Chocolate Eclair Cake

My family always loved Chocolate Eclairs.  They were a pain to make because you had to fill each eclair with pudding and then frost them.  The little frozen ones in the grocery store are good, but they didn't have those back when my kids were small.  One day I came across this recipe for Chocolate Eclair Cake in a cookbook.  I think it was in the late 1970's or early 1980's.  The first time I made it, it was a complete success.  It is very easy to put together and tastes just like the individual eclairs.  I have made this recipe many times over the years.

Chocolate Eclair Cake

1 cup flour
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
1/4 t. salt
1 cup water
4 eggs (room temperature is best)
2 packages instant vanilla pudding
2 1/2 cups cold milk
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 ounce whipped topping (Cool Whip)
3 oz. chocolate chips
2 T. butter
1 cup powdered sugar
3-4 T. milk

Bring water and butter to a boil until all the butter is melted.
All at once add flour and salt; beat until mixture forms a ball that leaves the sides of the saucepan;
cool slightly.  Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.  Spread mixture onto a ungreased jelly roll pan (15 x 10 x 1).  Bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes.  Remove from oven.  It will be puffy so pierce the bubbles with fork while hot.  Cool completely.

*Beat the softened cream cheese with the milk, then add the instant pudding and beat according to the pudding directions.  
Spread on the cooled crust.  Follow with the whipped topping.  Then melt the chocolate chips with the butter over low heat, mix with the powdered sugar and milk until you have a thin glaze.  Drizzle the chocolate glaze over the whipped topping.  Refrigerate for a least an hour.  Cut into squares to serve.

*Hint:  Mixing the cream cheese with milk and instant pudding works really well in a cream pie.  I cut up bananas in the pudding and put it in a pre-baked pie crust.  It sets up and cuts so much better.  I learned to do this after I took a pie to work for a treat.  My boss Dan liked banana cream pies.  When we cut it, it ran all over.  You needed a straw to eat the pie.  After that experience I figured out how to do a better job.  This method always works.