Photo by Laurie Skrivan| Post-Dispatch

If you, like me, bought too many boxes of Girl Scout cookies, here’s an idea for a different dessert. It’s fast and easy, and can be changed any way you like. Assemble it in a trifle dish or big bowl instead of making individual servings. Use a different variety of cookies or different flavors of pudding. Lighten the pudding by stirring in a little whipped topping. Omit the bananas or use sliced strawberries. It’s up to you and your family’s likes and dislikes.

If you’re looking for more recipes using Girl Scout cookies, check out the website for Little Brownie Bakers, which produces the cookies sold in this area. Thin Mint Brownies, anyone?

If you’re looking for a place to buy cookies, click here.

(And if you’re wondering about the cookies’ nutrition information, that’s online too.)

This recipe is loosely adapted from one in last month’s issue of Southern Living. That recipe called for homemade custard, real whipped cream, and used Nutter Butter cookies, which you can find in the supermarket. Of course, you can use Nutter Butters in this recipe, too.

Do-Si-Dos Chocolate-Banana Trifles

Yield: 8 servings

4 cups cold milk, divided
1 box chocolate instant pudding mix
1 box vanilla instant pudding mix
4 to 6 bananas, sliced
About 16 Do-si-dos (peanut butter creme cookies) or other cookies
Whipped topping, optional

Use the milk to prepare chocolate and vanilla pudding mixes in separate bowls according to package directions.

For each dessert, place a layer of sliced bananas in the bottom of a parfait glass or small glass bowl. Add a layer of vanilla pudding. Crumble a cookie into large chunks over the pudding, making another layer. Add more bananas, then a layer of chocolate pudding. Top with a dollop of whipped topping; garnish with a cookie.