Disclosure: This recipe for Homemade Halloween Dirt Pudding Cups contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

These homemade Halloween Dirt Pudding Cups feature an easy made from scratch chocolate pudding, whipped cream, crushed Oreos and festive Halloween decorations for the ultimate go to easy Halloween dessert!

Grab the recipe below for this Homemade Halloween Dirt Pudding Cups or PIN IT for later!

Originally published October 2013 and updated October 2024

Welcome to Ghoulish Grub Week!

EEK!

We are soooo excited! This is seriously one of our favorite weeks, of.all.time.

We have shared some pretty frightening and pretty ghoulish grub over the years. And we all love coming up with fun new ideas.

Some of our favorite Halloween recipes from over the years include both sweet and savory spooky eats. From Halloween Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Candy Corn Layered Smoothies. To these Spider Cheese and Cracker Bites; and of course cute and tasty Monster Munch Popcorn!

We can undeniably say we love this time of year!!!

Today’s Halloween dessert recipe is inspired by a classic I’m sure most of us grew up eating, the ever popular “Dirt Pudding Cups.”

While the traditional dirt cake recipe from the 80’s infamously used boxed pudding mix, cool whip and Oreos; many years ago, we started making homemade dirt pudding cups and haven’t looked back.

We absolutely LOVE this homemade chocolate pudding recipe as it is so, so easy and uses pantry staples like cocoa powder and chocolate chips.

It is a stove top pudding that you do have to cook, BUT it comes out rich, thick and chocolatey every.single.time. Pure pudding heaven!

For our homemade Graveyard Pudding Cups, we then make a simple, made from scratch whipped cream to fold into the made from scratch chocolate pudding.

The end result is the most smooth and velvety, almost mousse like, no bake chocolate dessert!

While classic pudding cups have whipped cream folded in, I should note, that if you prefer a richer, more traditional pudding, you can skip that step for a thick, chocolaty Halloween dirt pudding cup.

No matter how you serve them, these Halloween Dirt Pudding Cups are the perfect dessert recipe for an upcoming Halloween party, scary movie night or Walking Dead dinner!

Helpful Tips and Information:

How to Serve Dirt Pudding:

Graveyard Pudding Cake: While individual Graveyard pudding cups are so convenient for serving at parties, we have also made this into a Graveyard Pudding Cake by layering the pudding mixture, crushed Oreos and decorations in a 9×13-inch glass baking dish.

Chocolate Pudding Pie: Another serving suggestion is to just make the homemade chocolate pudding, pour it into an Oreo cookie crust and then top the pudding with additional crushed Oreos and edible Halloween decorations, like candy corn pumpkins, chocolate skeletons and more.

Dessert Trifle: Instead of making individual cups, you could transform this dirt cake into a dessert trifle by layering the pudding mixture and crushed Oreos in a trifle dish.

Halloween Dirt Pudding Decorations:

What makes these pudding cups so exciting and festive for Halloween, is that you can add so many fun decorations to the top to make them cute or extra spooky!

Edible Decorations:

• Tombstones – It is so easy to whip up easy “tombstone cookies” using store bought Milano cookies and some chocolate frosting to write out “RIP”.
  Candy Corn Pumpkins
• Gummy Worms
• White Chocolate Skeleton Bones – This skeleton candy mold is so easy to use. Simply melt white chocolate almond bark according to package directions and pour onto the mold. Using a pastry bench scraper, carefully scrape off any excess chocolate. Let chocolate harden and then pop out the chocolate candy decorations.
• Edible Eyeballs
• Candy Bones
• Spider Oreos
• Halloween Sprinkles
• Peeps Marshmallow Ghosts

Plastic Decorations:

• Spider Rings (wash well before using)
• Tombstone Cupcake Toppers

What is dirt pudding made of?

Dirt pudding is usually made of pudding mix, Cool Whip and crushed Oreos. However, our recipe is homemade and uses an easy made-from-scratch chocolate pudding, whipped cream and Oreos.

