These dirt cups are an easy treat perfect for parties and potlucks! Crushed Oreos are layered between a delicious chocolate pudding mixture for a kid-friendly, make-ahead dessert recipe!

I’m throwing it way back to my elementary school days with this delicious dirt cups recipe.

As a kid, I knew a party was going to be awesome when I walked in and saw these beauties on the dessert table – and as an adult I still feel the same way! Because really – what’s not to love?

An irresistibly rich chocolate pudding mixture – with some secret ingredients that take it to the next level of deliciousness – is layered with crushed and chopped Oreos for the most scrumptious dirt pudding cups you’ve ever had.

This recipe is similar to our famous dirt cake – but made with chocolate pudding and prepared in individual portions so they are easy to serve at large gatherings like parties and potlucks.

Dirt Pudding Cups: Ingredients & Substitutions

• Whole Milk. 2% milk works well too.
• Instant chocolate pudding mix. choose your favorite variety. Or, replace the whole milk and pudding mix with homemade chocolate pudding.
• Oreos. Both regular and double stuffed Oreos work well, but any variety with any amount of “stuff” work well. This recipe calls for a 16 ounce, family size package, but you can add more if you wish! Use gluten free Oreos to make this recipe gluten free.
• Whipping cream. If desired, substitute cool whip for the whipping cream.
• Salted butter. unsalted butter works well.

How to Make Dirt Cups

Let’s walk through how to make dirt cups together, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Prepare the Oreos

Begin by preparing the Oreo cookies. First, place 10 Oreos a cutting board and cut the cookies into small, ¼” pieces, then, set them aside.

Then, put the remaining Oreos from the package into the container of a food processor fitted with an “S” blade.

Process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You may need to pause, break apart the cookies that get stuck to the blades, and continue processing.

If you don’t have a food processor, you can crush the Oreos with a rolling pin or blender.

Make the Chocolate Pudding Mixture

Once the cookies are crushed, make the pudding. Begin whisking the milk and pudding mixture together. Then put in the refrigerator to thicken.

Or, make homemade chocolate pudding.

While the pudding is setting, either in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the wire whisk attachement, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the whipping cream and powdered sugar together until stiff peaks form, then set aside.

Next, in the bowl of a standing mixer or with a hand-held mixer, cream the butter, cream cheese and vanilla together for 60 seconds.

Then, add the pudding to the butter/cream cheese mixture (make sure it has set before adding), and beat on medium speed to combined.

Fold in whipped cream.

Assemble the Dirt Cups

This recipe should make 16, 8 ounce cups. If you’d like to make smaller cups you will make more! Here are some suggestions for cups to use for serving:

• Clear plastic cups – 9 ounce cups or 5 ounce cups for smaller servings.
• Small glass jars – 8 ounce glass jars, bonus they come with lids so you can close them up if you want!
• Small glass cups – I use cups similar to these 8 ounce drink cups.

Begin by putting ¼ cup of the chocolate pudding at the bottom of a cup. Then, add 1 Tablespoon of the crushed cookie crumbs.

Next, add 1 Tablespoon of the chopped cookies on top of the Oreo crumbs.

Then, add an additional ¼ cup chocolate pudding.

Next, top the pudding with 1 Tablespoon of cookie crumbs. If desired, put a gummy worm in the middle layer and/or top layer.

Repeat with the remaining 15 cups, or until all the pudding and Oreos are used.

Chill the dirt cups for at least 6 hours, or overnight before serving. We prefer to chill them overnight because it lets the chunks of Oreos soften a little – which I believe is the best part.

Serve

Serve the dirt pudding cups after chilling overnight.

You can add gummy worms or cute construction equipment cupcake toppers to make them fun for kids.

Or, you can make Halloween dirt cups by adding gravestone cupcake toppers.

Store

Store leftover dirt cups covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Freeze

Or, you can freeze the dirt cups by covering them with plastic wrap and foil, for up to 1 month. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator (do not microwave).

Dirt Cups Recipe FAQS

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