Blarney Stone Dessert

We've created a fun Irish tradition in my household on St. Patrick's Day. I make a 'Blarney Stone' dessert that is always a little different each time and is always a lot of fun for my family. I substitute items and improvise upon the recipe depending on the ingredients that I have on hand or what I can find in my local stores. The elemental addition to this tasty dessert is the edible 'Blarney Stone.'

I use large, clear plastic cups so that we can see the layers of dessert. The layers are made of ice cream, crushed cookies, and candies and is intended to look like an underground view of Ireland. I prefer to use rocky road ice cream because the nuts, chocolate chunks and marshmallows make for an interesting, rocky soil. My favorite discovery for this dessert are Coconut Creme Mini Irish Potato Candies that I found at candywarehouse.com You could also use plain peanuts or chocolate covered peanuts as the potatoes or leave the potatoes out entirely and declare a 'Potato Famine.' Layers of crushed chocolate cookies add a contrasting texture and a few gummy worms add surprise. If you really want to gross out the kids, try these realistic Gummy Brown Earth Worms-they are so realistic they are guaranteed to cause a commotion! I also discovered them at candywarehouse.com

This time I started with an Oreo Cakester-a soft and delicious version of the original Oreo Cookie. It fit perfectly at the bottom of the cup. On top of the cookie, I put a layer of ice cream about a ¼ of the way up the cup. Then I put a layer of crushed Oreo Fudgees (after a I sampled a few) and I repeated until I reached the top portion of the cup. All along the way I put peanuts, sour gummy worms, and some earthly looking M&M's that are mottled with gold.

The best part of this recipe is the "Blarney Stone" that I hide within the dessert. I use a single Silver Jordan Almond or anything else that looks somewhat like a stone, doesn't blend into the dessert and won't melt. A single hard candy also works. On top of the dessert I like to put some green coconut flakes for the grass-easily made with coconut flakes and food coloring. You can find specific directions at recipezaar.com

This time I decorated the top of the dessert with a four leaf clover flower made out of spearmint leave candies. You could also use Shamrock Lollipops or other Shamrock candies that you are able to find. Mini Irish toothpick flags placed on top of the dessert would also be cute. The Irish flag is divided into three vertical bands of green, white and orange-so easy to replicate that your children could make them or you could purchase them at colorfastflags.com.

I make this dessert ahead of time when my family is not around to see where I've hidden all the goodies-especially the "Blarney Stone." I put the desserts back into the freezer until after dinner and serve them with chocolate gold coins on the side. I even write a little note from a Leprechaun-"When you each find your 'Blarney Stone,' kiss it for a little luck of the Irish! Happy Saint Patrick's Day!"