YODEL CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Coat an 8" springform pan with cooking spray. Cut for cakes crosswise into 4 pieces each. Stack, frosted side up, around edge of pan. Halve remaining cakes lengthwise arrange in bottom of pan, cutting to fit.
• 2. In microwave-safe bowl, stir cocoa into hot water until smooth. Sprinkle gelatin over mixture; let stand until softened - about 5 minutes. Microwave on high in 10-second intervals, stirring, until dissolved.
• 3. In large bowl on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese, milk, and melted chocolate chips until smooth and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Slowly and gradually beat in gelatin mixture until blended. Fold in 2 cups topping; spread in pan. Cover; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight. Carefully run knife around edge of cheesecake; remove side of pan. If desired, transfer remaining topping to pastry bag fitted with Star tip; pipe or spoon onto cake. If desired, garnish with additional snack cake slices.

Steps:

• Place Yodels in freezer 5 minutes to firm up chocolate coating, then peel off and discard (or eat!) coating.
• Using small sharp knife, cut thin slice off each end of Yodels. Cut 1 Yodel in half crosswise on angle and discard (or eat!) 1 half.
• Using toothpick, attach other half of cut Yodel to whole Yodel to form "branch." Using small offset spatula or butter knife, cover Yodels with frosting, drawing spatula in long strokes down length of "log" to give appearance of bark and leaving ends of "logs" uncovered to show spiral pattern. Once branch is secured with frosting, gently remove toothpick.
• Decorate as desired with leaves, chopped cherries or red candies for berries, brown candies and/or cocoa powder for earth, and shredded coconut or confectioner's sugar for snow.