This Halloween dirt pudding is a nostalgic dessert for me. If you’ve never heard of dirt pudding, don’t worry, there is no dirt involved! This decadent dessert is made up of homemade chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, and candy gummy worms. Of course there are optional add ins as well – from mini chocolate chips, to mini marshmallows, to candy eyes for Halloween, the options are endless!

Why you will love this Halloween dirt pudding

  1. It’s decadent. I am a chocolate lover down to my core. So if you’re like me, you will be in heaven when eating this. The smooth chocolate pudding paired with the crunchy Oreos and all of the chocolatey mix-ins, you will be obsessed.
  2. The textures. Homemade chocolate pudding is so easy to make at home and it is beyond delicious. It is incredibly smooth and creamy, and when topped with Oreos, chocolate chips, gummy worms, etc., you are in for a texture explosion in your mouth!
  3. It is so easy to make. Homemade chocolate pudding is so easy to make – just 10 minutes on your stove and boom! You’re done. But if you’re feeling lazy, you can definitely use store bought chocolate pudding for this.

Key ingredients

  • Whole milk: whole milk really adds to the creaminess of the pudding. I have tried other milks, like non-fat, and I find that it doesn’t have as creamy of a texture. Non-dairy milks, like almond or oat, don’t set up the same way whole milk does so I do not suggest using it here.
  • Granulated sugar: granulated sugar is the sweetener of choice for the pudding.
  • Cornstarch: cornstarch is a great thickening agent in desserts – especially pudding! We use 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in this recipe to thicken it up.
  • Cocoa powder: we use dark (also known as dutch processed) cocoa powder in this recipe. Using dark cocoa powder has a much richer chocolate flavor than regular unsweetened cocoa powder, so it is preferred in this recipe.
  • Egg yolks: we use 3 egg yolks in this recipe – they add to the creamy texture and make it silky smooth.
  • Semi-sweet chocolate: after the mixture reaches a boil, we add in chopped semi-sweet chocolate. This adds to the chocolate flavor, as well as the silky texture of the pudding.
  • Salted butter: we add just a tad of salted butter to add some flavor as well as some saltiness to offset the sweetness.
  • Vanilla extract: although it may sound counterintuitive to add vanilla extract to a chocolate dessert, vanilla extract just deepens all the other flavors.
  • Mix-ins: the mix-ins are my absolute favorite part! I would say the required mix-ins are crushed Oreos and candy gummy worms, but you can also add mini M&Ms, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, hot fudge, etc.!

Steps

  1. Make the chocolate pudding. Make the chocolate pudding over the stove top.
  2. Let cool. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap directly touching the pudding to prevent a film from forming and let cool in the fridge until set.
  3. Assemble. Fill a cup halfway with chocolate pudding, then top with a layer of crushed Oreos. Fill the remainder of the cup with chocolate pudding until it almost reaches the top. Add in more crushed Oreos, gummy worms, and all other desired mix-ins. Enjoy!

FAQ

Why is my pudding lumpy?

Lumpy chocolate pudding could be from the cocoa powder. Make sure to whisk your mixture until the cocoa powder is completely mixed in. Lumpy chocolate pudding could also be from a film forming. Pouring the chocolate pudding through a fine mesh strainer can help with the lumps.

Why is my pudding soupy?

Soupy chocolate pudding could be from overheating the pudding. Cornstarch is a great thickener, but if it is exposed to too extreme of temperatures, the starch molecules will deflate and the pudding will be runny.

What can I use as mix-ins?

Whatever you want! I would say the required mix-ins are crushed Oreos and candy gummy worms, but you can also add mini M&Ms, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, hot fudge, etc.! The options are truly endless.

Baking in grams

While I provide volume measurements for the recipes on my blog, I highly suggest baking these recipes using weight. It is the most standardized and accurate way to bake. I carefully recipe test all of my recipes using a kitchen scale, not by using cups, and therefore I cannot guarantee the success of my recipes when using volume measurements.

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Yield: 4 servings

Halloween Dirt Pudding

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Author: Jess Italiano
This Halloween dirt pudding is a nostalgic dessert for me. If you've never heard of dirt pudding, don't worry, there is no dirt involved! This decadent dessert is made up of homemade chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, and candy gummy worms. Of course there are optional add ins as well – from mini chocolate chips, to mini marshmallows, to candy eyes for Halloween, the options are endless!
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Ingredients
 

  • 2 1/4 cups (540 mL) whole milk, divided
  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar, divided
  • 2 tablespoons (16 grams) cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons (15 grams) dark (dutch processed) cocoa powder
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 5 oz (143 grams) semi sweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons (28 grams) salted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • crushed Oreos
  • gummy worms
  • mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, candy eyes, mini m&ms, etc., optional

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan, whisk together 2 cups (480 mL) of milk and 1/4 cup (50 grams) of sugar. Bring to a boil over low-medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat once it reaches a boil.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the cornstarch, cocoa powder, and remaining 1/4 cup (50 grams) of sugar until combined. Add the remaining 1/4 cup (60 mL) of milk and whisk until smooth. Add this to the hot milk mixture in the saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer until thick, about two minutes.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Gradually add about 1 cup of the hot pudding mixture into the eggs until combined. This will pasteurize the eggs so they are safe to eat. Add this mixture back to the sauce pan. Stir constantly over medium heat until it comes to a boil. About 2 minutes.
  • Strain the pudding into a bowl, then add the chopped chocolate, salted butter and vanilla extract and stir until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and incorporated in the pudding.
  • Cover the pudding with a piece of plastic wrap touching the surface of the pudding – this will prevent a film from forming. Place in the fridge and let cool until thick.
  • Once cool, assemble the puddings. Fill a cup half way with pudding, then top with a layer of crushed Oreos. Fill the remainder of the cup with chocolate pudding until almost full, then top with more crushed Oreos, gummy worms, mini chocolate chips, etc.! Enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
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