Layered Candy Cane Dessert Food

LAYERED CANDY CANE DESSERT

Steps:

• Pulse cookies in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter; pulse just until combined. Press onto bottom of a 13x9-in. dish. Refrigerate while preparing filling., Beat cream cheese, sugar and milk until smooth. Fold in 1 cup whipped topping and 1/2 cup crushed candies. Spread over crust., Whisk pudding mix and milk 2 minutes; spread over cream cheese layer. Spread with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate, covered, 4 hours. Sprinkle with remaining candies just before serving.

PEPPERMINT LAYER CAKE WITH CANDY CANE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Position racks in the middle and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter three 8-inch-round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Combine the milk and the vanilla and peppermint extracts in a small bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar, then increase the mixer speed to high and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, until just combined. Scrape down the side of the bowl, then increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 5 more minutes.
• In a separate large bowl (using clean beaters), beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and continue beating until stiff, shiny peaks form, about 6 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whites into the batter in 3 additions until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake, switching the position of the pans about halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let the cakes cool 10 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto racks to cool completely. Peel off the parchment. (The cakes can be made up to 1 day ahead; wrap in plastic and store at room temperature.)
• Make the frosting: Fill a medium saucepan with 1 to 2 inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, egg whites, 2 tablespoons water and the salt in a heatproof bowl and set over the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture registers 165 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 8 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and beat with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until fluffy and cool, about 4 more minutes. Add the vanilla and peppermint extracts and beat until combined, 1 more minute.
• Assemble the cake: Place 1 cake layer on a platter and spread 1 cup frosting on top; sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons crushed candy canes. Top with another cake layer, spread with 1 cup frosting and sprinkle with another 2 tablespoons crushed candy canes. Top with the final cake layer, then frost the top and side of the cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle more crushed candy canes on top.

CANDY CANE LUSH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Make drop cookies as directed on pouch. Cool completely, at least 20 minutes.
• In food processor, process half of the cookies to coarse crumbs. Remove to large bowl. Process remaining cookies to coarse crumbs; add to bowl. Stir in 1/3 cup melted butter until well blended. In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, press cookie crumb mixture firmly in bottom. Set aside.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping down side of bowl frequently. Beat in 2 cups whipped topping. Stir in 1/2 cup of the crushed candies. Spread over cookie crust.
• In medium bowl, beat dry pudding mixes and milk with whisk about 2 minutes or until thick. Spread evenly over cream cheese layer. Drop remaining whipped topping by spoonfuls over pudding layer; spread evenly. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup crushed candies on top. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pieces.

CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE PIE

Steps:

• Chocolate Crumb Crust: Combine crumbs, cocoa and sugar in a bowl.
• Stir in butter.
• Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of a 9" pie pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 min.
• Cool.
• Chocolate Layer: Bring water to a boil in med mixing bowl.
• Remove from heat; immediately add chips, stirring until melted (return to very low heat, stirring constantly, if needed).
• Cool to room temperature.
• In large mixing bowl (which has been chilled, along with beaters), whip heavy cream with confectioners sugar until stiff; fold into the chocolate mixture.
• Spoon into crust; chill.
• Peppermint Layer: Break candy canes into chunks; blend until finely crushed (resembles powder).
• Combine marshmallows and milk in wok.
• Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until marshmallows are melted.
• Cool to slightly warm or glops.
• Prepare bowl as before, whip heavy cream until stiff; fold in crushed candy.
• Stir gently into marshmallow mixture; chill 10 min.
• Spoon onto chocolate layer; chill until set.
• Freeze, if desired.
• Top with Sweetened whipped cream.
• Garnish with Peppermint chips or coarsely crushed candy canes just before serving.
• May be served chilled or frozen.