Description
This festive Christmas Cookie Lasagna is a delightful layered dessert featuring a buttery cookie crust, creamy cheesecake layer, rich vanilla pudding, and a fluffy whipped topping. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it combines classic seasonal flavors and textures into a visually impressive and delicious treat.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 24 Christmas sugar cookies (or shortbread cookies)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Cheesecake Layer:
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream or whipped topping
For the Pudding Layer:
- 1 package (3.4 oz / 96g) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) cold milk
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional for a festive flavor)
- ½ cup crushed Christmas cookies
For the Topping:
- 2 cups whipped topping
- Crushed Christmas cookies, sprinkles, or mini chocolate chips for decoration
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Crush the 24 Christmas sugar cookies into fine crumbs and mix with 6 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch dish to form the crust. Refrigerate while preparing the other layers.
- Make the cheesecake layer: In a mixing bowl, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with ½ cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup heavy cream or use whipped topping, then gently fold it into the cream cheese mixture. Spread this evenly over the chilled cookie crust.
- Prepare the pudding layer: In a bowl, whisk together 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix with 1 ½ cups cold milk until thickened. Stir in ½ teaspoon almond extract, if using, for a festive touch. Fold in ½ cup crushed Christmas cookies. Spread this pudding mixture evenly over the cheesecake layer.
- Add the topping: Spread 2 cups of whipped topping evenly over the pudding layer.
- Decorate: Sprinkle crushed Christmas cookies, sprinkles, or mini chocolate chips over the whipped topping to decorate and add extra texture and flavor.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the completed lasagna for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow layers to set and flavors to meld. Slice into squares and serve chilled.
Notes
- For a stronger almond flavor, increase the almond extract to 1 teaspoon.
- You can substitute whipped topping with homemade whipped cream for a fresher taste.
- Use gluten-free cookies if you need this dessert to be gluten-free.
- This dessert is best served cold and kept refrigerated.
- To make it easier to slice, chill overnight to ensure firmness.
