Drummer Boy Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) tub COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (do not thaw), divided
• 1 package (2 layer size) chocolate cake mix
• 1 (3.9 ounce) package JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon milk
• 11 NILLA Wafers
• 4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, well drained, chopped
• 1 strip peelable red licorice
• 2 JET-PUFFED marshmallows
• 2 pretzel rods

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Refrigerate 1/3 of the COOL WHIP. Return remaining COOL WHIP to freezer. Prepare cake batter; blend in dry pudding mix. Bake as directed on package for 2 (9-inch) round layers. Cool cakes in pans 10 min.; invert onto wire racks. Cool completely.
3. Meanwhile, mix 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar and milk. Brush onto wafers. Microwave frozen COOL WHIP and chopped chocolate on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is melted, stirring after 1 min. Cool 15 min. to thicken.
4. Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar with whisk until well blended. Stir in cherries and thawed COOL WHIP. Stack cake layers on plate, filling with cream cheese mixture. Frost with chocolate mixture. Decorate with wafers and remaining ingredients to resemble drum and sticks. Refrigerate leftovers.