Fabulous Fruit Bars (Cookie Mix

Fabulous Fruit Bars (Cookie Mix)

2 pouches (1 lb 1.5 oz each) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 eggs
Filling
1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
Topping
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon almond extract


1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, stir base ingredients until soft dough forms. Press half of dough in bottom of pan.
3. Spread pie filling over dough. Drop remaining dough by teaspoonfuls over filling.
4. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes.
5. In small bowl, stir glaze ingredients until smooth. If necessary, add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle glaze over warm bars. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature

Strawberry and Peach Cream Trifle

2 packages (4-serving size each) vanilla pudding and pie filling mix, (not instant)
3 cups milk
1 1/2 quarts (6 cups) strawberries, sliced
1 large fresh peach, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup sugar
1 package (16 ounces) frozen pound cake loaf
1/4 cup peach or strawberry preserves
1/4 cup amaretto or orange juice
1 cup whipping (heavy) cream
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
2 large fresh peaches, peeled and sliced


1. Make pudding mix as directed on package for pudding, using 3 cups milk. Place plastic wrap directly on top of pudding. Refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled.
2. Mix strawberries, cubed peach and sugar. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes.
3. Cut pound cake horizontally in half. Spread preserves over bottom half. Top with top half. Cut into 18 slices. Drizzle with amaretto. Place 9 slices in 3- to 4-quart straight-sided glass bowl. Spoon half of strawberry mixture over cake.
4. Beat whipping cream in chilled small bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff. Fold whipped cream into pudding. Spoon half of pudding mixture over strawberries. Repeat layers with remaining cake, strawberry mixture and pudding mixture. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
5. Just before serving, sprinkle with almonds. Top with sliced peaches.




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Strawberry Trifle

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box
2 boxes (4-serving size each) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
4 cups milk
2 bags (16 oz each) frozen strawberries in light syrup, thawed
1 1/2 cups frozen (thawed) whipped topping
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted


1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Make cake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
2. While cake is cooling, in large bowl, beat pudding mixes into milk with wire whisk about 2 minutes or until blended.
3. Cut or tear cake into 1-inch pieces. In 3 1/2-quart glass trifle bowl, arrange half the pieces, cutting pieces to fit shape of bowl. Pour half of the thawed strawberries (with syrup) over cake; spread with 2 cups of the pudding. Place remaining cake pieces on pudding and around edge of bowl. Top with remaining strawberries and pudding. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled.
4. Spread whipped topping over top of cake. Sprinkle with almonds. Store covered in refrigerator up to 12 hours.

Key Lime Coconut Angel Cake

1 box Betty Crocker® white angel food cake mix
1 1/4 cups cold water
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup Key lime or regular lime juice
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
1 container (12 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup flaked coconut
Sliced kiwifruit and strawberries, if desired


1. Make cake mix as directed on package, using cold water. Cool cake completely. Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom layer, cut side up, on serving plate.
2. In large bowl, beat milk, lime juice and lime peel with wire whisk until smooth and thickened. Fold in whipped topping.
3. Spread 1 cup lime mixture evenly over top of first layer of cake. Place second layer of cake carefully on bottom layer; spread evenly with 1 cup lime mixture. Top with remaining layer of cake.
4. Frost top and side of cake with remaining lime mixture. Sprinkle with coconut. Garnish cake with kiwifruit and strawberries.

Lemon Chiffon Dessert

Lemon Chiffon Dessert

1 package Betty Crocker® 1-step white angel food cake mix
2 cups boiling water
1 package (8-serving size) lemon-flavored gelatin
1 can (6 ounces) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 1/2 cups whipping (heavy) cream


1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Bake and cool cake as directed on package for angel food (tube) pan.
2. Pour boiling water on gelatin in large bowl; stir until gelatin is dissolved. Refrigerate about 15 minutes or until thickened but not set.
3. Add enough cold water to lemonade concentrate to measure 2 cups; stir into gelatin. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until foamy.
4. Beat whipping cream in chilled medium bowl on high speed until stiff; fold into gelatin.
5. Tear cake into about 1-inch pieces. Fold cake pieces into gelatin mixture. Spread in ungreased rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches.
6. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours until firm but no longer than 24 hours. Cut into squares. Store covered in refrigerator.

Ginger-Peach Dessert

40 gingersnap cookies (about 1 1/2 inches in diameter)
1/2 cup pecan pieces
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 quarts (8 cups) peach frozen yogurt, softened
1 container (8 ounces) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
2 medium peaches, cut into thin slices


1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Place cookies and 1/2 cup pecan pieces in food processor. Cover and process until crushed. Add butter; process until mixed. Press evenly in rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until center is set when lightly touched. Cool completely, about 25 minutes.
2. Spread frozen yogurt over cooled crust. Freeze 30 minutes.
3. Spread whipped topping over frozen yogurt; sprinkle with finely chopped pecans. Freeze about 4 hours or until firm.
4. To serve, let stand at room temperature 5 to 10 minutes. Cut dessert into squares. Top each square with 2 or 3 peach slices.

White Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Makes:18 strawberries


1 bag (12 ounces) white baking chips (2 cups)
1 tablespoon shortening
18 large strawberries with leaves
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening


1. Cover cookie sheet with waxed paper. Heat white baking chips and 1 tablespoon shortening in 2-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chips are melted.
2. For each strawberry, poke fork or toothpick into stem end, and dip three-fourths of the way into melted chips, leaving top of strawberry and leaves uncoated. Place on waxed paper-covered cookie sheet.
3. Heat semisweet chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate chips are melted. (Or place chocolate chips and shortening in small microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on Medium (50%) 1 minute; stir. Microwave 2 to 3 minutes longer, until mixture can be stirred smooth.)
4. Drizzle melted semisweet chocolate over dipped strawberries, using small spoon. Refrigerate uncovered about 30 minutes or until coating is set.

Makes:18 strawberries