Since then, they've been honing their culinary skills at home. Joey has become a guacamole guru, while James has perfected the art of making hot dogs with his hot dog maker.
When I asked what they wanted to make for this year's Halloween post, they both voted for icebox cake. Great, I thought. But icebox cake isn't exactly a Halloween classic.
Then I decided, why not? We'd wing it. With no real recipe in mind, we got to work one day while the boys were on school vacation. Our only goal was to have fun. We started with a basic icebox cake and added Halloween touches as we went along.
HERE'S WHAT WE USED
- 1 package instant chocolate pudding
- 1 package instant vanilla pudding
- Graham crackers
- Heavy whipping cream
- Bananas, sliced
- Sprinkles, chocolate chips, and Halloween candy of your choice
- Food coloring
Optional ingredient: two active kids. They may make things a little chaotic, but that's half the fun.
Step 1: Make the pudding. Prepare both flavors according to the package directions.
Step 2: Give the vanilla pudding a Halloween makeover.
They decided to turn the vanilla pudding pumpkin orange. The boys reached for the red and yellow food coloring, but discovered that the pudding's natural yellowish color meant they needed only a few drops of red to get the shade they wanted.
Step 3: Taste-test everything. Any good chef will tell you that frequent taste tests are essential. The boys were happy to do their part.
Step 4: Whip the cream.
James whipped up some cream for an extra dose of goodness. Refrigerate it until you're ready to assemble the cake. And if anyone took a shortcut and used whipped topping, these guys wouldn't tell.
Step 5: Start building your layers.
Joey calls the next step "making pudding lasagna." Put a layer of graham crackers in the bottom of your dish. Spread a layer of pudding over the crackers. Joey started with the pumpkin-colored vanilla pudding, while James went straight for the chocolate.
Step 6: Add the bananas. Or don't!
Joey added a layer of bananas. James passed, explaining that bananas are radioactive. That was news to me. We looked it up and it turned out he was technically right! I had to admire James for bringing a little science into the dessert prep. But who knew an icebox cake should come with a radiation warning?
Step 7: Keep layering.
Continue alternating graham crackers, pudding, and bananas, if you're using them, until you reach the top of your dish.
Cover the final layer with whipped cream. Then let the Halloween decorating begin! The boys added Halloween candy and chocolate chips to decorate their masterpieces. Cover and refrigerate the cakes until the graham crackers soften and the layers set. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Step 9: The most important step. Don't forget to lick the spoons.
Step 10: The Finished Creations!
Readers, how old were you when you first started helping in the kitchen? Do you think kids should be encouraged to experiment with food, or should they learn to follow a recipe exactly as written?
Comment below and one lucky reader will win a Kindle edition of Death Camas: Best New England Crime Stories 2026, featuring the story "Cough Lasagnas and Salty Memories" by our Mystery Lovers' Kitchen pal Edith Maxwell, my own story, "The Angel of Sachem Creek," and plenty of other great crime stories by some of New England's best authors. Don't forget to leave your email address.
This is a great blog, Joey and James are great chefs, under the watchful eyes of their Grandude. And they gave me a great idea for making a Halloween dessert. I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!
ReplyDeleteAnnette, I'm pretty sure that they get their cooking skills from you! (At leat I hope so.)
DeleteSo fun, Ang! The cakes look yummy. I always baked with my sons, and now when my grandgirl is here, we always make blueberry pancakes or Mickey Mouse waffles together. Christmas cookie time is coming soon!
ReplyDeleteEdith, the boys love bluebery pancakes and still like the Mickey Mouse waffles, although they won't admit it. Happy birthday to your sweet little grandgirl!
DeleteLovely Ang! How lucky those boys are to be cooking with their grand dude!
ReplyDeleteLucy, they are a lot of fun. And I learn as much from them as they do from me.
DeleteWhat a joy to share your kitchen with the kiddos! When I was a kid, my mom didn't take to sharing the kitchen. I think it was because it was extremely small. When dad retired and they built their forever home with a bigger kitchen and I was a teenager is when I got to learn from the pro. With our daughter, I had her imagination and little hands helping as soon as she showed the desire to. Wonderful memories made even more so with her passing at the age of 17.
ReplyDeleteNot entering the contest because I can't read ebook. I am, however, starting on read your book SIMMERING SECRETS today. 😊
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Kay, thank you for sharing that with us. I’m so sorry about your daughter. It sounds as though you had some wonderful times together in the kitchen. I’m glad you have those memories to look back on.
