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You are here: Home / Recipes / Desserts / Festive Layered Dessert Squares

Festive Layered Dessert Squares

11/28/2014 By Tammi 63 Comments

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Festive Layered Dessert Squares, holiday themed dessert squares with cream cheese, cool whip, pudding and crushed candy canes. Great Christmas dessert!

Festive Layered Dessert Squares

Festive Layered Dessert Squares

Also try these Star Shaped Jam Cookies, they are so good!

For myself, making sweet treats this time of year is a little difficult since I don’t care much for many of the traditional holiday desserts. I cook and bake what I love, and you’ll never find me making fruit cake or dense desserts loaded with nuts.

Stemming from my firm belief that Cool Whip should be it’s own food group {lets take a vote on that}, I like to keep things creamy and light all year long.

Which is why I’m head over heels in love with this Festive Layered Dessert Squares recipe, it’s inspired by Kraft Canada’s Chocolate-Peppermint Striped Delight. 

Changes that I made to this recipe is using the new cream cheese in the delicious family, the Philadelphia Chocolate Brick, instead of Philadelphia Cream Cheese. It’s the same creamy cheese, yet in chocolate – and really jazzes up a recipe. Much better than using cream cheese and then adding cocoa to infuse some chocolate. 

I also changed the pudding flavour to vanilla since I already has the chocolate layer thanks to the Philadelphia Chocolate Brick. This does give you a yellowish pudding layer, so you could use food colouring and change that if you wanted a different colour.

Instead of traditional peppermint candy canes, I used cherry flavoured candy canes in this recipe. It still gives that festive flair in looks, but the cherry-chocolate combination is to die for!

Enjoy!

layered dessert squares with crushed candy cane topping
Festive Layered Dessert Squares

Festive Layered Dessert Squares

Yield: 10
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Festive Layered Dessert Squares, holiday themed dessert squares with cream cheese, cool whip, pudding and crushed candy canes. Great Christmas dessert!

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups Honey Maid Graham Crumbs
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup sugar, divided
  • 1 pkg Philadelphia Chocolate Brick, 250 g, softened
  • 3 cups + 2 TBSP cold milk, divided
  • 1/2 cup finely crushed cherry candy canes, divided
  • 3.5 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping, divided
  • 2 pkg Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding, 4-serving size each

Instructions

  1. Mix crumbs, butter and 2 Tbsp. sugar; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch dish. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  2. Beat cream cheese, remaining sugar and 2 Tbsp. milk in medium bowl until blended. Stir in half the crushed candy. Add 1-1/4 cups Cool Whip; mix well. Spread over crust.
  3. Beat pudding mixes and remaining milk with whisk 2 min.; pour over cream cheese layer. Let stand 5 min. or until thickened. Cover with remaining Cool Whip.
  4. Refrigerate 4 hours. Top with remaining crushed candy just before serving.

Notes

** Kraft Kitchen Tips **
HOW TO EASILY CUT INTO SQUARES
Place dessert in freezer about 1 hour before cutting into squares to serve.
HOW TO SOFTEN CREAM CHEESE
Place completely unwrapped package of cream cheese on microwaveable plate. Microwave on HIGH 15 sec. or until slightly softened.
SUBSTITUTE
Prepare using non-hydrogenated margarine, Philadelphia Light Brick Cream Cheese, skim milk, JELL-O Fat Free Pudding and Cool Whip Light Whipped Topping.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 10 Servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 245Saturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 120mgCarbohydrates: 34gSugar: 29gProtein: 3g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

© My Organized Chaos
Cuisine: American / Category: Desserts
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Filed Under: Desserts

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Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    11/28/2014 at 8:06 am

    Those look so good. I missed it for Thanksgiving, but I’m so making these for Christmas dinner.

    Reply
  2. Melissa P says

    11/28/2014 at 8:20 am

    Now THAT’S a nom nom! Thanks for sharing this great dessert.

    Reply
  3. Tonya says

    11/28/2014 at 9:05 am

    That looks absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe, I’ll have to give this a try 🙂

    Reply
  4. dawn rader says

    11/28/2014 at 1:18 pm

    these look delicious! I love to bake. especially for the hoildays!

    Reply
  5. Treen Goodwin says

    11/28/2014 at 2:47 pm

    wow looks delish , i will be trying this over the holidays thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂

    Reply
  6. Dawn Lopez says

    11/28/2014 at 3:31 pm

    Ooh this looks so fun and yummy! I love that it’s even easy to make.. right up my ally! Thanks for sharing another awesome recipe!

