Make these vegan healthy dirt cups and gummy worms with Oreo soil and chocolate avocado mousse to celebrate Halloween with the kids this year!
Raise your hand if you remember making those iconic Oreo dirt cups as a kid?
I know we made them every Halloween at my grandparents with my cousins because it was a SUPER easy treat we always loved. There was something just so fun about digging for gummy worms in a bed of rich chocolate pudding with crispy Oreo crumbles throughout. YES PLEASE.
So since this Halloween is slated to be a little bit different this year (*ahem Covid*), I thought I would make it fun for big boy E by hosting his friends from the neighbourhood outside for a backyard party. And it’s not a Halloween party without Halloween fun treats! I have lots of Halloween recipes on my blog (perfect for toddlers and adults, alike), and these healthy dirt cups have become a favourite.
Key Ingredients for healthy dirt cups
Now traditionally, Oreo dirt cups are made simply with boxed chocolate pudding, oreo cookie crumbs, and some gummy worms. Love it. But I know my neighbours also are health conscious and I figure we might end up kinda eating this for breakfast, so I wanted to boost the nutrition a bit. My solution was to make an avocado chocolate pudding with an oreo chia yogurt layer and make the whole thing vegan. Here’s what you’ll need:
Avocados– Make sure they’re buttery and ripe or else they won’t blend nicely. If the avocado yields to firm gentle pressure, has a dark colour, and feels soft but not too mushy, it’s good to go.
Cocoa powder– This adds lots of deep chocolate flavour without a ton of sugar.
Dark chocolate– This will make it more “fudgy” and rich.
Maple syrup– Feel free to use honey or agave if you prefer (and you’re not vegan).
Yogurt– Almond, soy, coconut would all be great vegan options, or a nice plain Greek yogurt if you’re not vegan.
Oreo cookie crumbs– Did you know that Oreos are naturally vegan? Woo hoo! If you can’t find oreo cookie crumbs, you can also just eat the cream filling middle out of the cookies and crush up some crumbs with a rolling pin in a plastic bag. Win, win right?
Chia seeds– I like ground chia for this recipe as it makes little specs similar to the cookie crumbs (so that’s exactly what kids will think it is).
Gummy worms– You can use regular, sour, or vegan ones (yes, there’s such thing as vegan gummy worms). If you’re not vegan, we love these gummies made with organic fruit juice and natural ingredients.
Graham Crackers – Did you know graham crackers just have 2 grams of sugar each? I love these for making the “tomb stones” in the dirt.
FAQ about this recipe
Here are some commonly asked questions about this recipe.
Is this halloween dirt and worms dessert gluten free?
The oreo cookie crumbs are not gluten free, but you could make this gluten free by getting gluten free chocolate cookies and crushing those up for the “dirt”.
if i cant find vegan gummy worms what else can i use?
I love the idea of using vegan liquorice as the “worms”! Or just add in some other vegan candies or even just some little plastic shovels!
how long will these last in the fridge?
I recommend making the components (the yogurt and the pudding) up to 3 days ahead, then assembling everything when it’s time to eat.
Can I make this into a large “graveyard”?
Yes! If you don’t want to plate these into little cups, you could also serve this as a larger dessert in a small 8 or 9″ square casserole dish and let everyone serve themselves. However, this year, because of Covid, I do think it’s “safer” to make individual servings of food whenever possible.
Other Popular Healthy Halloween Recipes for Kids
Here are some other great Halloween themed recipes that you can bust out for your Halloween party this year!
Halloween Blood & Guts Chocolate Cups
Candy Corn Overnight Oats (Vegan)
Banana Ghosts & Clementine Pumpkins
Apple & Almond Butter Alien Smiles
What snacks and treats are you making for Halloween? Have you tried these Oreo dirt cups yet? Leave me a comment below!
Healthy Halloween Dirt Cups
Ingredients
Avocado Chocolate Pudding Layer:
- 2 large ripe avocados
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 dark chocolate chips melted
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2-4 tbsp maple syrup or more to taste
Cookies & Cream Layer:
- 1 cup plain yogurt vegan or Greek, if desired
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp Oreo cookie crumbs
- 1 tbsp black chia seeds
- Maple syrup if desired (optional)
- graham Cracker Tomb stone
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips melted
- 2-4 full Graham cracker sheets
To assemble:
- 1/3 cup Oreo cookie crumbs
- Gummy worms vegan, if desired
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, puree the avocado, cocoa powder, melted chocolate, almond milk, vanilla, salt and maple syrup until smooth. Adjust sweetness if desired (but keep in mind the cookie layer does add sweetness).
- In another bowl, mix together the yogurt, cookie crumbs, vanilla and chia seeds.
- To make the tombstones, put the melted chocolate into a piping bag and snip a tiny hole in the corner. Break the graham crackers lengthwise into a long piece (not in half widthwise). Write R I P vertically and allow to harden in the fridge.
- Meanwhile, layer some oreo crumbs with the chocolate pudding and cookies and cream yogurt, ending with the oreo cookie crumbs. Insert the tombstone and add gummy worms on top. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Leave a Comment