"Left Over" Girl Scout Cookies?

This is the first year that my daughter has been in the Girl Scouts. I have always had a special fondness for the Girl Scouts, and I was one from the time I was about seven years old until about the sixth grade.

I have many happy memories of camping trips, and special projects that we got to work on during my time as a Girl Scout.

But perhaps the very best memory that I have was my mother taking me around the neighborhood to sell Girl Scout cookies. And of course eating the cookies we bought for our household. Mom always made sure that we had plenty of Thin Mints on hand. And she kept them in the freezer, so they were extra crispy.

To this day, I keep my Thin Mints in the freezer. But they don't last long. I am a maniac with those mint-chocolate pieces of heaven. They are like crack. When I open a box, I can't stop eating them until the whole plastic sleeve is empty. I am not to be trusted with those darn cookies - I scarf them down, just like Homer Simpson.

It never occurred to me that one might be able to use these cookies in recipes. I mean, who has so called "left over" Girl Scout cookies hanging around their pantry for weeks on end? Doesn't every one consume every last crack cookie within the first week? I guess not.

For those of you who have some moderate self-restraint around these cookies, here are some desert recipes that use your left over Girl Scout Cookies:

Cold, Creamy & Crunchy Layered Dessert

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

* One 7 – 10 ounce box cookies, crushed and divided
* 3 tablespoons butter, melted
* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 4 cups whipped topping, divided
* 2 – 8 ounce packages instant pudding mix
* 3 cups milk

Preparation:
Lightly grease 9x13 pan. Set aside 1/4 cup cookie crumbs. Combine the rest of the crumbs with butter. Press into prepared pan. Put into refrigerator. With a hand mixer, whip cream cheese until light and fluffy. Stir in 1 cup whipped topping. Spread over chilled cookie crust. Chill while next layer is being made. Combine pudding mix with milk. Pour over cream cheese layer. Chill 1 hour. Top with remaining whipped topping and remaining cookie crumbs.

Girl Scout Cookie Ice Cream Pie Recipe

There are a lot of flavor choices when making this Girl Scout Cookie Ice Cream Pie. You can combine your favorite Girl Scout Cookies with a coordinating ice cream and candy.
Prep Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

* 1-1/3 cups cookie* crumbs
* 5 tablespoons butter, melted
* 1 quart ice cream*, softened
* 3/4 cup crushed candy*, divided

Preparation:
Early in the day or the day before:

Combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press into 8 or 9-inch pie pan. Chill.

Combine ice cream and 1/2 cup candy. Spoon into crust. Freeze completely (for about 4 hours) in airtight container.

Garnish with the rest of the crushed candy.

*Flavor Suggestions:
Do-Si-Dos™ - Peanut Butter Sandwiches with chocolate ice cream and chocolate-covered peanut butter candy.

Thin Mints with peppermint ice cream or vanilla mixed with crushed peppermints.

Samoas® - Caramel deLites™ with coconut ice cream and chocolate-covered coconut candy bars.