Four Layer Chocolate Cream Pie

One of my favorite desserts is this 4 Layer Chocolate Cream Pie! My roommate, Tristan, taught me how to make it years ago and I've loved it ever since. I'm making this for Thanksgiving tomorrow and I already know my family loves it 'cause I've made it for them a lot! Here's the recipe:

4 Layer Chocolate Cream Pie -

1 stick of butter (not softened)
1 cup flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 - 8 oz. package cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 large container cool whip (16 oz.)
1 large package chocolate instant pudding (5.9 oz.)
1 milk chocolate candy bar (grated for decoration on top) - optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter, flour, and sugar with a fork until crumbly. Press into a greased 9" x 13" pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool. With a hand mixer mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and half of the Cool Whip container. (Save the rest for the top layer). Spread evenly over cooled crust. Put in fridge for 5-10 minutes. Mix pudding as directed and pour on top of the cream cheese layer. Place in refrigerator until pudding sets. Top with a layer of Cool Whip. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

*You can make this recipe a bit easier by using a store bought chocolate or Oreo crust instead of making a homemade one. If you decide to do that this recipe would make two pies of that size.

Here are the step by step instructions with pictures: (Scroll to the end for a video tutorial)

In a medium size bowl, cut up your cold butter into small chunks.

 Add 1 cup flour

 And 1 tablespoon of sugar. Combine butter, flour, sugar with a fork until crumbly. Be patient, this takes a few minutes.

Press the flour and butter mixture into a greased 9" x 13" pan. It will still be quite crumbly until it bakes and the butter melts. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Here's what it looks like after it's baked. Let cool. You can place it in the fridge if you're in a hurry.

 While the crust cools mix the softened 8 oz. cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth.

 Then add 1 cup of powdered sugar and combine.

 Next, add half of the container of Cool Whip and mix together until well blended.

 Here's how it'll look.

 Spread the cream cheese/Cool Whip mixture evenly over the cooled crust.

 Prepare your Jell-O pudding as directed on the box.

 You just add 3 cups of cold milk to the chocolate powder and whisk for 2 minutes.

 Pour the pudding over the cream cheese layer and spread it around until it looks even.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the pudding sets.

 Once the pudding is set you just need to top it with the rest of the Cool Whip. Grate up part of your chocolate bar and sprinkle the shavings on top to make it look good.

Here's the finished dish. You can see the four layers from the side like this.

That's it! It's really quite a simple dessert but it's sure to impress your friends and family!