Halloween dirt cups are an awesome treat that combines all of the best flavors together. Chocolate cookies, chocolate pudding, and candy- a perfect trio for this fun holiday!

For more Halloween recipes try our pumpkin juice, black velvet cupcakes, and Halloween oreo balls.

Halloween Dirt Cups on a white background with a black halloween tree in the background.

Why This Recipe Works

  • This recipe is super simple and easy to make, which makes it perfect for any occasion. No need to slave away for hours over a hot stove with this super simple no cook recipe. 
  • The graveyard pudding cups are a great cold served dessert so you can make them several hours or a day in advance of any themed party. They’re portable and fun too so take the party outside if the weather permits.
  • Making these Halloween dirt cups is almost more fun than they are to eat making them a perfect family-craft idea if you want to get the kiddos involved. You can set it up so that the cups of layered pudding are set and chilled and then everyone can pick and choose to make their own graveyards unique before eating them.

Ingredients

Halloween Dirt Cups ingredients on a white background.
  • Pudding: Use no cook instant pudding for a fast set up time. You’ll want to use chocolate-flavored because that’s close to a dirt color. It will be mixed with whipped topping for a thicker mousse-like consistency.
  • Oreos: Crumbling up a package of Oreos will give you enough crumbs to layer between the pudding in your cups and make it look like layers of dirt.
  • Decorations: You can use any Halloween themed candy like gummy worms or pumpkins for decorating your graveyards. I like to use Milano cookies and make them look like little RIP headstones.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Whisk together the milk and the pudding mix in a large mixing bowl for 2 minutes and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  • A whisk stirring chocolate pudding a glass bowl.
  • Whipped cream on top of brown chocolate pudding in a glass bowl.
  1. Fold in the thawed whipped topping until combined.
  • A spatula folding whipped cream into chocolate pudding in a large glass bowl.
  • A glass bowl full of a light brown chocolate pudding mixture.
  1. In the bottom of your plastic cups or jars, place 1-2 tablespoons of crushed Oreo crumbs. Layer the chocolate pudding on top, followed by another layer of Oreo crumbs. Then do another layer of pudding and top it off with your final layer of Oreo crumbs.
  2. Place the layered desserts in the fridge for 1 hour.
  3. Decorate the tops of the graveyards with gummy worms, tombstones, and any other festive treats that you may have. Serve cold and enjoy!
  • Clear plastic cups with crushed Oreos on the bottom and a layer of chocolate pudding on top.
  • Halloween Dirt Cups featuring alternating layers of Oreo crumbs and chocolate pudding.

Recipe Tips

Oreo crumbs. To make your Oreo cookies into a fine crumb needed for your dirt, you’ll want to pulse them for about a minute or so in your food processor. If needed, work in batches and place the crumbs into a bowl on the side so that it is easier to grab and use when needed for your layers.

Storage. These layered Halloween cups can last in the fridge for up to 2 days once fully prepared and layered. You don’t want to wait too long to enjoy them though as the cookies will become soft and mushy thanks to the moisture in your chocolate mousse layer.

Diet-friendly. You can make this dessert more diet-friendly by opting for sugar free pudding or swapping out the Oreos for gluten free Oreos instead. You should also consider healthier candy additions to your cups as well.

Halloween Dirt Cups topped with a cracker tombstone, gummy worms, and pumpkin candy.

FAQs 

What is a dirt cup?

It’s a layered dessert (much like a parfait) where you have a layer of pudding surrounded by crushed Oreo cookie crumbs The brown coloration appears to look like dirt which makes these cookie cups perfect for Halloween graveyard scenes. No actual dirt is used.

Are dirt cups good for any holiday?

Absolutely! You can easily swap out a thing here or there and make these dessert parfaits for any occasion. For example, adding a little green-colored coconut on top along with some candy eggs and a bunny peep instantly makes this an easter dessert.

Can I make dirt cups with vanilla pudding?

Yes, not everyone is a fan of chocolate so I understand this question quite well. You can use any flavored pudding desired including vanilla if you want to reduce the chocolate flavor in every cup. You can even use golden Oreos but the color will look more like sand, so you’d end up with a sandy graveyard (which still sounds kind of fun!) You can also mix in food coloring to get a dirt color without the chocolate flavor.

Halloween Dirt Cups topped with Oreo crumbs, gummy worms, and pumpkin shaped candy.

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A Halloween Dirt Cup against a white background.
Print Review
5 from 3 votes

Halloween Dirt Cups

Halloween Dirt Cups consist of alternating layers of Oreo crumbs and chocolate mousse. To get the appearance of a Halloween graveyard we add candy decorations such as gummy worms, pumpkin candies, and cracker "gravestones."
Prep Time: 10 mins
Chill Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 6 9 oz cups filled all the way to the top

Ingredients
 

  • 3.9 oz instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 2 cups cold milk
  • 8 oz frozen whipped topping - thawed
  • 24 Oreo cookies - crushed into crumbs (keep filling in). Will come out to be about2 1/2 cups worth of crumbs.

Candy for Decorating

  • gummy worms
  • pumpkin candy corns
  • Mint Melanos - for tombstones
  • Black frosting - for writing on tombstones

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl whisk the instant pudding and cold milk for 2 minutes. Let pudding sit for 5 minutes. Fold in the thawed frozen whipped topping. 
  • In the bottom of plastic cups, or jars, place 1-2 tablespoons of the oreo crumb mixture. Layer the chocolate pudding, then add another layer of oreo crumbs, pudding, then finish with Oreo crumbs. 
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour. 
  • Decorate the tops of the dirt cups with gummy worms, tombstones, and any other festive treats. Serve cold.

Notes

Nutritional information does not include candy toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 401kcal (20%)Carbohydrates: 63g (21%)Protein: 7g (14%)Fat: 14g (22%)Saturated Fat: 6g (30%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 14mg (5%)Sodium: 546mg (23%)Potassium: 295mg (8%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 42g (47%)Vitamin A: 199IU (4%)Calcium: 146mg (15%)Iron: 4mg (22%)
author: Whitney Wright
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
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