How long will this easy Halloween dirt pudding keep in the refrigerator?

This Oreo dirt pudding will keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. However, the crushed Oreos will soften over time and some decorations may start to fall apart or their colors may bleed.

We recommend if you need to make it ahead of time, to preassemble the made from scratch pudding cups and then add the top layer of crushed Oreos and the decorations the day of.

If you like this Halloween dessert, then you will LOVE these other Halloween recipes:

Bat Brownie Bites – These little bite sized treats are so fun and easy to make! They are a great last minute Halloween dessert!

Chocolate Spider Cookies – These Chocolate Spider Cookies use a basic double chocolate cookie recipe, pretzels and candy eyeballs to create an adorable Halloween treat.

Scarecrow Treats – Think you despise candy corn? Think again! These Scarecrow Treats combine candy corn, marshmallows and peanuts for a unique, but totally amazing flavor combination!

Continue to Content

Homemade Halloween Dirt Pudding Cups

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

These homemade Halloween Dirt Pudding Cups feature an easy made from scratch chocolate pudding, whipped cream, crushed Oreos and festive Halloween decorations for the ultimate go to easy Halloween dessert!

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Ingredients

• Easy Chocolate Pudding:
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• ½ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 cups whole milk
• ½ cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate baking squares (4 ounces)*
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ------
• Whipped Cream:
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ------
• For Decorating:
• 20-25 Oreo cookies
• Gummy worms
• Candy corn pumpkins
• Ghost Peeps
• ½ teaspoon avocado oil or coconut oil
• ¼ cup milk chocolate chips
• Milano cookies
• Black edible decorator’s marker or a tube of black decorator’s frosting
• ------
• Supplies:
• Skeleton candy mold
• Small clear cups/glasses

Instructions

To Make Chocolate Pudding: In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the cocoa powder, cornstarch, brown sugar and salt, whisking slightly. Slowly whisk in the milk, a little at a time, into the sugar mixture; whisking until it is smooth, about 2-3 minutes.

Stir in chopped chocolate and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally. Once the mixture is at a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Take saucepan off the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Transfer the pudding to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding, to avoid pudding from forming a skin. Refrigerate the pudding until it is completely cool, for 2-4 hours. Store in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.

To Make Homemade Whipped Cream: Combine the heavy whipping cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Using a large hand-held whisk or an electric mixer, whip cream until it begins to thicken. Continue to whip cream until soft peaks begin to form, using caution to not over mix.

Fold the whipped cream mixture into the pudding mixture, being careful not to over mix.

Place Oreo cookies in food processor and process until crumbly. Spoon some cookie crumbs into the bottom of the clear cups. Top with the pudding mixture, filling the cups almost to the top.

Top pudding mixture with additional crushed cookies and desired decorations. Serve immediately or cover pudding cups with foil and refrigerate until ready to serve (up to 4 days.)

To Make Decorations: To make cookie tombstones: Use a black edible decorator’s marker or a tube of black decorator’s frosting to write "RIP" on Milano cookies.

To make white chocolate candy skeleton bones: Place white chocolate chips (or white chocolate almond bar) and ¼ teaspoon oil in a microwave safe bowl. Cook in microwave for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir. Repeat melting process until chocolate is fully melted and smooth. Spoon melted white chocolate into skeleton candy mold. Using a pastry bench scraper, carefully scrape off any excess chocolate. Let chocolate harden and then pop out the chocolate candy decorations. Note: Store bought skeleton candy can be used in place of melted white chocolate.

Notes

*PLEASE SEE THE "HELPFUL TIPS AND INFORMATION" SECTION ABOVE FOR ADDITIONAL RECIPE NOTES.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Food Processor
• 
  Glass Mixing Bowl with Lid
• 
  Wire Whisk Set
• 
  Stainless Steel Sauce Pan 
• 
  Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups
• 
  Liquid Measuring Cup Set

Homemade chocolate pudding recipe adapted from Feb/March 2011 Cook’s Country as seen on Mel’s Kitchen Cafe 

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