I mentioned in my last post that we won’t be putting up our Halloween decorations this year. *insert sad face here*
So, I thought I would share with you a frightful tale involving our decorations last year.
You see, I’m afraid of spiders. Quite afraid. Other bugs don’t bother me, and snakes don’t either. I did have a close encounter with a black widow as a kid and I think it scarred me.
So why we decided to be the “spider house” in the neighborhood is beyond me. I think I just liked the idea of spiders attacking the house and thought it would be fun!
Picture it: a lovely fall afternoon. Hubby and I are putting up our decorations. This basically means that I place a few spiderwebs here and there while he’s on the ladder or the garage roof doing all the “real” work. Like supervising isn’t “real work.”
Anyway…
To put up the “Happy Halloween” banner on the little roof over our front door, we have to balance a ladder on the landing, where the steps are. It’s not entirely safe, so I always hold the ladder while he’s working on the banner.
So, all is well, I’m holding the ladder, looking around since I’m starting to get bored since all I’m doing is…well…holding a ladder. All of a sudden, I get a strange, tingly feeling in the middle of my chest. I quickly look down…
THERE IS A SPIDER DOWN MY SHIRT.
What happens next is a blur. I’m sure there was a combination of screaming, frantic, crazy dancing, swatting, and running. All I know is that by the end of it, the spider was no where to be seen and I was out of breath. Perhaps the spider didn’t like us making a mockery of his kin?
I would have liked some of this trifle after all of that excitement! I made this after my gestational diabetes diagnosis, since it is really a small tweak/remake of my cookies and cream pudding, so I knew it tasted amazing. I may have had a small spoonful, you know, just in case. To be honest, if I had to pick one recipe from my blog to eat every day, this would be it. It is absolutely addictive.
And, now, it’s all dressed up for Halloween!
Ingredients
- 3.4 ounce box of instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups whole milk
- 6 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed (like Cool Whip)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- Orange food coloring
- 12 ounces Halloween chocolate sandwich cookies
- 3-4 pint sized mason jars, optional
Instructions
- Put the chocolate sandwich cookies in a large, plastic bag. Using a rolling pin or other heavy kitchen utensil, crush the cookies until desired crumb size is achieved. Set aside.
- Put pudding mix, milk, and whipped topping into a medium bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until combined. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar until combined. Add cheese and butter mixture to the pudding mixture and beat until well-combined. Add orange food coloring until desired shade is achieved (gel color will result in a deeper shade!)
- To create the Halloween trifle look, layer the orange pudding with the cookie crumbs in pint sized mason jars. You can also mix it all together for a simple, yummy pudding! Chill for at least 2 hours.
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
It is quite funny that with your spider fear you put giant ones on your house! I’m not a fan either, but they are so easily squishable….way easier to dispose of than a snake! These look yummy, and your black skull looks like the cake we made at work with our new skull cake pan…very cool!
Thanks, Susie!
I hate spiders!!! I work up once in the middle of the night (as a teenager) to a centipede crawling on my arm. You can imagine there wasn’t much sleep after that. To this day I hate pretty much all bugs!
Love the trifle, cookies n’ cream anything is always good!
Oh ick!! I would be scarred too
Hahhaha! I just laughed out loud in lab and my boss looked at me weird. Told him your story and now he is laughing too and going “Wow she does make one pretty trifle”. And I agree with him. Love this!
Haha, glad you had a laugh at my expense!
I’m sure the neighbors were amused!
I can just picture the whole scene with you at the bottom of the ladder…I’d do the same thing! I even smashed a huge one on the ground…I really don’t know why! And, all the babies came out running. Still gives me chills thinking about it! Oops, probably shouldn’t have shared that part. (=
Love this Halloween trifle…it’s gorgeous! Pinned.
Oh, gross!!! Hoards of spider babies are even worse
I’m glad that you didn’t let go of the ladder when you felt the spider crawling on you. I think what creeps me out about spiders is how quickly they can move. The one shown on TV on the PGA golf course last week would have had me running for cover!
This trifle is so pretty.
Oh, Paula, I definitely let go of the ladder! I guess my survival reflex kicked in
But, the ladder will stand on its own – I’m just paranoid about it on the landing, so I always hold it for him! He was too busy laughing at me to care about his own safety I guess 
OMG!
I am drooling looking at this gorgeous dessert! LOVE it!
Thanks so much, Asmita!
