Go Back
–+ servings
Sugar and Soul Logo

Halloween Dirt Cups


Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 12 people
Close up photo of layers Halloween dirt cups with pretzel stick witch fingers, candy eyes, and gummy worms.
Halloween Dirt Cups look like overturned earth but taste heavenly! Creamy chocolate and vanilla layers are sprinkled with handfuls of crushed Oreo “dirt.” The finishing touches are chocolate pretzel “monster fingers,” gummy worms, and candy eyeballs!

Ingredients  

Monster Fingers:

  • 20 large pretzel rods
  • 1 (12oz.) package green candy melts
  • Sliced Almonds
  • 1 (12oz.) package black candy melts

Dirt Cups:

  • 1 (14.3oz.) package Oreo cookies
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup salted butter softened
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 3 cups whole milk divided
  • 1 (3.5oz.) package Instant vanilla pudding mix dry
  • 1 (3.5oz.) package Instant chocolate pudding mix dry
  • 1 (12oz.) package whipped topping thawed and divided
  • Green food coloring

Garnish:

Instructions

Monster fingers:

  • Break pretzel rods in half and set aside.
  • Place green candy melts in your candy melting pot and heat, (Please see notes if you do not have an electric melting pot) stirring until smooth. Add a few drops of water and stir into the chocolate to give a lumpy, uneven texture for the monster fingers.
  • Line a baking sheet or large tray with parchment paper. Dip your pretzel rod into the green melts, leaving the small area where you are holding it. Place your candy dipped pretzels on the parchment paper to cool. Repeat until all pretzels have been dipped.
  • Next, place black candy melts in your candy melting pot and heat, stirring until smooth. Using a food-grade paintbrush or toothpick, brush the melted black candy melts onto the edges of the sliced almonds. Proceed to paint knuckles and wrinkles on the candy-dipped pretzel rods.
  • Attach the sliced almonds onto the fingers by adding a small amount of melted chocolate to the back of each one and pressing down onto the tip of each monster finger. Set aside and allow to cool.

Dirt Cups:

  • Place Oreo cookies in a food processor and blend into crumbs. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar until smooth.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk 1½ cups of milk and the vanilla pudding and refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes until soft-set.
  • In a separate bowl, mix 1½ cups of milk and the chocolate pudding until combined and refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes until soft-set.
  • Add half of the cream cheese mixture to vanilla pudding and mix until well combined. Fold in half of the container of whipped topping. Stir in a few drops of green food coloring (small amounts at a time to reach desired color).
  • Add remaining half of cream cheese mixture to chocolate pudding and mix until well combined. Fold in the second half of the container of whipped topping.
  • In small cups, layer chocolate pudding, cookie crumbles, green vanilla pudding, and cookie crumbles. Repeat until filled to the top.
  • Add 3 monster fingers, candy eyes, and gummy worms to the top of each cup. Enjoy!

Notes

  • This recipe could easily serve a classroom size of around 20-24 if smaller cups are used. You could also layer this in a 9”x13” pan and serve it family style.
  • If you do not have an electric melting pot, you can use a double boiler or a glass bowl. Just make sure the glass bowl says microwave safe on the bottom. Heat in increments of 30 seconds, taking out to stir each time until smooth.
  • This dish can be made the night before. Just wait to add the garnishes until right before serving!
  • If you want extra crunch in this recipe, reserve a few cookies, and crush them in a plastic bag, leaving larger pieces.
  • If you don’t have a food processor, place your Oreos in a large plastic bag and use a rolling pin over it to crush the cookies quickly and easily.
  • If serving this to small children, just be sure to take out the pretzel rods with nuts and other garnishes that may be a choking hazard.
  • The monster fingers can be made several days ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
  • You could use any candy melting colors that you like (orange, purple, and green are great for Halloween). You could also use red on the monster fingernails to make this extra creepy!

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 589IU | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1mg
Find it online: www.sugarandsoul.co/halloween-dirt-cups/