Dirt & Worms Pudding – Kids’ Delight!

Picture this. You are at the grocery store, trying frantically to locate the items on your list, all the while trying to steer your kids’ eyes away from the candy aisle. And almost always, they are drawn to it like moths to a flame. Starburst is Boy’s favorite and also those icky gummy treats.

Gummy bears, gummy worms, even wearable gummy candy – he wants them all. I am the strict one in the house. So he knows to bide his time and corners his Dad on the very rare occasion when they go shopping by themselves. Dad is easily buckled and they come home with bags of candy when sent on a simple milk and eggs grocery run.

Then begins a game of hide and seek. The gummies never spend more than a day at the same spot in the kitchen. It’s like our own elf-on-the-shelf thing. I’ve never understood the fascination with creepy crawlies. I was always terrified of them. Or maybe this fascination is a boy thing.

So on a whim, I decided to treat the boy(s) to the classic dirt pudding dessert complete with gummy worms crawling in the chocolate “dirt”. It is such fun to make, I have never had more fun making anything else for my Boy. Seriously! If dirt tastes as good as this, who wouldn’t want to play with it?

And by the way, dirt pudding cups are usually made with boxed pudding mix and crushed Oreo cookies, both of which are complete no-nos in my book. I can make my own pudding and dirt, thank you very much. Dirt can be made with dark chocolate cookies, brownies or cake. I made a quick one-bowl cake so that daddy and mommy can eat the leftovers later.

Do you see that gorgeousness? Is there anything better than a perfectly baked, moist chocolate cake?

See anything different now? Yep, slices of cake kept disappearing mid-shoot. I wonder how and where to?!!

For the pudding layer, I used my eggless chocolate pudding recipe. Remember how that recipe was born because of Boy’s obsession with chocolate pies? This time around, I reduced the ratio of cocoa powder to milk so that the pudding will be lighter in color than the chocolate cake. This pudding is very easy and takes exactly 10 minutes on the stove plus chilling time, of course. So please make your own pudding and do not use the boxed stuff. Ever. Promise me.

Once the pudding comes together, pour in to the dessert cups and place a piece of cling wrap on it to prevent a skin from forming. But to be honest, I kind of like that skin and also the lumpy pudding left behind in the sides of the pot. I know, I’m weird like that! Anyway, chill the pudding cups, then top with crumbled chocolate cake and stick those gummy buggers in as you see fit.

Truth be told, the gummy worms are fun to eat with this dessert. There is something about the combo of sweet pudding and cake with the tangy gummy candies that makes this dessert an all-round favorite.

If you are using store-bought cookies and pudding, then the recipe is as simple as make pudding, crush cookies, layer and serve. But with just a few pantry staples, you can whip up all-homemade delicious dirt pudding. It’s easier than you think.

DIRT AND WORMS PUDDING (Makes 6 dirt pudding cups/bowls)

{Made with homemade chocolate pudding and chocolate cake}

EGGLESS CHOCOLATE PUDDING

You will need:

• Milk – 3 cups (whole milk preferred)
• Cornstarch – 3 1/2 tbsp
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – 1 1/2 tbsp
• Sugar – 8-10 tbsp (as per sweetness desired, I used 8 tbsp)
• Salt – a pinch
• Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
• Butter – 1 tbsp

How to:

• Sift the cocoa powder and cornstarch together. Mix with 1/2 cup milk, ensuring there are no lumps whatsoever.
• Heat the remaining milk in a saucepan on medium heat. When the milk is heated and you see tiny bubbles around the edges, add sugar, a pinch of salt and the cocoa-cornstarch-milk slurry/paste to it. Use a fine mesh strainer to add the slurry if it seems to have lumps.
• Keep whisking continuously and cook till the mixture boils, maybe 5-7 minutes. Once it boils, keep whisking vigorously and cook for 2 more minutes or till the mixture thickens and turns glossy. At this point, the mixture will be completely smooth and have no bubbles or froth at the top.
• Add the vanilla extract and butter and stir for just a few more seconds to melt the butter.
• Remove from heat and divide the pudding into 6 heat-proof dessert cups or bowls. Cover with cling-wrap, touching the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Cool to room temperature and then in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Bake the cake when the pudding sets in the refrigerator.

ONE-BOWL CHOCOLATE CAKE (Makes an 8″ or 9″ cake)

You will need:

• All purpose flour – 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp
• Baking powder – 3/4 tsp
• Baking soda – 3/4 tsp
• Salt – 1/2 tsp
• Sugar – 1 cup
• Egg – 1, large
• Milk – 1/2 cup
• Oil – 1/4 cup (vegetable or any neutral oil)
• Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
• Water – 1/2 cup, boiling hot

How to:

• Pre-heat the oven to 350 deg.F. Grease and flour an 8″ or 9″ baking pan.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir the dry ingredients together till well combined.
• Add the egg, milk, oil and vanilla extract and beat on medium speed for a minute or two. Add the boiling hot water and combine well. The batter will be smooth and runny.
• Pour batter in the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes or till it passes the toothpick test.
• Remove from oven and cool in pan for 5-10 minutes. Then remove cake and cool on a wire rack completely.

We will need at least half of this cake for the dirt pudding cups. Refrigerate the rest of the cake to enjoy later.

ASSEMBLING THE PUDDING

You will need:

• Chocolate pudding – 3 cups, divided into 6 dessert cups/bowls
• Chocolate cake – 1/2 of an 8″ inch cake, cut into slices and crumbled
• Gummy worms – 18

How to:

• Remove the chilled and set pudding cups from the refrigerator. Top each cup with at least an inch of crumbled chocolate cake. Stick 2-3 gummy worms into each dirt pudding cup. Serve immediately or keep refrigerated till serving time.

Notes:

• You can use crushed dark chocolate cookies for the topping instead of cake. You can find a great dark chocolate cookie recipe here.

Needless to say, this is a great kids party treat. You can make the pudding and cake ahead of time, at least 3-4 days in advance. You can even layer them the night before. But I would suggest adding the gummies just before the party so that their tail-ends are not soggy. (On a side note, have you noticed that the gummy worm candies are eerily life-like with a flat head at one end?)

Now don’t forget to set the scene with some fancy cocoa powder “dirt” and extra worms on the serving tray. In my son’s words, “You have muddy slime, then dirt, and earthworms crawling out of it… yum!” Eew… boys!!!

This is a fun treat to make for the kids during spring break. I hope you try it!

Have you had dirt and worms pudding? Do you use ready-made cookies and pudding or have you tried homemade recipes? Do share.

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