Oh my, please pass the trifle…PLEASE! They really look great! Sorry about your spider encounter…I had a super scary spider attack this year too – all while looking at cookies with spiders on them. Seriously, there was a spider on my leg. I think I did the same thing you did!
Ewww! What is with these icky spiders!?
I think your spider story is funny! Why do spiders attack at the most inappropriate times? Seriously, you or your hubby could have been hurt.
All you were doing is trying to make him the most popular creature for Halloween and him crawling down your shirt while you try to hold the ladder for your hubby is the thanks you get! Ungrateful spider!
Maybe next year you might consider decorating with snakes or black cats! LOL They might be grateful. Hahahahah
Oooo – a black cat theme would be AMAZING, Lisa!
I love this trifle! It’s so festive. I hate spiders too. When the weather is nice I like to sit outside and read during my lunch breaks at work. I’ve had a spider go down my shirt once and an ant (the big ones) another time. Needless to say I know that screaming dance all too well
Ugh – what is it with going down the shirt!? That’s the worst!
I can see why this is addictive and your story about spiders made me want to scream! I hate spiders too and I don’t know what I’d do if one got that close! Thanks for sharing, sweet friend.
Thanks, Monet!
Very festive and that has got to be super tasty! As for spiders, yick! Funny coincidence, Quinn (not yet 3 years old) walked by me today with a tissue bunched up. I said, “Q, what’s that you’ve got” and she very plainly said, “Its a spider. We’ve got to put him in the trash.” Well, phew! She didn’t get that spider-killing gene from me!!
Haha – that is one brave little lady!
I would have reacted the same way! Spiders freak me out. Every time I walk through a spiderweb on accident, I can’t help but think there’s a spider lingering on me for the rest of the day. Anyways, I love trifles and I adore these black and orange striped ones you made!
Oh yes, spiderwebs are the worst – it seems like you can never get them completely off!
This is my kind of Halloween treat, delicious and super cute. Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to make and enjoy!
Thanks, Pamela!
Oreos are quite possibly my favorite thing to bake with, and uh, to eat. I could eat both of those trifles and be guilt-free.
I love your Halloween story! I can’t handle most bugs, but spiders are definitely the worst.
Oreos ARE the best!
These trifles are so fun for halloween! And sound quite delicious too. I am also scared of spiders and probably would have had a similar reaction.. love your story!
They are downright addictive – promise!
This is SO beautiful! I love the layered colors
Thanks so much, Ashley!
LOL! Jennifer, your spider story is too funny. Poor hubby…he probably didn’t know what was taking place with you franticly running for the hills! Love spiders as decorations only…even jewelry. I have a cool antique pin everyone wants, LOL! Oh, girl…this looks so yummy! I’m such a sucker for anything pumpkin. I’m sorry I missed you yesterday. Had a terrible allergic reaction to fingerling potatoes of all things. I’m paleo and do not usually eat potatoes. But, hubby bought some and made them for dinner. I only had 3 of them. (They are small.) Woke up the next morning all swollen and broken out! The Benadryl I’ve been taking keeps knocking me out. I feel so behind this week! I will be pinning this tonight. Have a great day, girl!
Oh no! I’m so sorry, Stacy! Silly potatoes
Hope you’re feeling better!
How cute are these trifles??!! Oh and that story about the spider freaked me out! I am so terrified of them! It’s so bad.
Thanks, Ashley!
Haha that is so funny! I would of reacted the same way! I was way more scared that you were going to say the ladder fell. These parfaits look absolutely delicious! Very festive.
Oh no! Luckily, hubby wasn’t hurt – just amused
This is one GORGEOUS triffle!
Thanks, Shashi!
This looks incredible. I know my kids would LOVE this!
Thanks, Pam!
Oo, yay for Halloween treats though! I can only imagine how delicious this is, looks great!
Thank you, Yvonne!
This looks wonderful! Love it served in the mason jars.
I hate all bugs, except lady bugs, butterflies, dragonflies, and would have flipped out if the spider was on me. Flipped out. I’m kinda flipping out just reading it
Thanks, Laura!
These are so cute and creative! Absolutely love this festive Halloween dessert. I want one (or ten) for myself!
Thank you, Georgia!
I feel your fear, Jennifer, and your story made me shiver! Glad you didn’t knock the ladder over:) This trifle looks absolutely heavenly!
Thanks, Sue!