Dressing up for the holidays - Dessert Style

Brownies have to be one of the easiest desserts to make. They bake at one time unlike cookies, and don't need frosting like cake.  However, there is a simple way to dress them up to make them the belle of your upcoming holiday ball.....

The Brownie Trifle

(Via) 

A friend introduced me to this recipe years ago and I have used it as a go-to recipe when I'm headed somewhere with a lot of mouths to feed. It couldn't be any easier. You simply make a box of brownies, cut them in cubes, then layer with chocolate pudding and whipped topping. You can add chopped up candy bars or nuts if you want to be really fancy schmancy.   

Another idea that I've used when hosting parties and get-togethers is to break the large trifle down into personal mini-desserts. I use delicate juice glasses I found for 50cents each at the thrift store as parfait glasses. You could use wine glasses too, or any clear glassware you own. (or clear plastic tumblers for a picnic.)

Make all the ingredients and then start layering them in the glasses. Next time I make these I'm going to  put the whipped cream and pudding in their own pastry bags to pipe into the parfait glasses.  However, here's the process I used when I hosted book club last month. 

The first thing is to squish diced brownies in the bottom of the glass:

Take instant chocolate pudding...

And spoon or pipe that on top of the brownies. I use my clean finger to gently swirl the pudding to the outside of the glass. 

Next layer on the whipped topping

Smooth it around with your finger and then start the layers over again with brownie pieces. 

I try to get two layers of everything into the glass. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving time. 

You can also do this same idea with different flavors. I've used strawberries, pound cake, and whipped topping in the summer for personal mini-strawberry shortcake parfaits. For thanksgiving, use a spice cake with pumpkin pudding. If your store doesn't carry pumpkin pudding, you can make your own by mixing instant vanilla pudding (already made) with pumpkin pie filling. I made this a few weeks ago for a get-together and it was amazing. I didn't have pumpkin pie filling so I used a can of pureed pumpkin and added the traditional spices (recipe on side of can). Seriously, this dessert is very versatile and sure to impress. 

Bon Apetit!