    Reply
  7. Anne Taylor says

    11/28/2014 at 4:05 pm

    This looks and sounds delish! I love dishes that are fairly easy to prepare and more fun to eat!

    Reply
  8. Cathy @ Our Mini Family says

    11/28/2014 at 4:10 pm

    This looks darling! My family would definitely enjoy these if I brought them to our Christmas party!
    ~Cathy~
    OurMiniFamily.com

    Reply
  9. kathy downey says

    11/28/2014 at 4:52 pm

    Those look so delicious

    Reply
  10. Shauna says

    11/28/2014 at 5:34 pm

    Okay, those sound amazing. I love desserts like this. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  11. Chelley @ AisForAdelaide says

    11/28/2014 at 5:41 pm

    These look so yummy! I also think Cool Whip is its own food category! YUM!

    Reply
  12. Anne says

    11/28/2014 at 6:25 pm

    Looks tasty! I like the idea of using Cherry candy canes, it is a nice way to change the taste up a little bit.

    Reply
  13. Elizabeth Vlug says

    11/28/2014 at 7:10 pm

    Always looking for new and not too complicated recipes to make during the holidays. This is a keeper. Thanks for sharing. And for your tips.

    Reply
  14. Elena says

    11/28/2014 at 7:42 pm

    oh wow, these look delicious. I was looking for some desserts to serve and might just try this one.

    Reply
  15. Paula says

    11/28/2014 at 7:57 pm

    Oh my goodness. I had no idea looking just how many flavors were combined here. It sounds amazing.

    Reply
  16. Liz Mays says

    11/28/2014 at 8:33 pm

    What a delicious dessert twist! I think I’ll definitely give this one a try over the holiday break!

    Reply
  17. ann b says

    11/28/2014 at 8:37 pm

    oh my goodness, this looks so good! I’m going to have to try and make it soon.

    Reply
  18. Candace Corey says

    11/28/2014 at 11:04 pm

    this looks so good. My mouth is watering!

    Reply
  19. AImee Smith says

    11/28/2014 at 11:47 pm

    I did not know that they made chocolate cream cheese! Talk about a game changer! These looks really yummy.

    Reply
  20. Lori JB says

    11/29/2014 at 6:35 am

    This looks so good. I like that it seems to be light, not a traditional heavy dessert. My girls will love to help make this too!

    Reply
  21. April says

    11/29/2014 at 7:41 am

    This looks amazing and so pretty. I cannot wait to try.

    Reply
  22. Susan Hanley says

    11/29/2014 at 11:29 am

    What a great idea for our next pot luck get together. I’m bringing dessert.

    Reply
  23. Kirsten G. says

    11/29/2014 at 12:27 pm

    That looks really good. I’ll have to keep this recipe in mind because I’m always on the lookout for easy holiday desserts.

    Reply
  24. Lisa Bristol says

    11/29/2014 at 12:29 pm

    I love recipes like this. I am excited to try this one. I am sure it will be a hit.

    Reply
  25. Lynda Cook says

    11/29/2014 at 12:32 pm

    This looks really good, easy enough to make and gives me an excuse to try the chocolate cream cheese, I still have not tried that one yet, thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  26. Lynn Duchesne says

    11/29/2014 at 12:33 pm

    So, making this for Christmas thanks!

    Reply
  27. caryn s says

    11/29/2014 at 12:54 pm

    This looks like heaven on palate Tammi!

    Reply
  28. caryn s says

    11/29/2014 at 12:56 pm

    This looks like heaven on plate Tammi!

    Reply
  29. Cheryl says

    11/29/2014 at 1:35 pm

    These look yummy I must try thanks!! 🙂

    Reply
  30. Stephanie LaPlante says

    11/29/2014 at 1:59 pm

    They look and sound absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  31. Chandra Christine O'Connor says

    11/29/2014 at 2:48 pm

    it looks droolishous.

    Reply
  32. kristen visser says

    11/29/2014 at 3:40 pm

    oh wow!!! i am totally drooling!!

    Reply
  33. Carole Dube says

    11/29/2014 at 4:09 pm

    I will try this for my Christmas desert. Looks delicious. I also does not like fruit cake. If I’m going to have a desert and all the calories. I want something that’s really good.

