These pudding-wiches are a blast from the past, bringing me right back to my days at summer camp.
I was talking to my mom a month or so ago and we were brainstorming snacks to bring to our family reunion (which starts today!!!). She mentioned pudding-wiches and I thought, “OMG! PUDDING-WICHES!!” I had forgotten all about them.
A few of my childhood summers (maybe 3 or so?) I would spend a week at Camp Croix with my siblings, best friends, and our camp counselor mothers. It was always the highlight of the summer. We would make crafts, play softball, tetherball, and nukem (a version of volleyball where you catch and through the ball), canoe, swim, have campfires, sing songs, go to Bible study, put on plays, make new friends, and all those other fun camp activities. So, so fun.
Oddly enough I ran into one of the girls that I met at summer camp one time during an intern event at General Mills. It had been 10 years since we had seen each other, but I have a creepy knack for remembering people (never forget a face!). Isn’t that a crazy coincidence!?
Anyways, the cafeteria would serve these pudding-wiches as dessert or a snack. Then after getting home from camp my mom would whip up a batch or two to keep in the freezer. We would always crave them and then think of fun summer camp memories as we ate them. Plus, pudding-wiches are a super simple and delicious snack to keep on hand and eat when the mood strikes.
After my mom had mentioned them I decided that I needed to make them immediately. So I did.
Pudding-wiches are essentially graham cracker sandwiches with a filling of chocolate mousse (chocolate pudding + Cool Whip).
Get out your crackers.
Get our your mousse.
Dollop on the mousse. Top the sandwiches.
Freeze for a bit and then wrap in plastic wrap.
Store in your freezer and eat as your heart desires.
So that’s it. Nothing fancy or complicated. Just simply delicious.
I have the day off of work and am heading up north in a few hours to celebrate another Dummer Family Reunion. It will be my grandpa, his two brothers, and all the families that stem underneath them. We have the reunions about every three years in various states (Oregon, South Dakota, Colorado) across the country. It is always a great time and this year will be no exception. I love that our family takes the time and money to get together every couple of years to celebrate and actually enjoy our time together.
I don’t remember if my mom actually decided to make pudding-wiches for the reunion or not, but she did text me that she made 3 batches of s’more cookies, 2 batches of salted caramel oatmeal cookies, and a big pan of bars. Plus there will be my Great Grandma Lilian’s German potato salad, burgers, brats, beans, and so many other delicious things. It will be a delicious weekend. Good thing I’m scheduled to lead morning boot camp.
- 24 graham crackers
- 8 oz container Cool Whip
- 3.9 oz box chocolate instant pudding mix
- Make the pudding according to package directions. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- In a large bowl, fold the Cool Whip into the pudding. Place in the freezer for 15-60 minutes to firm up (optional).
- Split graham crackers in half. Dollop a large spoonful on half of the crackers. Top with the other half of the graham cracker to create a sandwich. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Wrap individual pudding wiches in plastic wrap and keep in freezer until ready to eat.
It’s funny how food can give you such nostalgic feelings. Every time I eat one of these my mind shoots straight back to those summer camp days. It was like the prime of my awkward stage. I’m so glad I (for the most part) am past that. Because, yikes. Those pictures are a bit painful to look back on.