DeleteI'll have James' version -- latex allergy means no bananas. Both are splendid, though. -- Storyteller Mary
ReplyDeleteMary, first radioactivity and now latex allergy. I"m learning a lot about bananas. Hope you enjoy James' version.
DeleteOh, well done! The exhaustion is worth it.
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember fixing dinner for my family when I could hardly see the top of the stove! I'm all for trying and experimenting, with reasonable supervision.
libbydodd at comcast dot net
Libby, I can't think of anything that would make a kid feel more grown-up than fixing dinner for the family. And yes to the supervision.
DeleteMy big brother and I used to go crazy with the food coloring. Blue cake, purple icing, red ice cubes. We did it all! patdupuy@yahoo.com
ReplyDeletePat, that sounds like fun. I'd bet that turning food into art would be a great way to get a kid to try something new. P.S. I'm hearing my mother say, "Don't play with your food." :)
DeleteWhat a yummy "kids in the kitchen" recipe and what fun to spend the day with your grandsons making the icebox cake! Some of my best memories are of spending an afternoon with my granddaughter, in the kitchen, creating treats.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to cook with the grandkids. The best part about making icebox cake is that no stove is needed .
DeleteI started helping in the kitchen, when I was 10. We were in a little house, in Southern California. And many years later, I had a toaster like gadget that was, for hot dogs.
ReplyDeletejohnlong83@rocketmail;.com
John, now that you mention it I remember hot dog toasters. Everything old is new again. Thaks for the memory. .
DeleteI don't really remember when, but I was young. I do recall my first attempt at baking a cake solo. I was 9 and out to help my mom. What I really did was bake 1/2 of a cake and make a colossal mess! It was just the first of many crazy kitchen memories. I'm all for kids learning early. Congrats on the new release. Looking forward to reading it. makennedyinaz at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteMarcia, the memory wouldn't be half as good if you didn't make a mess!
DeleteI don't remember what age I was when I helped mom in kitchen as kid but kids should be encouraged to help in the Kitchen with adult supervision
ReplyDeleteLove Halloween dessert
don.stewart@zoominternet.net
Crystal, kids that learn to cook by doing will never have to wonder how a favorite meal was made.
DeleteGreat job everyone!!! The icebox cake looks delicious and fun was had by all. Happy cooking and happy Halloween 🎃
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween, Beth! Yes, we all had fun and the ice box cake was really good.
DeleteThose guys are going to give you some stiff competition in whipping up a new recipe! Ice box cake is my husband’s favorite!
ReplyDeleteChris, I'm with Rich. I love it too. I still remember helping my grandmother make it.
DeleteI've never had an icebox cake before. This sounds quite yummy! Let kids be creative in the kitchen. I started helping at 4 or 5. I would make mud pies and bake them. Or cookies just from flour and water. 😂
ReplyDeleteAnn, I'll bet that you're a fabulous cook today because you started so early, even it was with mud pies. If you try the ice box cake, let me know how you liked it.
DeleteHooray for Joey and James! Their cakes look amazing, Ang, and those adorable boys couldn't have a better "granddude" ~ Happy Halloween to you all! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cleo. We weren't trying for perfection and I think that made them even better. Happy Halloween back at you!
DeleteI started helping my mom in the kitchen when I was about 8 years old. Then I took 5 years of cooking classes in junior and senior high school. I would ask my mom if I could cook dinner for the family and she was more than happy to let me.
ReplyDeletePaula you got a lot of cooking experience at a young age. Every kid should be so lucky!
DeleteWhat a fun family project. baileybounce2@att.net
ReplyDeleteLove the dessert and your grandsons look very happy to be joining you in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI don’t remember my age but i do remember always helping with seasonal cookies , mud pies, icing and stuffing for the turkey. My 3 kids all helped with whatever they were in the mood to make. They are all excellent cooks and one of my sons used to make all
of his own bread.
I now have 3 granddaughters who have all helped in the kitchen. Our 2 great grandkids haven’t had the opportunity yet but i can’t wait for them to make some fun memories with.
sandrashenton13@gmail.com
I think kids should get involved in cooking at a early age this way they learn to cook from the start. Then they can experiment once they learn the recipe. It is best to follow the recipe first then you can add or eliminate items as you want. Thank you for the fun recipe. Deborah deborahortega229@yahoo.com
ReplyDelete