Pudding Dirt Cups for a Garden Party (Easy Dessert)
Updated: Sep 4
Why I Love Pudding Dirt Cups
These pudding dirt cups brought me back to my childhood. They have layers that really resemble how garden soil looks. Your guests will love these pudding dirt cups, and they are perfect for a garden party. Welcome to the next post in my garden party series. This week I’m covering how to make a dessert for your party.
When I was younger, I remember having dirt cups at parties. Typically, they are made from chocolate pudding & cool whip along with Oreo cookies & gummy worms. I’ve changed the recipe slightly by including chocolate rocks & layers of cake. I didn’t think I could call these dirt cups if they didn’t look like dirt!
How To Make Pudding Dirt Cups
As you think about dirt, think about what a shovel of dirt looks like while you are digging. In Colorado, we have a clay/sand/dirt mixture so my shovel has multiple colors!
After you know what color layers you are going for, you can determine what you can use for the layers. I highly recommend making the pudding per the package directions. This will ensure a darker chocolate color than using cool whip. For layers of sand, you can use vanilla cupcake tops and or cornbread. Chocolate rocks are a great addition to making these look as life like dirt! If you live somewhere where you have red clay, a strawberry cupcake top should do the trick.
I decided to not use any gummy worms, but I think breaking up chocolate-covered pretzels could be a great sub for gummy worms. When I think of gummy worms, I don’t think they would be great in these pudding dirt cups.
Finally, for the top layer, you will use crushed Oreo cookies. Using a zip-top bag and a rolling pin is the easiest way I found to crush the cookies. Be sure to let all the air out of the bag before trying to crush the cookies.
Layering Your Pudding Dirt Cups
In addition to the above tips, when it comes time to layering, there is a specific way to layer. Use the cupcake and or cornbread as a “buffer” between the pudding layers. It’s recommended to put a layer of pudding, then sprinkle cornbread & some crushed Oreo cookies, then add the cupcake top. Layering this way you’ll have a firm cake layer instead of a soggy cake layer. While you are layering, tuck in some chocolate rocks as well. Repeat the layering process until your cup is full.
For added fun, I highly recommend using a clear cup and adding these cute shovel spoons to complete the dessert.
I made these dirt cups about an hour before my party, hoping they wouldn’t get too soggy. It was a few hours until we started eating these, and they were not soggy at all.
How To Create The Dirt-Like Topping
Maybe the easiest of this easy dessert is the "dirt" topping. Make sure you end your layers with pudding so you can drop the Oreo crumbs on top.
I like to make my Oreo crumbles by placing whole Oreo cookies in a zip-lock bag and gently hitting with a wooden spoon until crumbled to my liking. Alternatively, mini Oreo cookies would work, or a food processor for a couple of pulses.
Garden-Themed Add-Ins
While researching for the party, I had so many ideas I just couldn’t execute all of them for this party. Here are a few additional things I think would be super cute for these dirt cups.
Chocolate-covered pretzels, slightly broken to serve as “worms”
Grass – either this edible string grass or an edible image cake topper
Add liquor for an adult treat – either to the pudding or give an Oreo cookie a quick dunk in Baileys or Kahlua
Chocolate vegetables – carrots, beets, or any other root vegetable, make your own with this mold
Pirouette cookie could be played off as a shovel handle
How will you make these pudding dirt cups your own?
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