Banana Split Trifle

Anyone use the 'bottom of the jar' method when cooking?
You know the one where you prowl through your fridge to see what jars or bottles only have a little
in the bottom that you can finish off in whatever current recipe you're making!
Say like a pot of chili that you can add in some hot sauce or some ketchup ...
whatever needs finishing off & emptying up.
I really like doing this!
(I'm a finisher!)
We like condiments at our house so I'm always glad to finish things off for some more space in the fridge.

Well, I don't know if I've ever incorporated that 'bottom of the jar' method when making a dessert until today!
I needed to come up with a quick dessert for unplanned activity + I needed to use some delicious chocolate chip angel food cake that I bought at our favorite little Amish grocery store.
So, I quickly decided that I'd make up a dessert using the items I had on hand!
(Kinda like the TV show 'Chopped'!)
I got busy looking through the fridge & pantry & here's what I came up with:

Isn't she a pretty little thing?!

 

I knew I'd layer some things with the chocolate chip angel food cake making a trifle of sorts,
and as I was gathering, it started reminding me of a banana split! 
And thus, the name of this made-up dessert!
My 'bottom of the jar' ingredients were a tiny bit of pecans (finished off the bag & moved on to the walnuts), about a fourth a cup of marshmallow ice cream topping, a couple ripe bananas, & of course, the cake.

Oh ... & I forgot to add these into the above pic.

I had 3 little vanilla pudding cups that I added to the ingredient stash.

In the bottom of this little adorable ruffly dish (TJ Maxx $5.99), I placed pieces of cake
that I had just torn into large bite-size pieces.
Unfortunately (& usual), I didn't take pictures as I was layering!
It was a simple process though:  cake, banana slices, raspberries, pudding, whipped topping, & nuts!
And repeat!

When all my ingredients were layered in & I reached the top of the dish, I poured on the marshmallow topping,
a final layer of whipped topping, a sprinkle of nuts, & some raspberries all lined up in rows.

This got rave reviews from all the family!

The little chocolate chips in the cake were the perfect chocolatey touch!

What an easy & gorgeous dessert!
And a very adaptable one.
You could easily use plain cake, any variety of fruit, leave off the nuts & pudding ... or not.
If you are using ingredients you love, I'm not sure you couldn't mess this one up!

1/2 angel food cake, torn into pieces
2 bananas, sliced
6 oz. fresh raspberries
1 cup vanilla pudding (approximately -- I used 3 small pudding cups)
8 oz. whipped topping
1/4 cup marshmallow ice cream topping
1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts


In trifle bowl (or any med-lg. serving dish), layer ingredients in this order:
cake, bananas, raspberries, pudding, whipped topping, & nuts
At the top, finish it off with a layer of whipped topping, a sprinkling of nuts, & raspberries.
Refrigerate.


If you like this recipe, here are two more that I think you'll enjoy!

Angel Food Trifle

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Who doesn't love a good party?!
You can find me here linking up with these great blogs.

Monday           Amaze Me Monday     Coastal Charm    The Dedicated House
                     I Should Be Mopping the Floor     The Hankful House     The Modest Mom
Tuesday         Titus Tuesday  A Stroll Through Life
Wednesday   Raising Homemakers        Savvy Southern Style      
                              The Thrifty Home   A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Thursday    Between Naps on the Porch    Katherines Corner3D Lessons for Life
           Hope in Every Season   A Delightsome Life     Lamberts Lately  
Friday      Rooted in Thyme  The Thrifty Groove   Farm Blog Hop   Flea Market Friday   Missional Women
 Best of the Nest  Anything Blue Friday   French Country Cottage  The Girl Creative
Sunday    Nifty Thrifty Things   Simple Saturdays    Sew Many Ways