No-Bake Halloween Dirt Cups (10 Minutes)
Layers of chocolate pudding, whipped cream and crushed cookie 'dirt' with gummy worms — a spooky no-bake Halloween dessert in 10 minutes.
Method
- Whisk the pudding mix with the cold milk in a large bowl for 2 minutes, until thickened. Let it stand 1 minute more.
- Fold the whipped topping into the pudding until no streaks remain.
- Put the cookies in a zip-top bag and crush into coarse crumbs with a rolling pin.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of cookie crumbs into each of 6 small cups. Divide half the pudding mixture over the crumbs.
- Add another spoonful of crumbs, then the remaining pudding. Top each cup with the rest of the crumbs.
- Push 2 gummy worms into each cup so they look like they are crawling out, and finish with candy pumpkins or candy eyes. Serve right away, or chill up to 4 hours.
Layers of chocolate pudding, whipped cream and crushed cookie ‘dirt’ with gummy worms — a spooky no-bake Halloween dessert in 10 minutes.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
- Sugar
- 34 g
- Sodium
- 280 mg
Values are estimates based on USDA FoodData Central and vary with brands and portioning.
Chef notes
Instant pudding sets as you whisk, so there is no cooking and no waiting. Crush the cookies coarse — fine dust turns to sludge in the pudding.
Substitutions
- Whole milk — 2% milk; the pudding sets a little softer
- Chocolate sandwich cookies — any chocolate wafer cookie
- Whipped topping — 1 cup heavy cream, whipped with 2 tablespoons sugar
Serving suggestions
Serve in small clear cups so the layers show. A Halloween party spread of these with a bowl of candy corn covers the whole table.
Storage
Cover and refrigerate up to 1 day; add the gummy worms just before serving so they stay chewy.
Reheating
Serve chilled; no reheating needed.
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Whisk
- Zip-top bag and rolling pin
- 6 small cups or jars
Variations
- Graveyard: stick a rectangular cookie in as a tombstone and write RIP with icing
- Mint: use mint chocolate sandwich cookies for the dirt layer
Why it works
Instant pudding mix contains pre-gelatinized starch that thickens in cold milk without heat. Folded whipped topping lightens it into a mousse, and the dry cookie crumbs give a dirt-like crunch against the smooth layers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make Halloween dirt cups ahead?
Yes — assemble the pudding and crumbs up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate covered; add the gummy worms and candy just before serving so they stay chewy.
Why is my pudding runny?
It was under-whisked or the milk was not cold. Whisk a full 2 minutes with properly cold milk and it will set.
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