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Candy Cane Lush Recipe
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Candy Cane Lush is a festive no-bake holiday dessert. This blissful lush dessert has a festive peppermint layer, a creamy vanilla layer, and a fluffy whipped cream topping.
MORE RECIPES: Layered Peppermint Fudge | Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks | Mint Chip Dessert Lasagna
Candy Cane Lush Recipe
A must-make for the holiday season, this Candy Cane dessert is an easy, delicious, no-bake layered dessert. Make holiday prep easier by making this dessert ahead of time and then removing it from the fridge just in time to slice and serve holiday guests.
Candy canes, and their traditional red and white color flavored with peppermint, are often associated with Christmas. Delightfully simple to make, this homemade candy cane dessert has layers of creamy peppermint and vanilla filling on a sweet cookie crust.
A delectable treat for family and friends, this peppermint dessert is great for serving holiday dinner guests or bringing to a potluck, get-together, or party. Serve your candy cane dessert with hot chocolate or Bailey’s and Coffee Ice Cubes.
Candy Cane Lush Ingredients
- Golden Oreos - Family Size package, around 540g
- Butter - unsalted butter, melted
- Cream cheese - softened
- Sugar - white sugar
- Sugar - powdered sugar
- Cool Whip - thawed in the fridge, not frozen
- Candy canes - crushed peppermint candy canes
- Milk - cold
- Vanilla Pudding - Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix, could substitute for Instant White Chocolate Pudding Mix
Crush your candy canes using a food processor or by placing the candies in a large resealable bag. Use a rolling pin, heavy skillet, mallet, or small hammer to break the candy canes into coarse pieces. When you stir the candy canes into the cream cheese layer, don’t mix too much or the layer could turn pink or green, depending on the color of candy canes you use.
If you prefer you can use classic chocolate OREOS for the cookie crust. In addition to sandwich cookies, you could also use graham crackers or wafer cookies for the crust. While vanilla pudding mix is easier to find, you could substitute Instant White Chocolate Pudding mix for a more chocolate flavor.
Chilling the dessert for 24 hours will create the best layers in the candy cane lush. If you can’t wait that long, make sure to at least chill the dessert overnight. To help the dessert cut easier you can pop the lush into the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes just before cutting.
How to Make Candy Cane Lush
FIRST STEP: Prepare a 13” x 9” baking dish by lining with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.
SECOND STEP: Use a food processor to turn the Golden Oreos into crumbs. Mix these crumbs with melted butter then press into the 13” x 9” baking dish. Put this crust in the freezer while you prepare the next layer.
THIRD STEP: In a large bowl, cream the cream cheese. Then add the white sugar, powdered sugar, and Cool Whip and mix until combined. Make certain not to over mix the cream cheese layer.
FOURTH STEP: Stir in ½ cup of the crushed candy canes. You don’t want to over mix or beat this in as it will turn this layer pink – unless you like pink desserts! Set aside the remaining ¼ cup of crushed candy canes for the topping.
FIFTH STEP: Use a spatula to smooth this layer over the prepared crust. Pop the baking dish back into the freezer while you prepare the next layer.
SIXTH STEP: Beat dry pudding mix and milk until the mixture starts to thicken (about 2 minutes). Use a spatula to evenly smooth this layer over top of the cream cheese candy cane layer.
SEVENTH STEP: Pop back into the freezer for 10 minutes.
EIGHTH STEP: Smooth remaining Cool Whip over the top of the dessert and sprinkle with remaining candy canes.
Can I make this peppermint dessert ahead of time?
For the best results, candy cane lush should be made 24 hours in advance. You can also freeze this dessert for up to three months in an airtight container.
Can I use chocolate OREOS?
Instead of Golden OREOS, you can also use chocolate OREOS, graham crackers, or wafer cookies for the crust.
How do I easily cut the candy cane lush?
Chill the dessert overnight for sure, and you can also pop the lush into the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting so the layers come out clean and crisp.
How to Store Candy Cane Lush
IN THE FRIDGE: Store this candy cane dessert in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
IN THE FREEZER: This peppermint dessert can be frozen for up to three months in an airtight container. Candy cane lush can be served frozen or thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Candy Cane Lush Recipe
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Ingredients
Crust
- 1 Family Size package of Golden Oreos ((around 540g))
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
Second Layer
- 1 package cream cheese, softened (8-ounce)
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups Cool Whip ((thawed in the fridge, not frozen) leave the remainder of the Cool Whip topping for the last step (16 ounces needed in total needed for this layer and the topping))
- ¾ cup crushed peppermint candy canes ((easiest way to crush is to use a food processor))
Third Layer
- 2 ¾ cups cold milk
- 2 boxes Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix ((2 of the 4-serving size boxes) could substitute for Instant White Chocolate Pudding Mix but it can be difficult to find)
Topping
- Remaining Cool Whip
DIRECTIONS
- Prepare a 13” x 9” baking dish by lining with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.
- Use a food processor to turn the Golden Oreos into crumbs. Mix these crumbs with melted butter then press into the 13” x 9” baking dish. Put this crust in the freezer while you prepare the next layer.
- In a large bowl, cream the cream cheese. Then add the white sugar, powdered sugar, and Cool Whip and mix until combined. Make certain not to over mix the cream cheese layer.
- Stir in ½ cup of the crushed candy canes. You don’t want to over mix or beat this in as it will turn this layer pink – unless you like pink desserts! Set aside the remaining ¼ cup of crushed candy canes for the topping.
- Use a spatula to smooth this layer over the prepared crust. Pop the baking dish back into the freezer while you prepare the next layer.
- Beat dry pudding mix and milk until the mixture starts to thicken (about 2 minutes). Use a spatula to evenly smooth this layer over top of the cream cheese candy cane layer.
- Pop back into the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Smooth remaining Cool Whip over the top of the dessert and sprinkle with remaining candy canes.
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