil like the recipe directs; grease, grease and flour, etc. Happy healthy eating.
DONNA l says
As everyone else has said this sounds delish! I may make it for thanksgiving this year – if not definitely xmas! I live alone and am wondering if this freezes well because 16 pieces is a little much – if not I can cut the recipe in 1/2 and maybe make individual tart type desserts, right?
Carolyn says
You can do either, I think. It’s pretty soft, though so for freezing, you’d want to flash freeze on a sheet pan first, uncovered, and then wrap it up tightly in smaller servings.
Amanda says
I made this yesterday. This is so good. I wonder what it would be like if the bottom layer was gooey. Is there a reason we can’t leave this layer unbaked?
Louise says
Hi, going to make this today. Can it be frozen if not eaten soon? Its just my husband and I and not sure how long it can stay in fridge.
Also I don’t have sugar free chocolate so I’m going to use bakers unsweetened chocolate and up the sweetener if necessary.
Your thoughts on both of these items would be appreicated.
Brittany says
I made this back in August 2020 for our anniversary. And boy was it worth every minute making it!! My husband enjoyed it and didn’t believe it was keto! I have an issue with crust textures with keto but this I was able to eat no problem!
I will not lie but every day after I had 1.5 pieces added to my macros 🤣 I had 1/2 at lunch and a whole after dinner. But I was wanting to make sure it didn’t go bad…🤤
My youngest liked it a lot and he texture issues with anything pudding like. But he ate it with no issues..I had to fight him for the last piece..mom won
I did everything minus the chocolate topping. When I added the top layer and spread it it gave it a marble top because I was trying to rush and get it into the fridge in time for dessert and I didn’t allow the chocolate to set. I will do it again next time I make it. Delicious 😋 🤤
Carolyn says
Sounds fab!
Jeanne says
Hi Carolyn,
I am planning to make this tomorrow. I buy full fat oat milk. Do you think it will work to use that rather than the almond milk? Or I have canned coconut milk. Which would you recommend as a substitute for the almond milk. Please let me know Thank you!
Carolyn says
I’ve never used oat milk but I suppose it would work. Isn’t it higher carb?
Gwen says
This looks amazing. My grandmother made this and called it “Better than Robert Redford Cake”. There’s no way she would have used the word “sex”. Lol
Carolyn says
Well, whatever she wants to call it! LOL. I would probably not have called it that if I’d invented it, but it sure captures the attention. 🙂
Hannah Chynoweth says
I’d like to make this, but sadly i gave my almond flour away. It was so hard to bake with and anything i tried i couldn’t share cause my fiance is allergic to almonds. I wish there was more reciples like this using Coconut flour but that stuff is even harder to work with! so Drying. And its all so expensive to waste money on trial and error 🙁
Carolyn says
Do not use coconut flour here. Use sunflower seed flour (can replace almond flour cup for cup) https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/how-to-make-your-own-sunflower-seed-flour/
Shushila says
I grew up in small town southern Ontario (living on the West coast now) and we made this with butterscotch pudding instead of chocolate, and the base was a pecan filled shortbread crust. Divine! Any recommendations for making a keto butterscotch pudding?
Jennifer says
Couple Quick Questions-
Cocoa Powder- would this be like the Hersheys Baking Cocoa? I want to be sure I am getting the right stuff.
Also, I am assuming the answer is yes- would this freeze well in individual servings? I am trying to meal prep some items so that I can stick to Keto a little easier this time around.
Carolyn says
Yes to both questions.
Teresa Osborne says
I found this site a few months ago and love it!! I made this recipe on a Sunday thinking the two of us wouldn’t want to eat the whole thing and I could bring the rest to work. OMG, it’s so bleeping good we didn’t want to share. I did tell my co-workers about the website and gave them copies of the recipe, lol. This is one of the best keto dessert! This recipe is long but so worth it and I love the name. Thank you for sharing all of your recipes!!
Carolyn says
Thanks!
Sonya says
I’m the only 1 who eats keto in my family. Can I wrap these pieces individually and freeze them. Then I have 1 of your treats for my afternoon snack for the next couple weeks.
Carolyn says
I can’t honestly say how it will fare in the freezer but it’s worth a try.
Charlene says
WOW I don’t know how I missed this before! A dessert I remember from a long long time ago! Can I use heavy cream instead of heavy whipping cream? Thank you for your great recipes!
Caroline says
Can I use corn starch instead of xanthan gum?
Carolyn says
I really don’t use cornstarch anymore but it has to be whisked into a liquid before adding so I am not sure that will work that well here.