Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups
These Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups are creamy, crunchy, and just so much fun to eat! Chocolate pudding and cookies are layered in cups where kids can dig (with their spoons, of course!) through the cookie “dirt” and dig out the fun gummy worms. This dessert is rich and creamy, is a fun treat for birthdays and Halloween, and kids enjoy building their own dirt cups!
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These pudding cups are perfect for Halloween parties, school treats, or even a rainy afternoon activity indoors. There is no oven involved and the whole recipe comes together in 20 minutes.
What is our favorite part about these pudding cups?
- No baking required
- Just 5 ingredients
- Kids can help assemble the cups
No oven, no dirty mixer – just layer, top, and chill. That’s it!
Why you’ll love these Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups
No baking required – Since this recipe comes together entirely in the fridge, you will never touch the oven.
Only 5 ingredients – Chocolate pudding + milk, Oreos, Cool Whip, and gummy worms are all that you need.
Kid approved – Kids love crushing the cookies and pushing the worms into the “dirt” cookie crumbs, which makes this a great recipe to make together.
Great for a crowd – Because the recipe scales up easily, it is an easy choice for Halloween parties, birthday parties, cookouts, potlucks, or a treat for a lunchbox.
Supplies needed to make Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups
- A mixing bowl
- A whisk
- Measuring cups
- Small clear cups (we use these because they come with lids)
- A ziplock bag for crushing the cookies
- A spoon for layering
Ingredients
Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix – This make the creamy “mud” base of every cup. We used the 3.9 oz box of Jell-O chocolate pudding.
Milk – Needed to prepare the pudding according to the package instructions, which is 2 cups of cold milk.
Oreos – Crushed into fine crumbs, these become the “dirt” part of the Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups and creates the fun layers.
Cool Whip – Folded into the pudding, this makes the filling extra light, fluffy, and creamy. We used the entire tub of Cool Whip.
Gummy Worms – The funnest finishing touch! These make the cups look like they are crawling with worms!
The full recipe, along with the ingredients, can be found below.
How to make Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups
First, prepare your chocolate pudding by following the package instructions. For the package we used, we used 2 cups cold milk to our 3.9 ounce package of instant chocolate putting mix, whisking together the pudding mixture and cold milk until evenly blended for about 2 minutes. Then, the bowl of pudding was place in the fridge for at least 5 minutes to allow the pudding to fully set.
While the pudding chills, crush up 20 Oreos (without the cream centers) in a ziplock back using a rolling pen or heavy object (like a cooking pan!), or pulse the cookies in a food processor, until the cookies resemble a fin dirt-like crumb. Set aside roughly 1/2 cup of crumbs for the topping and mix the rest into the pudding mixture.
Next, gently fold in the entire container of Cool Whip into the pudding mixture. This step lightens the texture. Be sure to fold, instead of whisking or stirring, to keep the pudding fluffy.
Once your mixture is ready, spoon it into small cups, filling each about two-thirds full. After, top each cup with a generous layer of the reserved crushed Oreos.
Finally, press a few gummy worms into the crumbs on top of each cup so that each cup looks like it has worms wiggling out of the dirt. For extra flair, let a couple of worms hang out over the rim of the cup. If you’re feeling extra festive for Halloween, cut the edges off of each Oreo to create a tombstone.
Chill the cups in the fridge for at least 30 minutes tbefore serving so the layers can set. Once they are chilled, you are ready to dig in!
Tips
- Use full fat Cool Whip for the creamiest, fluffiest texture.
- Crush the Oreos in a ziplock back for easiest cleanup. Leave a few larger chunks uncrushed for extra texture.
- Layer the pudding and crumbs in clear cups so the layers can show through.
- Make these the morning of your event since the pudding can continue to set as it chills.
Toppings Ideas
- Any kind of gummy shapes
- Oreo cookies cut as tombstones
- Sprinkles on top in festive colors
FAQs
Recipe
Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups
Ingredients
- 1 box (3.9 ounce) Jell-O chocolate instant pudding mix
- 2 cups Milk, whole
- 20 crushed Oreo cookies, filling removed
- 1 container Cool Whip, whole fat
- 12-18 Gummy Worms
Instructions
- Whisk the pudding mix with the cold milk in a large bowl for about 2 minutes, until the pudding mixture thickens. Refrigerate for 5 minutes to allow the pudding to set.
- Remove the filling from the Oreos (or leave them!) and place the Oreo cookies in a ziplock bag or food processor and crush until they form a fine crumb. Set aside ½ cup for topping.
- Fold the Cool Whip and the remaining crushed Oreos into the set pudding until combined.
- Spoon the mixture into small cups, filling each about ⅔ full.
- Top each cup with the reserved cookie crumbs.
- Press 2-3 gummy worms into the crumbs of each cup.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
More Recipes to Try
Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Potato Bowls with a Secret Sauce
Easy Chicken Burgers with Sweet and Spicy Buffalo Sauce
Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage and Potato Corn Chowder
If you try any of these recipes, I would love for you to come back and leave a comment!
