7 layer cookies

[fireun]

from the cookbook Serve It Forth, a wonderful collection of some authors favorite recipes. This recipe comes from Peter L. Manly, and was one of my staples when I used to have the gaming group over in college. I had forgotten about this one until my sis asked for it a few days ago. I used to double the recipe and use a 9x13 pan when feeding a large D&D group. They are damn filling though, so if you arent feeding hordes, stick with the single dose. They are no bake, which makes them all the better.

1 c butter

1/4 c sugar

1/3 c cocoa

1 tsp vanilla

1 slightly beaten egg

2 c graham cracker crumbs

1 c grated coconut

3 tbsp milk

2 tbsp vanilla pudding mix

1-2 c confectioners sugar

4 oz semisweet chocolate chips

cook in saucepan until blended- half the butter, all of the sugar, cocoa, and vanilla. Add egg and cook 5 minutes, stirring occassionally. Slowly add graham cracker crumbs, coconut. when cool enough press with hands into 9inch square pan (double recipe if using 9x13). Let sit for 15 minutes.

cream remaining butter until soft and fluffy. slowly add milk and pudding mix, when they are blended add preferred amount of confectioners sugar and mix until smooth (use enough to sweeten it, but too much and you lose the flavor) Spread over first layer and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

melt chocolate for top layer. add a little water if necessary to make it spreadable. Spread as top layer and chill, preferable overnight so everything can set. Score the top layer or it can be hard to cut when set.

(the cookbook is brilliant. anyone who likes to putter around the kitchen honestly should snag a copy. it has everything, and the way the recipes are written...lets say each author added their own unique voice to their submissions. I spent a lot of time just flipping through and reading this one. I have had it 13 years, and I still find a new recipe to try every now and then, something that had been overlooked before, or some wonderfully written directions that make me laugh, and then want to try the recipe out. this is a fun cookbook)