Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Overnight Pull Aparts


If you are looking for something easy, warm and so delicious for Christmas morning may I suggest these overnight pull aparts? Prepare the night before and bake them up in the morning. Or, make them up in the morning and bake them just before leaving for that potluck party you're attendiing. Whatever the occasion I know you'll love them. I usually leave out the cranberries and substitute raspberries or mini chocolate chips. Cinnamin you say? Check the bottom of this post for a more traditional version.

Overnight Pull Aparts

12 to 16 frozen white roll dough (still frozen, I use 16)

1 (3.4 oz.) package vanilla instant pudding

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup dried cranberries

1 orange ring, grated

½ cup butter or margarine, melted

Frosting (recipe below)

Sprinkle cranberries in the bottom of a greased bundt pan. Arrange rolls evenly in pan. Mix sugar and dry pudding together and sprinkle over rolls. Combine orange rind with melted butter and spoon over rolls. Cover pan with sprayed plastic wrap. Place pan in cold oven overnight (8 to 10 hours). Remove rolls from oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap from pan and bake for 25 min. Immediately invert pan onto a serving platter. Cool slightly and drizzle with frosting.


Frosting



1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon melted butter

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice


To make the same thing in a cinnamon version you can use:

¾ chopped nuts in place of the cranberries

4 oz package of butterscotch pudding in place of vanilla pudding and sugar

½ cup packed brown sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in place of the orange rind

In the frosting use milk in place of the orange juice.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Pistachio Lush

This is quite possibly my all time favorite dessert. It is heaven by the spoonful. We make this using pistachio because it is our favorite but you can use just about any flavor of pudding that you would like. Chocolate, banana, and lemon are some of our favorite flavors. You can cut calories and sugar by using low fat cream cheese and sugar free pudding. You can also try it with different nuts, the possibilities are endless. However way you try it brace yourself for a creamy dreamy treat.


Pistachio Lush

Layer #1

1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix well and press into bottom of 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool.

Layer #2

1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipped topping
8 oz cream cheese

Mix together until smooth.
Spread on Layer #1

Layer #3

2 (3 oz) pkgs instant pistachio pudding
2 1/2 cold milk

Mix together and let sit 5 minutes.
Spread on top of layer #2. Refrigerate until set.

Layer #4

Spread with whipped topping and sprinkle with chopped pecans
Chill and serve.