Dirt Pudding Cups {Homemade Version}
Every kid loves dirt pudding cups, and now every parent can love them too because this homemade version beats the boxed pudding version hands down!
I’m fairly convinced that everyone, and I mean everyone, needs a go-to recipe for dirt pudding cups. I mean, look at them? Aren’t they just screaming love and happiness?
Maybe my house is the only one where dirt and worms translates into love and happiness (I have my four rowdy boys to thank for that), but I’m guessing these would be a hit with the little ladies, too.
A while back, I had an email exchange with Laura, a MKC reader, who wanted some insight into the famed Oreo dirt pudding cups. Well, it didn’t take much convincing for me to get to work doing some recipe testing.
I mean really, Oreos (or Trader Joe’s Jo Jo’s in my case), whipped cream, chocolate pudding and gummy worms – what’s not to love? (Ok, in the interest of full disclosure, gummy worms make me gag, but my kids could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so I’ll rephrase: what’s not to love…unless you have a gummy worm gag reflex?)
The result is a classically fun and tasty treat that will please kids and adults alike. Just ask my husband. He was like a kid at Christmas. Apparently he’s been pining away for a good ol’ dirt pudding cup for the last year or three. I had no idea but am glad his craving was finally cured.
Trust me, this homemade version beats the boxed pudding any day and doesn’t take a whole lot longer. Guaranteed or your money back (er, not really, but you know what I mean!).
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Dirt Pudding Cups {Homemade Version}
Ingredients
- 1 batch homemade chocolate pudding
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 20 chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed (like Oreos or Jo Jo’s)
- Gummy worms
Instructions
- Make pudding according to recipe and refrigerate until chilled and set up.
- Whip the cream and powdered sugar together using a handheld mixer on high speed (or an electric stand mixer or a blender) until stiff peaks form.
- Fold the cream into the pudding until combined.
- Measure 3/4 cup of the crushed cookies and stir them into the pudding mixture.
- Divide the pudding mixture between six cups. Top with remaining crushed cookies. Gently press one or two gummy worms into the top of each pudding. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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Recipe Source: Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
My daughter said it could be served in a restaurant! We all loved it. I did not sweeten the whipped cream because of the sweet cookies, didn’t think we needed it. Great dessert! And not just for kids.
Mel, could you make the puddings the day before, refrigerate, then add the cookie and worms the next day before the class party? Many thanks (novice here)!
Yes!
We make these every year for Halloween and they’re seriously the best! My daughter had some dirt cups at school and said they were disgusting compared to these ones.
keep it up mel! dirt tastes great, two thumbs up from this mom 🙂
It tastes better with instant pudding. Just saying.
How long do you think these stay good for in the fridge after you fold in the cream? Such a nostalgic treat
The cookies will soften once the cups are assembled – so I think they are best eaten within 12 hours, probably, but if you don’t mind less crunchy cookies, I think they could be refrigerated for a day or so.
How can you not like gummy worms, Mel…….lol, love from a grandmother of five……!
Haha, I know! My kids think I can’t be human.
Hey! I found your recipe and loved that it had recognizable ingredients and was made from scratch! I linked your recipe to my blog post. Check it out here: http://militarysisterwives.weebly.com/2/post/2013/09/dirt-and-worms-dessert.html
We made your homemade chocolate and vanilla puddings for dessert tonight. They are very good. I didn’t have milk chocolate chips, so I just used semi-sweet, but it was still good. I think I am going to go to the store tomorrow and buy some milk chocolate so we can make these dirt cups tomorrow. thanks so much!
My kids have asked for this dessert before but I forgot all about it! I think I will try it w/ vanilla pudding and crushed Nilla wafers too. Thank you. So simple.
Thanks again for your help on this recipe! My husband could not stop eating it !
I so feel the same was as you about gummy worms, but my kids adore them. More for them, more pudding and oreos for me 🙂 I can handle that
I wonder why we stop eating things as adults that we loved as kids, when we still love them as adults! I´ve been wanting to make chocolate pudding for such a long time, this might just be the start of not one but two obsessions (one without worms please!)
Thanks for a more homemade version!!! My boys will LOVE this!! And gummy worms too make me GAG!! I might get on this tomorrow!!
Those look delicious! I love dirt pudding.
Mmm such a fun treat!
Have you ever seen sand pudding? Very similar except you blend up a package of nilla wafers with a couple Oreos. Looks amazingly like sand. Layer it with vanilla pudding. Serve it in a new sand bucket with a shovel. Super fun!
Oh my word, this is strange. I was thinking just today that I wanted to make these and needed to find a good “recipe” and voila, here it is! You read my mind!
I remember making these when my children were young. I’ll have to try your recipe and take them to my adult kids for a blast from the past.
“gummy worm gag reflex” oh Mel you make my day! 🙂
These are adorable!!
We’ve only recently discovered dirt pudding. A friend of ours makes it when they have us over to swim but she uses vanilla pudding, so good!
fantastic. My kids will love this. They have recently taken to squating down next to the compost while im turning it and shooting out an arm when they see a bug. So to be able to eat them and have it taste good…yummmm. perfect party idea.
I was thinking about these not too long ago. I don’t think I have ever made them with my kids. They would absolutely love these! It’s a great summertime treat too. Thanks for the inspiration!
What a fun recipe! My children would go nuts for one of these, and I think my husband would love it, too! 😉