Homemade Dirt Pudding with Oreo Crumbs and Gummy Worms Recipe
This Homemade Dirt Pudding recipe is a fun and delicious dessert that combines creamy chocolate pudding with crunchy Oreo cookie crumbs and gummy worms to create a playful dirt cup treat. Perfect for parties and kids, this no-bake layered dessert is easy to prepare and requires chilling to achieve the perfect pudding texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the Pudding
- 1 and 1/3 cups (267g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (42g) unsweetened natural or Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup (40g) cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 and 1/2 cups (1,080ml) whole milk
- 3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For the Assembly
- 24–30 Oreo cookies (or about 1 standard package)
- 24 gummy worms
Instructions
- Prepare the pudding mixture: Whisk together granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually pour in the whole milk while continuously whisking to combine all ingredients smoothly.
- Cook the pudding: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, whisking occasionally. This process will take about 10 minutes; avoid increasing the heat to speed it up, as the pudding needs to thicken properly. Once the mixture starts bubbling around the edges and then the center, whisk constantly and allow it to boil for 1 minute until it coats the back of a spoon without dripping.
- Add finishing touches: Remove the saucepan from the heat, then whisk in the softened unsalted butter and pure vanilla extract until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Cool the pudding: Pour the pudding into a heatproof bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes. Cover the surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for 1 hour; the pudding will not be fully thickened yet, allowing for easier assembly later.
- Prepare the Oreo crumbs: Place the Oreo cookies into a food processor or blender and pulse until they become fine crumbs.
- Assemble the dirt cups: You can serve the dessert in individual cups, a trifle dish, or a 9-inch baking pan. Start by layering a couple of tablespoons of Oreo crumbs at the bottom. Add 1/4 cup of pudding on top, then sprinkle more Oreo crumbs followed by another 1/4 cup of pudding. Finish with a final Oreo crumb layer.
- Add gummy worms and chill: Place a few gummy worms on the top layer of Oreo crumbs, then refrigerate uncovered for 3 hours to allow the pudding to set and flavors to meld.
- Store leftovers: Cover and store any leftover dirt pudding cups in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Use whole milk for the creamiest pudding, but 2% milk can be substituted.
- Make sure to cover the pudding with plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent skin formation while chilling.
- The pudding should be thick enough to coat a spoon but still pourable for layering.
- You can adjust the amount of Oreo crumbs and pudding layers according to the size of your serving cups or dish.
- This dessert is best enjoyed within 48 hours for optimal freshness and texture.