Pumpkin Pie Banana Pudding, Parfait, and Treats

Pumpkin Pie Banana Pudding, Parfait, and Treats

Pumpkin everything is here! It is one of the best times of the year, when comfort foods begin to heat up the kitchen and sweet treats at the end, or beginning, of the meal is a must. Thanks to the pumpkin craze, many pumpkin treats can simply be bought and enjoyed by themselves, but pair some of these new pumpkin goodies with old favorites such as Banana Pudding and Parfaits is easy and delightful.

Pumpkin Pie Pudding

Ingredients:

• 2 boxes instant vanilla pudding (3.4 oz.)
• 4-5 cups of milk (depends on how think one likes the pudding)
• 2 bags of Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Spice flavored Milano Cookies
• 8-10 ripe bananas, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 8 oz. tub of cool whip
• Nutmeg for sprinkling

Directions:

1. Prepare the two pudding mixes as directed on the boxes. Once the mix is thick, add the pumpkin pie spice and stir well. Set aside.
2. Using a large bowl, layer the cookies, bananas and pudding mix. Cover the bottom of the bowl with cookies, place bananas on top, then spread pudding, do the same layering again (usually twice is enough but sometimes a third layer can be added).
3. Spread cool whip on top, sprinkle with nutmeg and chill in the fridge for 4 hours before serving.

This is a great way to add a touch of fall to an American classic, by making 2 or 3 small changes and utilizing the special products only available during the fall and Christmas seasons.

Pumpkin Yogurt Parfait

This parfait is perfect for breakfast or a snack and uses Sunbelt's pumpkin spice bars and the new Chobani Greek yogurt pumpkin spice flavored (which can be substituted with pumpkin spice ice cream if desired.

Ingredients (serving size: 1 parfait):

• 1 Pumpkin flavored Greek yogurt
• 2 Sunbelt Pumpkin Spice bars, crumbled
• 1/4 cup vanilla or chocolate flavored yogurt
• Pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon for sprinkling

Directions:

Place some crumbled pieces of the bar in the bottom of a small glass or parfait glass. Top with half the pumpkin spice yogurt, then with more crumbled pumpkin bar, then 1/4 of vanilla yogurt, more crumbled bar, place the remaining pumpkin spice yogurt on top, and sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.

Both of these make good treats to serve at a Halloween, Harvest, or Thanksgiving gathering, especially popular with children.

Pumpkin Treat Suggestions:

Here are a few more ideas on how to take advantage of these treats while they are out:

• Line a plain store bought frosted cake with pumpkin spice cookies and write Happy Harvest on top using Pecan Pie M&M's
• Use the sunbelt pumpkin spice bars crumbled into Corn Flake or Special K cereals (even Raisin Brand) to add some fall flavor to the morning
• Make parfaits with vanilla and pumpkin spice ice cream and Milano Pumpkin Spice cookies crumbled, top with whip cream and pumpkin flavored seasonal treats
• Bake a favorite sugar cookie recipe adding M&Ms to the top or finely crush up the pumpkin spice Milano cookies and mix them into the recipe

Happy Fall!!!