Introduction

This Homemade Dirt Pudding is a fun and delicious dessert that kids and adults will love. Combining rich chocolate pudding with crushed Oreos and gummy worms creates a playful treat that’s perfect for parties or a sweet snack.

Four clear cups show a three-layered dessert. The bottom layer is smooth, light brown chocolate pudding, the middle layer is crushed dark Oreo cookie crumbs, and the top layer is a mix of chocolate pudding and more Oreo crumbs. Each cup is topped with colorful gummy worms partially buried in the crumbs. One cup has a spoon scooping some pudding from the top. These cups sit on a white marbled surface with a few Oreo cookies and gummy worms scattered around. A green plant is slightly visible on the right side. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

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
24–30 Oreo cookies (or about 1 standard package)
24 gummy worms

Instructions

Step 1: Whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Place over medium heat.
Step 2: Slowly pour in the milk while whisking continuously until the mixture is smooth and combined.
Step 3: Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking occasionally—this should take about 10 minutes. Once bubbles appear in the center, whisk constantly and boil for 1 minute until the pudding thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Step 4: Remove the saucepan from heat and whisk in the softened butter and vanilla extract until smooth.
Step 5: 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, then refrigerate for 1 hour.
Step 6: Crush the Oreo cookies into crumbs using a food processor or blender.
Step 7: To assemble, layer the dessert in cups, a trifle bowl, or a 9-inch baking pan. Start with a couple of tablespoons of Oreo crumbs at the bottom, followed by ¼ cup pudding, another layer of crumbs, another ¼ cup pudding, and finish with a top layer of crumbs.
Step 8: Add a few gummy worms on top of the final Oreo crumb layer for decoration.
Step 9: Refrigerate the assembled dessert uncovered for 3 hours to set fully, or up to 48 hours.
Step 10: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Tips & Variations

Use Dutch-process cocoa for a smoother, less acidic flavor, or natural cocoa for a more robust chocolate taste.
For a lighter pudding, substitute half the whole milk with half-and-half or cream.
Try adding crushed chocolate chips or chopped nuts between layers for extra texture.
If you don’t have a food processor, place the Oreos in a sealed bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

Storage

Keep any leftover dirt pudding covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Before serving, no reheating is needed since this is a chilled dessert; just give it a gentle stir if the layers have settled.

How to Serve

A clear glass cup holds a layered dessert with three dark chocolate cookie crumb layers alternating with three smooth, light brown chocolate pudding layers. On top of the dessert, there is a dark cookie crumb layer with colorful gummy worms placed on it, and a silver spoon stands inside the cup. Around the glasses on a wooden board, some gummy worms lie scattered, and three stacked chocolate sandwich cookies sit to the right. The scene is set on a white marbled surface with a blurred green plant in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the pudding ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the pudding up to a day in advance. Just keep it covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble the dessert.

Can I use light or non-dairy milk?

Using light or non-dairy milk will work, but the pudding may be thinner and less rich. For best results, use whole milk or a creamy alternative like oat or coconut milk.