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 ¼ cups almond flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon water
Cheesecake Layer:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
Chocolate Pudding Layer:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- ½ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 4 large egg yolks
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoon butter, cut into 3 pieces
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Topping:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
- 3 tablespoon powdered Swerve Sweetener
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ 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 ½ 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.
Fonda Carver says
I only have half and half. Will that substitute for the almond milk?
Fonda Carver says
I only have half and half. Can I substitute that for the almond milk?
Vanesa says
Hi! I made this dessert some time ago, but if I remember there was a recipe for a layer to substitute chocolate pudding (it was more like a mousse) – do you still have that? I really enjoyed it and would love to have it as an option. This is such an amazing dessert, thank you for posting it! I add raspberries on the top since they go so well with dark chocolate! 🙂
Carolyn says
This recipe hasn’t changed at all so I am not quite sure what you are thinking of?
Julie Browne says
I made this for 4 th of July and wondered about freezing it before transporting it.
Carolyn says
Did you already put the whipped cream topping on? I would have advised waiting and freezing it without, and then adding later… but you can certainly try now.
Karen Stewart says
Oh this was sooooo good and as a happy benefit, for those of us who miss a good pudding, the chocolate pudding part of the recipe can be made separately on it’s own!
Liz says
Two birthdays in a row, at my request, my husband has made this for me. Just love it!
Petra says
Oh my gosh!
I had some egg yolks left and ,since I’m alone at eating this way, I decided to not make the entire recipe but just the chocolate pudding.
This pudding is just soooooooo good! Sooooo delicious! I know what I’ll be doing with my left over yolks from now on????
Karen says
Awesome! Love, love, love it!
Emily says
Can you make this recipe a few days in advance? How does the whipped topping on top keep?
Carolyn says
It’s good for 3 or 4 days (refrigerated) but I wouldn’t push it any longer than that!
Pam says
Could you use a 8×8 pan?
Carolyn says
Yes, but of course it will be thicker. And a touch harder to get out!
Gale Wells says
Is this gluten free? It appears to be. I have family members with those diet restrictions. Thanks for your recipes.
Carolyn says
Yes… the VAST majority of my keto recipes are gluten-free.
Lisa says
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ You will need a moment to yourself after the first bite????
annie says
And a cigarette?? (wink, wink!!)
Karla Kuriger says
Carolyn, I haven’t made this yet, but I sure will. I just haven’t taken the time to comment on your recipes, and I am sorry for YOUR recipes are the ones that TASTE amazing AND turn out well!! I make your recipes more than anyone else that I follow. So thank you for your continuing help with keto life!!!!!!!
Carolyn says
Thank you!
Claudine says
Can Lactano monk fruit sweetner be used in place of swerve ?
Carolyn says
Yes.
Melissa says
This was worth every minute it took to make it! My family, the diabetics and the sugar lovers alike, went wild for this. I’m afraid they paid NO attention to the serving sizes, ha ha! Will definitely make again and again.
Carolyn says
So happy to hear that!
Jimisue Langen says
My husband made this today and all I can say is WOW. It is delicious. We took a picture of it but not sure I know how to post it. Thank you for all your recipes. All have been so good.
Regie says
Can I use gelatin powder instead of xanthan gum?
Thank you.
Carolyn says
Not unless you want jello! It’s going to change the consistency a lot and make it gummy so I don’t recommend it.
Donna Farrell says
I just made this for Thanksgiving and had a sample serving. Unbelievably fantastic! I wonder if this freezes well. I’ll scroll through the comments to see if someone has asked that, but if anyone knows and cares to reply, that’d be great! I’ll also check the comments on the relevant Facebook post. I also wonder if anyone has tried to make a dairy-free version of the pudding layer. I don’t have to avoid dairy all the way, but I try to find ways of reducing it, so I wondered if I could make the pudding with canned coconut milk instead of heavy whipping cream. Anyway – thank you for the fantastic recipe!
Debra says
I will definitely make this one. I scrolled through real fast just to make sure you didn’t use sugar free box pudding .(I really don’t like that).
Carolyn says
🙂 Nope, I definitely don’t use that!
Kari Puryear says
Carolyn, this dessert is delicious!! I’m in heaven! Not even the slightest clue that it’s sugar free. I’m going to have a hard time not devouring the whole thing in one sitting 🙂