Easy Cheap Banana Pudding with Cream Flower Dessert

Yield: Large party dish

Prep time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

·        2 regular boxes of banana pudding mix (instant)

·         Milk (for pudding mixes)

·         1 regular tub of light whipped cream

·         1 package vanilla wafers

·         2-4 bananas (your choice)

       Seasonings for holidays or extra garnish: nutmeg, cinnamon & brown sugar

·         A beautiful dish that shows the pudding layers; glass dishes are common

Instructions

·         First, in a medium mixing bowl, prepare the instant banana pudding in accordance with pie mix directions on the pudding boxes, not just the regular pudding recipe that calls for more milk than you should add using the pie directions.

·        Chop up half the bananas in any fashion (bits, circular slices for flower design, long slivers); mix half with pudding and set aside other half for garnish use later on.

·         Line your bowl with the wafers and pour pudding/banana mix on top. Then, in a circular pattern place the vanilla wafers around the bowl; continue layering (it should start to take on the look of petals or even a whole flower); about 3 or 4 layers (save a couple wafers to crush for garnish).

·         Finally, use the left over banana pieces to garnish; if you chose sliced, circular banana cuts then you can continue layering just as you did the wafers and complete the second part of the flower (only one part left!).

·         Once the layering is done, pile the whipped cream in the center of the wafer and banana circles; use a rubber spatula (scraper) to create the “dollop” or swirl look for the whipped cream.

·         Use the crushed wafers and seasonings to garnish; let chill overnight or for at least 2 hours; enjoy!

Easy Princess Doll Dress Cake

Easy Princess Doll Dress Cake

Ingredients for Cake:

·         1 cake mix of your choice

·         Eggs and oil as called for on cake mix instructions

·         Any oven-safe bowl (a round casserole dish works great)

·         One doll with legs and clothing removed

Ingredients for frosting (icing):

·         1 large can of shortening (no flavor)

·         1 large bag of powdered sugar

·         Food coloring of your choice

·         Pinch of salt

·         1T vanilla extract

·         Electric mixer

·         Large mixing bowl

·         Rubber scraper

·         Icing bag and tips

Instructions:

1.       Preheat oven to 350F and prepare cake mix in accordance with box directions. Make sure to grease and sprinkle flour in oven-safe bowl to ensure easy cake removal.

2.       Pour batter into baking bowl and bake until done: see how big it comes out because you might end up baking 2 bottoms and using icing to “glue” them together.

3. Once your cake or cakes are cooked, cooled and “glued” together on a platform you can decorate the cake easily on, you’re able to make the frosting.

4.       To start: mix 1 cup each of powdered sugar and shortening in large mixing bowl.

5.       Add salt and vanilla extract: blend on medium speed with electric mixer using rubber scraper to keep the icing mixing thoroughly.

6.       Add food coloring to make desired icing tint (split icing into different bowls first if you want more than one color, then add food dye.)

7.       Cut a slim hole in the center of your easy princess doll dress cake and use icing to “glue” the doll into the center of the cake. Position the doll’s hair before using it! Also, make sure to position the hands and arms of the doll in the upward position so that they are out of the way for decorating.

8.       Frost the base icing layer onto the cake and make sure to paint a “waist” for the doll otherwise it just looked like someone bopped a doll into the cake and she’s stuck…haha!

9.       Fill your icing bag and start picking out your decorating tips: decorate however you want just make sure to finish the dress off with “icing” a top to the dress as she started out topless!

10.   Get creative and decorate as you see fit: have fun with your homemade easy princess doll dress cake and enjoy!