While we might have slightly cooler temps at the moment, this IS August and the heat will return. Why not enjoy a cool and light dessert that’s easy to make and lets you pretend to be sipping mojitos on a beach somewhere…

Total Time: 3 Hr. 15 Min.
Prep Time: 15 Min.
Cook Time: 3 Hr.
12 servings

A cool cocktail translated into a refreshingly zesty dessert. This silken treat has mojito flavors but no alcohol, so it’s really more mocktail than cocktail.

What You Need
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Lime Flavor Gelatin
1 Tbsp. zest and 1/4 cup juice from 3 limes
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping, thawed
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint
1-1/2 cups finely crushed pretzels
6 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

Let’s Make It
1 – Line 9-inch round pan with large sheet of plastic wrap, with ends of wrap extending over side. Beat Neufchatel and 1/4 cup sugar with mixer until blended. Add dry gelatin mix, lime zest and juice; mix well.
2 – Whisk in COOL WHIP and mint; pour into prepared pan. Combine pretzel crumbs, butter and remaining sugar; sprinkle over dessert. Use ends of plastic wrap to gently press crumb mixture into top of dessert.
3 – Freeze 3 hours or until firm. Invert dessert onto plate; remove pan and plastic wrap. Let dessert stand at room temperature 15 min. to soften slightly before cutting to serve.

Kitchen Tips
Tip 1 – Size Wise: Sweets can be part of a balanced diet but remember to keep tabs on portions.

Tip 2 – Special Extra: Stir 1/2 tsp. rum extract into COOL WHIP mixture before pouring into prepared pan as directed.

Tip 3 – Note: If you can’t get enough juice from the limes, add enough bottled lime juice to get the desired measure of juice needed to prepare the recipe.

My Tip – I noticed that the picture shows garnish on the serving slice. If you want to be fancy, place a thin slice of lime and a mint leaf on each slice as your serve it.

You can check all the pertinent nutritional details at MY FOOD AND FAMILY. Any time I think of summertime drinks, I think of Mother’s, the bar in Key West where the Hard Target team hangs out. Since I just finished rereading DOUBLE TROUBLE, which is a Barefoot Bay/Hard Target crossover, I remembered that Bear, Mother’s bartender has his way in the kitchen too, and now I want to reread DOUBLE CROSS because there’s a crossover with the Wolves, including the Boston Mob Wolbes. 😉  Why did I reread DT? Because Nick, the hero, and his cousin Dom, who’s part of the HT team, go to Boston. And yes, this is me being all sly and stuff. Anyway, at the moment DOUBLE CROSS is mostly a standalone, but the team has a history with the Wolves. You can read DOUBLE CROSS for free with Kindle Unlimited or grab it for a bargain $2.99. Just click on the cover or title to get yours.

What about y’all? Do you like “mocktail” desserts?