Peanut Butter Browne Trifle

From Taste of Home



Ingredients:
1 fudge brownie mix (13-inch x 9-inch pan size)
1 package (10 ounces) Peanut Butter Baking Chips
2 packages (13 ounces each) miniature peanut butter cups
4 cups cold 2% milk
2 packages (5.1 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup creamy peanut butter
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cartons (8 ounces each) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:
Prepare brownie batter according to package directions; stir in peanut butter chips. Bake in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake). Cool on a wire rack; cut into 3/4-in. pieces.

Cut peanut butter cups in half; set aside 1/3 cup for garnish. In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Add peanut butter and vanilla; mix well. Fold in 1-1/2 cartons whipped topping.

Place a third of the brownies in a 5-qt. glass bowl; top with a third of the remaining peanut butter cups. Spoon a third of the pudding mixture over the top. Repeat layers twice. Cover with remaining whipped topping; garnish with reserved peanut butter cups. Refrigerate until chilled.

Comments:
Trifles are the perfect fake-out. They look impressive, but they're totally easy. I took this to our bell party and everyone oohed and aahed and wanted the recipe. It's really good. Trust me on this one. And now they make these tiny peanut butter cups perfect for this dish!

White Chocolate-Strawvberry Pie-Lets

From The Biggest Loser Cookbook



Ingredients:
1/2 cup Grape Nuts cereal, finely crushed into crumbs
2 tbsp plus 2 tsp strawberry preserves
1 3/4 cups milk
1 (1 oz) package sugar-free white chocolate pudding mix

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the crumbs and 2 tbsp of the preserves. With a large spoon, stir to mix well. Divide the mixture into 4 ramekins of small dessert bowls. Press the mixture into the bottom of the dishes. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix. Whisk to blend. Pour into the ramekins or bowls. Dollop 1/2 tsp preserves on top of each. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Comments:
Totally easy to make, although I do continue to use graham crackers instead of Grape Nuts. I think mine turned out a little weird because of the preserves we had in the fridge. They were some strange artificially sweetened stuff that gave the whole thing a weird aftertaste. But still, better than last week's cheesecake!

Cream Puff Cake

From Taste of Home



Ingredients:
CRUST:
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs

FILLING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2-1/2 cups 2% milk
3 packages (3.3 ounces each) instant white chocolate or vanilla pudding mix
1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:
In a large saucepan, bring water and butter to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until smooth and shiny.

Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 400° for 22-26 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.

For filling, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, milk and pudding mixes until smooth. Spread over the crust; refrigerate for 20 minutes. Spread with whipped topping. Chill until serving.

Comments:
Doesn't this look delicious?



And it is. The crust is light, the filling is creamy and sweet. Amazingly just like a cream puff. The prep is pretty easy, although the stirring with the eggs almost made my arm fall off. This is why I don't bake... But this kind of success almost makes it worth the effort.