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Easy Halloween Dirt Cups with Oreo Crumbs

Easy Halloween Dirt Cups with Oreo Crumbs - featured image
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These no-bake Halloween dirt cups are a fun and easy treat made with creamy chocolate pudding, crushed Oreo cookies, and gummy worms. Perfect for classroom parties or a cozy night in, they come together in under 15 minutes and are sure to delight kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 package (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 2 cups cold whole milk
  • 1 package (14.3 oz) Oreo cookies
  • 1 container (8 oz) Cool Whip, thawed
  • 1 bag (4 oz) gummy worms
  • Optional: green food coloring
  • Optional: small Halloween-themed decorations

Instructions

  1. Crush the Oreos. Place the entire package of Oreos (cream and all) in your food processor. Pulse about 10 to 12 times, until the cookies are broken into fine crumbs with no large chunks. You want the texture of damp sand—not powder, not gravel. If using a bag and rolling pin, crush until you can’t see any white cream pieces. Set aside about 1/4 cup of the crumbs for the final topping.
  2. Make the pudding. In a large bowl, whisk together the instant chocolate pudding mix and 2 cups of cold whole milk. Whisk vigorously for about 2 minutes, until the mixture thickens and starts to set. It will be loose at first, then suddenly get thick. That’s your cue. Let it sit for 5 minutes—set a timer, I’m serious. This is the most important step.
  3. Fold in the Cool Whip. Gently fold the thawed Cool Whip into the pudding using a spatula. Use a cutting motion—down, across, up—rather than stirring. You want to keep the mixture light and airy. Stop as soon as you don’t see white streaks. Overmixing will deflate it.
  4. Prepare your cups. Arrange your 6 to 8 clear cups on a baking sheet or tray (this makes moving them to the fridge much easier). Each cup should be about 6 to 8 ounces in volume.
  5. Layer the dirt. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the Oreo crumbs into the bottom of each cup. Press down gently with the back of the spoon—this creates a stable base. The crumbs should be about 1/2 inch deep.
  6. Add the pudding mixture. Spoon or pipe the pudding mixture over the crumb layer, filling each cup about halfway. You can use a piping bag for cleaner layers, but a spoon works just fine. Tap the cups gently on the counter to settle the pudding and remove air bubbles.
  7. Insert the gummy worms. Here’s the fun part. Take 2 to 3 gummy worms and push them into the pudding layer so they’re partially buried. Let a few inches stick out, like they’re trying to escape. Position some near the edge of the cup so they’re visible from the outside. Get creative—some can be diving in, others crawling out.
  8. Top with more pudding. Spoon the remaining pudding mixture over the worms, filling each cup almost to the top. Leave about 1/2 inch of space for the top crumb layer.
  9. Finish with crumbs and worms. Sprinkle the reserved Oreo crumbs over the top of each cup, covering the pudding completely. Add one more gummy worm on top, maybe curling it around the edge for drama. You want it to look like a worm is emerging from the dirt.
  10. Chill. Refrigerate the cups for at least 30 minutes, but 1 hour is better. This allows the pudding to set fully and the flavors to meld. The cookies will soften slightly, creating that perfect ‘dirt’ texture.

Notes

For best texture, pulse Oreos until fine but not dusty. Let pudding set exactly 5 minutes before layering. Use cold milk for faster setting. Chill at least 30 minutes before serving. Store covered in refrigerator up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween dirt cups, Oreo dirt cups, no-bake Halloween dessert, easy Halloween treat, gummy worm dessert

Find it online: https://cooksyla.com/easy-halloween-dirt-cups-with-oreo-crumbs/