Dirt Pudding Cups - Homemade Hooplah

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Two prepared dirt pudding cups with gummy worms.

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Table of Contents

  • What do you need to make these pudding cups?
  • Do you have to use Cool Whip?
  • What other toppings can you use?
  • Can you make these pudding cups in advance?
  • How long do pudding cups last?
  • Step-by-Step Recipe Guide
  • Recipe Details

Quick, simple, and easy, these dirt cups are an internet classic that can help make any party or movie night for all ages just a little more fun (and delicious!)

What do you need to make these pudding cups?

The idea is to keep these pudding cups simple, so you’ll only need a few ingredients:

  • Oreo cookies – Any type or flavor that you’d like.
  • Chocolate pudding – This can be homemade, store-bought, or even the individually packaged puddings (like Snack Pack). If you’re making the pudding at home (such as instant chocolate pudding), you’ll also need the other ingredients listed on the box, like milk.
  • Cool Whip – This ingreidnet is optional, but it can have a big impact on how the pudding cups turn out. The choice will be yours on whether or not you’ll want to mix (or layer between!) the Cool Whip in with the chocolate pudding.
  • Gummy Worms – Any type or flavor that you’d like!
Top down view of prepared dirt pudding cups.

Do you have to use Cool Whip?

As mentioned above, using Cool Whip is optional. I personally prefer these pudding cups without it, but I’m also a huge fan of chocolate pudding in its purest form.

Without the Cool Whip, you’ll only have the dense, creamy texture of the chocolate pudding, and the recipe will make about four small pudding cups. If you mixed the Cool Whip in with the chocolate pudding, the texture would be fluffier, the chocolate color will be lighter, and the recipe yield will be larger, to be about six to eight pudding cups.

Close up of prepared dirt pudding cups with gummy worms hanging off the edge of the cup.

What other toppings can you use?

The fun thing about dirt is that, well, a lot of things can live or grow in it, from plants to fruits to gravestones. So while these pudding cups might have a creepy flair, they can be customized for any time of year, such as:

  • Halloween and Fall – Classic gummy worms, candy pumpkins, gravestones, bones, candy eyes, etc.
  • Easter and Spring – Gummy worms work well here too, as well as eggs, nests (think shredded coconut), candy flours, peeps, etc.
  • Christmas and Winter – Cover the top with coconut or sprinkles or snow, candy trees, snowmen, M&M’s for ornaments, etc.
  • Summer – Candy versions of summer fruits, like watermelon, green sprinkles for grass.
White spoon scooping up a bite of dirt pudding cup.

Can you make these pudding cups in advance?

Yes, you totally can! You can make these pudding cups up to 24 hours in advance. Store them in the refrigerator until ready to eat.

How long do pudding cups last?

Once prepared, these dirt pudding cups should remain good in the refrigerator for up to four to six days.

More fun creepy recipes

  • Prepared eyeball cookies on a black plate. Eyeball Cookies
  • Top down side view of two candy corn pudding cups, with a spoon digging in the surface of the closest cup, showing off the candy corn decoration on top. Candy Corn Pudding Cups
  • Side view of a slice of graveyard cake, topped with a pumpkin Peep and Milano tombstone, surrounded by more slices of cake and Halloween sprinkles. Graveyard Cake
  • Top down view of a large bowl of prepared Halloween snack mix, surrounded by fall-themed decorations like a pumpkin, brown leaves, etc. Halloween Snack Mix
  • Top down side view of a large bowl filled with prepared monster munch. Monster Munch
  • Side view of three decorated Twinkie ghosts, sitting upright on a plate with festive pumpkins and a glass of milk in the background. Twinkie Ghosts

Step-by-Step Recipe Guide

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to the Recipe card or click the “jump to recipe” button below.

JUMP TO RECIPE

Step 1

Kick things off by preparing the instant pudding mix with the milk per the instructions on the box.

Step 2

If you’re using Cool Whip, mix it in with the prepared chocolate pudding until nice and creamy.

Step 3

When ready to assemble, add the pudding to a small glass or cup, filling it about ½ to ¾ of the way. Top generously with crushed Oreo cookies, then drape a few gummy worms on top.

Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Grab chocolate pudding.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Add chocolate pudding to a small cup.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Add chocolate pudding to a small cup.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 -  Grab crushed Oreos.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Top chocolate pudding with crushed Oreos.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Top chocolate pudding with crushed Oreos.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Grab gummy worms.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Place and bury gummy worms in crushed Oreos.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Place and bury gummy worms in crushed Oreos.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Place and bury gummy worms in crushed Oreos.
Dirt pudding Cups Step 3 - Place and bury gummy worms in crushed Oreos.

Step 4

Serve and enjoy!

Recipe
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Two prepared dirt pudding cups with gummy worms.

Dirt Pudding Cups

5 from 1 vote Author: Chrisy ToombsTime: 15 minutes prepServings: 4 pudding cups Easy to make and fun to serve, these dirt pudding cups only take 5 ingredients to make and can be customized with tons of different holiday-themed candies.

IngredientsUS CustomaryMetric

  • 1 ½ cups Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, any type
  • 3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 8 ounces Cool Whip, softened, optional * (see recipe notes)
  • gummy worms
Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Using a food processor (or ZipLoc bag + meat tenderizer), crush Oreo cookies until they become a fine crumb. Set crumbled Oreos aside.1 ½ cups Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
  • Prepare instant pudding mix with milk per package instructions.3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix, 2 cups whole milk
  • If using Cool Whip, add it to bowl with pudding and mix until thoroughly combined.8 ounces Cool Whip
  • Assemble pudding cups by adding ½ cup pudding to 4 small cups (it should fill cup ½ to ¾ of way full). If using Cool Whip, recipe will yiled enough for 6-8 small cups. Top each cup with crumbled Oreos, then gently place a few gummy worms on top, burying one end of gummy worms in Oreo.gummy worms
  • Serve as desired.

Video

Notes

* Cool Whip – Using Cool Whip will give the chocolate pudding a fluffier, whipped texture and will double the yield of the recipe (from 4 cups to 6-8 cups). However, it will impact the color of the cups (turning the chocolate lighter) and they will not be as dense or creamy. Both options are delicious, so use the one that sounds best to you.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1pudding cup | Calories: 611kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 773mg | Potassium: 417mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 67g | Vitamin A: 298IU | Calcium: 216mg | Iron: 6mg

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Tag » How To Make Dirt Cups