    Reply
  34. Doris Calvert says

    11/29/2014 at 5:12 pm

    omg, DROOL..this looks so appealing and after we make it I will have to send it home with someone because I would eat way more than I should. Thanks for posting.

    Reply
  35. Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says

    11/29/2014 at 5:30 pm

    This looks so festive! I bet it tastes as delicious as it looks! Bookmarking!

    Reply
  36. Florence C says

    11/29/2014 at 5:45 pm

    Looks good. Something new for me to try over Christmas.

    Reply
  37. Athena says

    11/29/2014 at 6:49 pm

    This looks sooo good!

    Reply
  38. GARRY S says

    11/29/2014 at 8:02 pm

    THEY LOOK DELICIOUS

    Reply
  39. loucheryl says

    11/29/2014 at 8:40 pm

    I would love one of these right now!

    Reply
  40. Judy Cowan says

    11/29/2014 at 8:44 pm

    This looks and sounds yummy! Definitely would make a great dessert for the holidays, thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  41. Soozle says

    11/30/2014 at 6:54 am

    Yum! These sound delicious – and pretty easy to make 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  42. Tiffany (A Moms Take) says

    11/30/2014 at 8:05 am

    Those do look pretty festive, and delicious. I’ll have to try these.

    Reply
  43. Gene D says

    11/30/2014 at 8:38 am

    I am hungry already. The Christmas treats are a love/hate thing for me.

    Reply
  44. Teresa Claire says

    11/30/2014 at 10:42 am

    These look so delicious and easy to make..and very festive with the crushed candy canes on top.

    Reply
  45. Erika Belanger says

    11/30/2014 at 6:01 pm

    This looks so yummy, and fairly easy to bake! I love lemon recipes and I bet my gramma would love this one!!

    Reply
  46. heidi c. says

    11/30/2014 at 8:14 pm

    I love that these have crushed candy canes in them!

    Reply
  47. Kristine Ewald says

    11/30/2014 at 8:49 pm

    These look YUMMMM

    Reply
  48. nicolthepickle says

    12/01/2014 at 5:19 am

    The Cherry Chocolate combination sounds really good. I like to make food with candy canes but I have never tried with cherry ones.

    Reply
  49. Deana Johnson says

    12/01/2014 at 6:17 am

    These look Amazing!

    Reply
  50. Erika Belanger says

    12/01/2014 at 6:43 pm

    I love desserts with lemon!! Looks so yummy!!

    Reply
  51. Donnas says

    12/02/2014 at 5:20 am

    This looks so delicious, I have some chocolate cream cheese at home, I was gonna make cheesecake but I’ll definitely try these squares too.

    Reply
  52. angela m says

    12/02/2014 at 10:35 am

    Yum this looks delicious. Sounds easy to make too. thanks

    Reply
  53. Laurie P says

    12/02/2014 at 3:13 pm

    They look so yummy! Something to make and bring to Grandma’s this weekend 🙂

    Reply
  54. Susan T. says

    12/04/2014 at 10:50 am

    This is so pretty and so easy too! Like you I don’t like heavy cakes, definitely NO fruitcake! This looks nice and light.

    Reply
  55. Carole from Carole's Chatter says

    12/07/2014 at 8:16 pm

    Oooh, Tammi, I do hope you’ll swing by to Food on Friday to add this to Christmas Favourites! Cheers from Carole from Carole’s Chatter

    Reply
  56. Tasha says

    12/08/2014 at 1:50 am

    I am so making these Festive Layered Dessert Squares! YUMMY!!!!

    Reply
  57. Carole Dube says

    12/15/2014 at 8:20 pm

    I made this on Saturday and it was delicious. My daughter took the recipe. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  58. Joanne says

    12/17/2014 at 7:14 am

    What do I use if I can find chocolate cream cheese?

    Reply
  59. Nena Sinclair says

    01/03/2015 at 10:29 pm

    Now this is my kind of dessert! And I agree, Cool Whip should be it’s own food group!! 🙂

    Reply
  60. SueSueper says

    08/04/2015 at 10:41 am

    This looks like something I would make. I like the changes you made.

    Reply
  61. Susan Patterson says

    11/26/2015 at 5:36 am

    This looks so delicious! Thank you so much for this fantastic holiday recipe!

    Reply
  62. Londia says

    12/25/2016 at 5:32 pm

    I made this dessert for Christmas and it was delicious. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 30 Holiday Dessert Ideas - Life Anchored says:
    12/21/2015 at 4:12 am

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