Ready for a spooky treat? This easy Dirt Pudding is layers of creamy chocolate pudding and crushed chocolate cookies all topped with gummy worms and candy bones. So easy and quick to make.

Dirt pudding cups in glasses with zombie hands.


Dirt Pudding

Halloween is approaching and I’m scaring up some spooky treats that aren’t entirely gory to look at. Things like Gingerbread man mummies and truffles that stare you down, I like to make my treats fun.

This Oreo Dirt Pudding recipe is my newest creation. I use that term loosely because I’ve been making Dirt and Worms for years but this is the first year I made them with a Halloween treat theme.

What is Dirt Pudding?

Dirt pudding, also known as Oreo Dirt Cake or just Dirt and Worms, is an American dessert made of crushed Oreo cookies layered with chocolate pudding that’s been blended with cream cheese and whipped cream.

It can be served just as it is or, for fun, you can add gummy worms to the dessert for a classic dessert that’s a hit with the kids.

For my Halloween Dirt Pudding Cups, I added some fun zombie hand cake picks to make things extra scary. (Horrifying, right?)

You can really get creative with your own pudding cups dressing them up for a variety of holidays or occasions.

Dirt pudding cup with a zombie hand and gummy worms.

How To Make Dirt Pudding

I love the simplicity of this dessert recipe and it takes no time at all to prepare. The best part about this Dirt Dessert recipe is you can make it in advance so it makes party planning a breeze!

  1. Crush the Oreos in a food processor or in a zip top bag, crush with a rolling.
  2. Mix the instant pudding mix with milk and allow to set.
  3. Beat the cream cheese with the powdered sugar.
  4. Fold the cream cheese mixture into the pudding.
  5. Fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture.
  6. Mix the melted butter with the cookie crumbs.
  7. Divide 1/3 of the cookie crumbs evenly among your dessert cups.
  8. Top with 1/2 of the pudding.
  9. Layer 1/3 more cookie crumbs over the pudding.
  10. Top with the remaining pudding.
  11. Finish with the final layer of cookie crumbs.
  12. Decorate with worms and halloween decorations, if desired.
  13. Chill the pudding for 4 hours before serving.
Dirt cake with gummy worms in a glass bowl with a spoon on a blue background.

How To Make Dirt Pudding From Scratch

If you want to make Dirt Pudding from scratch, it’s really not that much harder than using convenience items like instant pudding.

Simply replace the chocolate pudding with my easy homemade pudding (it’s made without eggs!) and proceed with the remainder of the recipe for the pudding layer.

Replace the Cool Whip with homemade whipped cream (it’s ready in under 2 minutes….I’m not kidding!) You can even adjust the sweetness of the whipped cream by adding more sugar or less depending on your preference.

Homemade Whipped Cream in a Weck tulip jar on a wicker surface.

Variations on Dirt Pudding

I made my Dirt Pudding Cups with chocolate pudding and chocolate sandwich cookies but you can make it with just about any flavor combination you want.

We also like it with this Butterscotch pudding because it kind of looks like the dirt near the beach that’s not quite brown but more golden and clay like. Then, top with vanilla sandwich cookies for more of a sandy dirt pudding.

You can also make it with a vanilla pudding base if you’re not a chocolate pudding fan.

Dirt dessert with worms on a blue background.

More Easy No Bake Desserts

If you like this no bake Dirt Cake recipe, you may also like this NO BAKE Black Forest Trifle. It’s so easy to make and you can, also, make it in advance.

Or try our favorite No Bake Cheesecake, it’s made in the BLENDER! We also love this easy Chocolate Mousse Pie!

For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

Dirt dessert with worms on a blue background.

Get the Recipe: Easy Dirt Pudding Recipe

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Classic old fashioned Dirt Cake recipe, this easy Dirt pudding is made with creamy chocolate pudding, whipped cream, cream cheese and crushed oreo cookies.
3.50 from 2 votes
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Ingredients

  • 14.3 ounce Oreo Cookies
  • 5.9 ounce instant chocolate pudding packet
  • 3 cups milk
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 8 ounce container Cool Whip
  • Gummy worms, optional

Equipment

  • bowl

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the instant pudding and the milk for 2 minutes or until beginning to thicken. Let stand for 5 minutes.
  • Beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  • Using a rubber spatula, fold the cream cheese mixture into the chocolate pudding.
  • Then fold in the Cool Whip (or whipped cream) until completely combined.
  • You can layer the dessert a number of ways, we used individual cups but you can use a trifle dish or rectangular baking dish.
  • Layer the dessert with alternating layers of cookie crumbs and pudding mixture, starting and ending with the crushed cookies.
  • Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight before serving.
  • Decorate with gummy worms, sprinkles and zombie hands before serving, if desired.

Notes

Dirt pudding can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Leftovers can be stored covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Calories: 570kcal, Carbohydrates: 82g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 45mg, Sodium: 683mg, Potassium: 349mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 60g, Vitamin A: 579IU, Calcium: 175mg, Iron: 5mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American