Summer Dessert Time

Here is a great recipe you can adapt to just about any flavor

Lemon Lush Dessert

(other flavors to try:

Strawberry cream – using strawberry cream pudding and fresh strawberries for garnish

Banana cream – use homemade vanilla pudding(adding banana extract) and banana slices

Coconut cream - – use homemade vanilla pudding using coconut milk (or adding coconut extract instead of vanilla extract) and coconut to filling and garnish with toasted coconut

For the Crust:

·                 1 c. butter, softened but not to room temperature

·                 2 c. flour

·                 1/4 c. sugar

·                 1/2 c. pecans, chopped in small pieces (toast first for a deeper flavor)

For the Cream Cheese Layer:

·                 2 (8oz) packages Philadelphia cream cheese

·                 1 c. powdered sugar

For the Pudding Layer

·                 2 cups fresh  lemon curd

·                 2 cups fresh whipped cream

For the topping

·                 lemon zest, to garnish (optional)

·                 2 cups fresh whipped cream

Instructions

Stir together butter, flour, sugar, and chopped pecans in a mixing bowl. A fork works really well to get everything mixed together. Press into a 9x13 baking dish and bake 15-20 minutes at 350°, or until a light golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

Beat together cream cheese and sugar until creamy and smooth. Spread over cooled crust.

In another mixing bowl, whisk together lemon curd and whipped cream (gently). Spread on top of the cream cheese layer.

Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour.

Spread whipped cream over the pudding layer. Cut into 18-24 pieces 

Hot Cocoa S'More Cookies

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees
I line my pans with parchment paper
In a separate bowl, combine:
2 1/2cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1/8 cup Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hoot Cocoa Mix

Cream together:
1/2 C Butter
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
Beat on high for about 1 minute or until very creamy
Add:
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Mix well - Medium speed
Add dry ingredients and 1 TB milk
Add and mix with a wooden spoon:
1/2 cup Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup  dry mini marshmallows (the kinds in cereal) or use hot cocoa with marshmallows
1/4 cup coarse chopped graham cracker

Scoop by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheet
Bake 8-12 minutes, until edges are golden