Bridgette is busy at BlogHer and I am in charge!!!!  *evil laugh*  I hope she is having fun and learning all sorts of new tricks that she can attempt to teach me, but who am I kidding?  She will have  to teach me at least twice.  I am so new at this it’s not even funny!

Anyway, since my very first product review was for FairyTale Brownies I thought I would share a recipe a friend recently gave me for Brownie Trifle.  This is a good one when you have no time but need to impress.  It’s so easy, takes almost no time to make, and holy cannoli is it good.  See, I said I wasn’t June Cleaver.  June would make Baked Alaska  or Cherries Flambe’ or some other pooh-pooh dessert.  Me?  BAM!  Brownie Trifle.  It looks impressive but takes no time and is so dang good it will make you want to slap your momma.  Don’t really slap her though.

You will need:  One box brownie mix (to make a 9×13 inch pan) and whatever the box says you need to make that (oil, eggs, etc).  I prefer any kind of brownie mix that has chocolate chunks in the mix.  You will also need a small box of chocolate pudding (instant), 2 cups of milk, 2 pints fresh strawberries (see variations below though if you don’t like strawberries), 6 cups of whipped topping, thawed (like Cool Whip), and 2 Hershey bars.

Directions:  First, bake the brownies as directed and cool.  In the meantime, make the pudding using 2 cups milk and let refrigerate a little bit until it is set.  If you are using strawberries this is a good time to wash them and slice them.  Once  the pudding is chilled, fold in 2 cups of the whipped topping and set aside.  Now you are ready to assemble it!  Use a  big glass bowl or trifle dish if you have one (’cause you KNOW June Cleaver has a trifle dish AND a deviled egg plate…but we won’t go there).

Cut the brownies into bite size pieces  (I just crumbled mine up because I hate doing dishes and it saved me a dirty knife).  Then layer in bowl:  1/2 of everything except the Hershey bars:  brownies, pudding mixture, strawberries, and cool whip.  Repeat.  End with cool whip on top and then grate two Hershey bars on top to make it look pretty, y’all.  Or grate one and eat one, I won’t tell!   Cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.  This part is important, because it tastes great right away, but AWESOME after it has set up completely.

Now for the variation:  My kids love fruit in general but don’t want anything healthy mukking up their dessert.  So the other recommendation is to use cut-up Peanut Butter Cups.  HOLY COW.  I made this last week for some friends and the wife doesn’t eat peanut butter cups, (I know, what is wrong with her?) so I used crushed up Heath Bars.  WHAT?  Someone get the smelling salts!  Heath Bars and Brownies?  That should be illegal.  You really can do anything you want as I can’t imagine any type of candy bar plus brownie plus pudding and cool whip goodness tasting bad.    Let me know if y’all try it and what you use. June likes to shake it up to keep ‘em guessing!  Enjoy!