Gone are the days of making mud pies in the backyard with literal dirt. Nowadays, we’re getting the kids in the kitchen to make the delicious, playful and interactive Dirt and Worm Cups!
Dirt and worms are a time-honored classic dish that every child loves to eat. It is a multi-layered dish consisting of chocolate pudding, crumbled cookies and gummy worms to garnish. While this dish is quite simple to make, it is a great way to introduce your kids to the kitchen and start building core food memories with your family.
What are Dirt and Worm Cups?
Dirt and Worm Cups are a playful and kid-friendly dessert, made to look like worms crawling and emerging through dirt. They are made by layering crushed chocolate cookies, chocolate pudding, and gummy worms. This no-bake dessert is traditionally served in a clear cup, so that all layers are visible.
Jump to:
- What are Dirt and Worm Cups?
- Why You Will Love Dirt and Worm Cups
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Dirt and Worms
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store Dirt and Worm Cups
- What to Serve with Dirt and Worms
- Top Tip
- Dirt and Worms Frequently Asked Questions
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Dirt and Worm Cups Recipe
- More Desserts You Will Love
Why You Will Love Dirt and Worm Cups
- No Bake: There is no need to heat up your oven for this dessert.
- Quick and Easy: This dessert comes together so quickly, so you won't have to wait too long before you get to dig in - pun intended.
- Great for Kids: Playful Dirt and Worm Cups are a huge hit with both kids and kids at heart.
- Minimal Ingredients: You will only need to gather 5 ingredients to put together a delicious dessert.
Ingredients
This is a pretty easy shopping list with everything being available at your local grocery store. You may even find that all these ingredients are already in your pantry so have a look before heading to the store.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Cold Milk: Whatever kind of milk you prefer will work, just keep it cold.
- Chocolate Instant Pudding: Save time by using instant packets.
- Whipped Topping: Cool Whip tends to be our go-to option, but you can always make a homemade whipped cream.
- Oreo Cookies: We used classic chocolate Oreos.
- Gummy Worms: Buy whichever brand you like best.
For this recipe, you'll want to have on hand a hand mixer, food processor, individual clear plastic cups, measuring cups and spoons, and a large bowl.
Substitutions and Variations
What we love most about this recipe is that it can be fully customized. This is a great dessert to be creative and let each person top their own dessert cups with their favorite treats.
- Your Favorite Cookie: Feel free to try this recipe with any cookie you love, or even a Gluten-Free substitute. We love using Gluten Free Oreos when needed!
- Vanilla Pudding: Try making a vanilla version by swapping in homemade vanilla pudding or vanilla pudding from a store-bought mix.
- Your Favorite Candy: Any sweet or sour option will do.
How to Make Dirt and Worms
Don’t get worried about the accuracy of presenting this dish. The fun is in the process of building a muddy, crunchy, chocolatey dessert.
Make the chocolate pudding, add in whipped topping and mix. Divide evenly amongst 8 cups, then top with Oreo crumbs. Set in the fridge for at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. When ready to serve add 2-3 gummy worms per cup and enjoy!
Hint: The purpose of this dish is to have fun while making it and making a bit of a mess in the process — don't worry about making it look too perfect!
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How to Store Dirt and Worm Cups
We recommend that once the cups are topped with Oreo crumbs they are eaten that day for the most freshness. The crumbs will start to absorb moisture from the pudding and start to get soggy the longer they sit. Alternatively, you can prep everything in advance, and assemble when ready to eat.
What to Serve with Dirt and Worms
- Mini Pail: Serve in a mini pail with a lid for a fun presentation.
- Halloween Spoons: Add Halloween themed spoons for a festive twist.
- Spider Rings: Top with toy spider rings for a fun Halloween twist (when age appropriate, as this could be a choking hazard).
Top Tip
Since this dish is meant to be easy and fun, just enjoy this time with your family. You may make a bit of a mess but at the end of the day you will find yourself and others laughing with pudding all over your face.
Dirt and Worms Frequently Asked Questions
You can substitute homemade pudding in place of the instant pudding if the volume is the same. Be mindful that it will increase total preparation time.
For best result you should make them the same day you plan to serve them, but we have made them up to 3 days prior. While they are still delicious, the cookie crumbs to get a little “damp” feeling as they absorb the liquid from the pudding. We would recommend if you wanted to prep everything in advance, and assemble on the day you need them, that would give you the best result!
More Recipes You Will Love
Check out some more of our recipes you will want to try!
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Dirt and Worm Cups Recipe
Equipment
- Hand Mixer
- Food Processor
- Plastic Cups
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Large Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 4- ounce chocolate instant pudding
- 4 cups milk any type, cold
- 2 cups whipped topping
- 10 Oreo cookies crushed
- 1 package gummy worms at least 16
- 8 9- ounce plastic cups
Instructions
- Make the chocolate pudding by vigorously beating the pudding and milk in a large bowl for 2-3 minutes or until it starts to thicken.
- Add in 2 cups of whipped topping and mix well.
- Divide evenly amongst 8 cups (approximately ¾ cup)
- Top with about 2 tablespoons of Oreo crumbs, then set in the fridge for at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. Then add 2-3 gummy worms per cup and serve.
Notes
- Instead of using individual cups, this recipe can also be made in a casserole dish. We recommend a 7x11 dish but be mindful that your quantities may need to be adjusted. Simply scoop and serve.
- Be sure not to skip chilling your pudding — it's important to let it set properly to ensure the best consistency.
- We love how customized this recipe can be. Try it with any cookie you love, make a vanilla version by swapping in vanilla pudding, or top with your favorite sweet or sour candy.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
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