Candy Cane Trifle

Base layer:
Pound cake, cut into 1-inch pieces

Mint grasshopper cookies, broken up into pieces
Brownies, cut into 1-inch pieces

Mousse layer:

1 small package white chocolate instant pudding
Make according to package directions and then add:
3 oz. softened cream cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
4 oz. white chocolate (melted)
Seeds of 1 vanilla pod

Assembly:
Place a couple pieces of Pound cake, mint grasshopper cookies and a couple pieces of Brownies in cup.
Spoon a heaping tablespoon or so of Mousse layer into the cup.
Repeat with base layer: brownies, pound cake, mint cookies
Top with fresh whipped cream.

Sprinkle Andes mint pieces on top.






Made this for a Relief Society party.  I think it turned out well. In the picture you can see mint Oreo's instead of grasshopper cookies.  I'm changing it because the Oreo's didn't stay firm the next day and I think the cookie will.

The white mousse turned out fine, it was tasty, but I'm not sure it was much  of a contrast from the cream.  I'm seriously thinking of trying a chocolate mousse for the next round.
I think people enjoyed it and it was a fun holiday dessert, dramatic and tasty.

Candy Cane Cookie

1 cup soft butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
Cream well

Add
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Mix again

Add
2 3/4 cups flour and mix just until flour is incorporated.

Gently stir in
Andes peppermint pieces (1/2 of the bag)







Bake 8 minutes at 375 degrees. Let cool on cookie sheet then move to wire racks.

Makes 32 cookies.

Do not over-mix your flour.

Place on cookie sheet and bake.


Reader's Digest published this recipe in December 2010 as the number one cookie recipe in America (Easy Sugar Cookie). It is a fabulous cookie. I had the idea to add the peppermint pieces and turn it into my own holiday creation. These cookies have received some rave reviews. They are a very soft, tasty cookie. You can find the Andes pieces at Christmas time.
Also, I'm very excited to announce that this cookie won the UV magazine cooking contest. They get to be featured in the Utah Valley magazine.
http://blog.uvmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Picture-3.png.

So sad! There is a typo in the UV Mag recipe.  It should be 1-1/2 cups sugar.