Saturday, October 22, 2016

Layered Pumpkin Dessert


Photo from Taste of Home
I've shared this recipe before (in 2013 and maybe other times as well), but it's a fall tradition with us and so I thought it was time to post it again.

PUMPKIN LAYERED DESSERT

Crust:
1 cup flour
2 T. sugar
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix together ingredients and pat into a 13x9-inch pan or dish. Bake at 350ยบ for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool.

2nd Layer:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
half of a 12-oz. tub frozen whipped topping, thawed

Beat cream cheese and sugar well. Fold in whipped topping and spread on cooled crust.

3rd Layer:
16-oz. can of pumpkin
2 small (3.5 oz. I think) pkgs. vanilla instant pudding mix
1 cup half & half cream (or use evaporated milk or even regular milk)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. cloves

Beat these ingredients together and spread the pumpkin mixture over the cream cheese layer. Chill for 1 hour.

4th Layer:
remaining 6 ounces of whipped topping (from the 12-oz. tub mentioned above)
Chopped walnuts

Spread the remaining whipped topping over the pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

This wonderful dessert has been a favorite at our Thanksgiving dinners for years! In 1995, my youngest daughter's best friend, Emily, spent the Thanksgiving break with us, and the two of them made this dessert together.  I believe it was originally from a Gooseberry Patch cookbook.  It was a new recipe to us then, but it quickly became a tradition. God took Emily home to heaven in the summer of 1996, so this tradition is doubly sweet to us as we remember her and the wonderful Thanksgiving we spent together.

During the fall in recent years, I've seen pumpkin instant pudding in the stores.  You could certainly use 2 boxes of that that rather than taking time to make up the pumpkin mixture, but the real pumpkin will be much, much nicer.  Enjoy, and happy fall!

(Sharing today with Bernideen’s Autumn Garden Tea.)

10 comments:

  1. Sounds delicious and reminds me of the pumpkin pie with a cream cheese mixture layer. Gonna pin so I'll have it for future reference. I am sorry about the loss of Emily so young. Seems wrong somehow, but then Heaven is never wrong.

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    1. It is delicious, Vee. Great for a potluck or a family Thanksgiving.

      Yes, the loss of Emily was hard and yet as my daughter said through her tears that day, "It would be selfish to wish her back." You are right, it did seem wrong but again as you said, Heaven is never wrong. Emily's parents acknowledged this so faithfully and so beautifully.

      This is also the reason I have a granddaughter named Emily.

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  2. Sounds like "Emily's Pumpkin Dessert" would be a nice name Mrs. T. It looks delicious. I hope you will share it at my blog party!

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  3. Done, Bernideen! Thanks for suggesting I share it with your party guests.

    Yes, "Emily's Pumpkin Dessert" would indeed be a good name. Friends of ours call it "Joanna and Emily's Dessert" at their house!

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  4. Mmmm... yes, please! I think I just pinned a similar dessert on Pinterest. I think I need to try your recipe, sweet friend :)

    Hugs to you!

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    1. Hugs to you too, Stephanie! Hope you and your family enjoy this dessert if you try it!

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  5. Mrs T, isn't it lovely making recipes that remind you of friends and loved ones no longer with us? Such a sweet way to be remembered, I should think!

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    1. Jean, you are so right. I often make recipes that came from my mother or my aunts and it is such a blessing remembering them in this way. They all showed love through their talents in the kitchen. A very sweet way to be remembered.

      Thanks for stopping by my kitchen table. Please visit anytime!

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  6. We love all things pumpkin around here... will definitely find some time to give your amazing dessert a try! :)

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    1. Oh, I think your family will love this, Marilyn! It's great for Thanksgiving or any autumn occasion!

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