Dirt pudding recipe, small batch style! A small Halloween recipe for celebrating with kids! This recipe for dirt and worms cups makes just 2 servings using chocolate pudding made in the microwave.
Dirt Pudding Recipe for two
Whether or not you’re Trick-or-Treating this year, these dirt and worms pudding cups are such a fun treat to make with kids to celebrate. The chocolate pudding is made in the microwave, and the kids can totally help make it and assemble the cups! The small batch pudding serving is perfect, because only the kids in the house really eat this, right? As moms, we're definitely not supposed to shove extra gummy worms and eat it after kid bedtime, right? Asking for a friend, of course.
We made this recipe during our quarantine months, when buying fun candy in each grocery delivery order was the highlight of our week. I’m a known candy connoisseur, and now that Camille is at the age where I trust her to still eat her vegetables even if she eats candy, she is joining me in the pursuit of candy reviews.
Camille saw a package of gummy worms at the Candytopia exhibit we went to last summer. Yes, there is a national traveling art exhibit celebrating candy, and yes, I took my daughter twice. Candy is love! Candy is life for me!
Anyway, Camille wouldn’t touch the gummy worms because she didn’t like the idea of eating worms, so I did what any normal parent would do: I slurped them in front of her while pretending they were wiggling in my mouth and totally grossed her out. I’m so mature.
After Camille recovered from my incredible display of maturity and poise, she saw a dirt and worm sundae at our favorite ice cream shop. She was bold enough to order it and enjoy it!
Dirt cups, small batch
Now that I have successfully convinced her to eat gummy worms, the ‘dirt’ part was easy. When I explained dirt was crushed cookies and the ‘goo’ was chocolate pudding, she was on board!
These dirt cups are just layers of crushed Oreo cookies, silky chocolate pudding and creepy little gummy worms nestled in the layers. These are so fun to make!
Dirt and worms
To make our dirt pudding recipe, we’re going to make a small batch of chocolate pudding in the microwave first! Making pudding the microwave sounds risky, but I make microwave lemon curd all the time. The only thing we have to do when making pudding in this very non-traditional way is to be sure to strain it before chilling!
Also, my fellow egg-free bakers, this pudding recipe doesn’t have eggs! Instead, it relies on cornstarch for thickening.
- First, crush 6 Oreos either in a food processor or a plastic bag. If your kids like pressing your buttons, they will enjoy pressing the food processor buttons. If your kids have a penchant for breaking things, let them crush the Oreos in a plastic bag with a rolling pin or small mallet.
- Next, let’s make the microwave chocolate pudding! In a small microwave-safe bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, and cornstarch. Mix very well to dissolve any clumps.
- Now, slowly pour in the milk while whisking. You want to add the milk a little at a time and whisk constantly to avoid lumps.
- Microwave the mixture for 2 minutes on HIGH. Stop, whisk, and cook for another 1 minute. Stop again, whisk, and cook for another minute. At this point, the mixture should be thick and shiny.
- Remove the mixture from the microwave, and strain it into a small bowl. Use a spatula to push the pudding through, and be sure to scrape the bottom of the sieve before finishing. Then, stir in the vanilla and butter until it melts. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate for 2-4 hours, or until cold.
- Finally, make the two dirt pudding cups by layering Oreos, pudding and worms. Serve immediately, or chill until needed. These will keep for up to 24 hours; beyond that, the sugar in the worms starts breaking down and getting slightly slimy.
How to make the microwave chocolate pudding on the stove:
If you don't have a microwave, or prefer to cook without one, here are the instructions for making the chocolate pudding without the microwave.
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and cornstarch. Whisk very well to break up any lumps.
- Next, slowly stream the milk in while constantly whisking. Cornstarch has to be fully dissolved in cold liquid in order to prevent lumps.
- Now, place the saucepan over medium heat, and whisk constantly until the pudding mixture until it starts to thicken, about 8 minutes. If you dip a wooden spoon in the mixture, and draw your finger through it on the spoon, it should hold the line your finger created to indicate the pudding has properly thickened. If it falls off the spoon, it's not thick enough.
- Remove the pudding from the heat, and stir in the vanilla and butter until it melts. Proceed with the recipe.
Dirt Pudding Recipe
Dirt pudding recipe for two. Perfect for kids!
Ingredients
- 6 chocolate sandwich cookies
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 gummy worms, to serve
Instructions
- First, crush the chocolate sandwich cookies in a plastic bag, or use a food processor. Set the crumbs aside.
- Next, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, and cornstarch. Mix very well to break up any clumps.
- Slowly stream in the milk to the cornstarch mixture while whisking constantly. Adding the milk slowly will minimize clumping.
- Microwave the mixture for 2 minutes. Stop, stir, and then microwave again for 1 minute. Repeat for another 1 minute cycle, or until the pudding is thick and shiny.
- Strain the pudding mixture by pushing it through a sieve into a small bowl for storage. Be sure to scrape the underside of the sieve to get it all out. Finally, stir in the vanilla extract and butter until it melts.
- Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding. Chill the pudding for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- To serve, layer one quarter of the crushed cookies in the bottom of a small serving jar. Top with one quarter of the chocolate pudding. Repeat with another quarter of the cookies and pudding. Push a few gummy worms in. Repeat with another jar to make 2 jars total.
Notes
This recipe makes just 2 servings, but you can double or triple it to serve more kids. I recommend only doubling the pudding recipe, or else it's too much for the microwave.
I will say that my almost 6-year old could only eat half a jar at a time. This could be divided up into 4 smaller servings for younger kids.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 589Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 327mgCarbohydrates: 92gFiber: 4gSugar: 51gProtein: 11g
Dana says
I would really like to make these. Do you think it would work with soy milk and margarine as a non dairy option?
Christina Lane says
Hi Dana :)
I haven't tried it specifically with soy milk, and I'm not sure the proteins would bind in the same way. I would google some pudding recipes with soy milk, and I can help you scale those down. As for margarine, of course :) Is it butter-flavored? I think that would be best.
Happy baking!
Susan says
I made the pudding with unsweetened almond milk and plant butter for a non dairy option. It set up nicely and tastes delicious. So give it a try with soy milk - it’s worth a try!
Jenni Persaud says
Made it as a practice run for Saturday and the kids loved it!!!!!
charlotte says
These are amazing and I CAN'T BELIEVE I could make pudding in the microwave, like WHAT?? Well, the kids love em!
Rebekah says
okay screw the kids this is my go to dessert! SERIOUSLY YUM!! I ate a whole patch of pudding before it even cooled so had to make more haha - and I also used Soy milk and plant butter and it works great
Christina Lane says
I'm the same way. I love this more than the kids, lol!