Chocolate Pudding Torte

This is my mom's recipe. She made this torte for many occasions and get togethers when I was growing up. I think it was her most requested dish to bring over the years and has always been one of my favorites. She made 3 different versions of this. The following recipe is for the chocolate version but I'll include the other 2 at the end of the recipe in case you want to try those too!


Ingredients:


Crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
2 Tbls. sugar


Mix like pie crust and spread into a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Pat down. Bake for 15 minutes at 350. Cool completely.


First filling layer:


8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip, divided


Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar together. Fold in 2 cups Cool Whip. Spread on cooled crust.


Second filling layer:


2 small packages of instant chocolate pudding


Mix with 2 1/2 cups of milk. (do not follow package instructions) Pour over cream cheese mixture. Let set in refrigerator and cover with remaining Cool Whip. Top with chocolate chips.


Alternate version 1: Replace chocolate pudding mix with Butterscotch pudding. Top with chopped walnuts.


Alternate version 2: Replace chocolate pudding with Pistachio pudding. Top with crushed Heath bars.

I also have to mention that my sweet, thoughtful friend, Judy over at Judy H-J's Thoughts - A Twinless Twin, awarded me with the Kreativ Blogger's award!!! I will make a special post for that soon. Thank you so much, Judy!