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!

How to Make a Castle Cake

INGREDIENTS NEEDED:
1 pkg. waffle ice cream cones
2 cake box mixes (any flavor)
3 – 16oz. vanilla icing tubs
1 store bought loaf angel food cake or pound cake (or you can make two loaf cakes instead, your choice)
1 fruit rollup
Food coloring (optional for coloring icing; I used a few drops of red dye to make the pink icing)
Gumdrops, red or fruity licorice, redhots, sprinkles, chocolate candies, just about anything you can think of to decorate the outside of the castle

KITCHEN ITEMS NEEDED:
Non-stick spray or wax paper (wax is best but you’ll still need to spray the sides)
9”x13” pan
Loaf pan
Piping bag (not just any plastic kitchen bag either! Anything else will bust!)
Cake decorating tips
Cake platform (only if you wish to put your cake on a platform instead of presenting it in the 9x13 pan

NOTE: Plan out how you are going to present your cake. If you want to place it on a platter you need to be extra careful while transferring.

UNFORTUNATELY, I really wanted my castle cake presented to the party on a platter but SILLY ME: I forgot to buy wax paper and the cake simply wouldn’t come out of the pan without tearing.

Therefore, I left the cake in the 9x13 pan but everyone adored it anyway plus, my three year old couldn’t stop staring and smiling!

INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare a cake mix as instructed on box and once you’ve line and greased your 9x13 pan you can pour the batter; cook until done. Do the same for the loaf pan and the second cake mix; leave both cakes to cool completely.

I froze mine to be sure I could ice them and it makes them easier to handle but semi-warm icing is truly the key for the icing to go on perfectly!

Sadly, I was in a hurry but if you wake the time to mix the icing before using it over and over, it will help to increase the temperature (better than waiting for it to reach room temp).

Cover your big cake with icing all over and place the loaf cake on the top. Once you’ve given the loaf piece its full coat of icing you need to cut the angel food or pound cake in half and cover it in icing as well.

Then, you may begin using the piping bag to give the castle some character. I chose to use pink icing (a few drops of red food dye) and I piped it around the border in random areas. My bag kept breaking but hopefully you can do a better job.

Once that is done, place the sugar cones on top as the castle steeples. Then, take one fruit roll up and slice a triangle “flag” for each cone you are using and squish them to the top of the cones. Cute huh! Then add icing and other decorations until you are done.

TIP: I cut some sticks from uneaten suckers to hold the flags but go with whatever you want.

Don't forget to write “Happy Birthday …..” too! Good luck and I’m always here for questions and suggestions!