This recipe for individual healthy dirt cups is made with vegan and dairy-free ingredients, including a simple tofu chocolate pudding as the base, Oreo crumbs, and gummy candies that are allergy-friendly. It’s a great dessert for Halloween but can be modified for other holidays too.
Dirt pudding with gummy worms was one of my favorite desserts as a kid, and I continue to love it as an adult. But being the veggie blogger/dietitian that I am, I of course wanted to come up with a way to make healthy dirt cups that featured some plant foods for a little extra nutrition!
First, I decided to use my Protein Chocolate Mousse, made with silken tofu, as the pudding. I figured this was an easy way to make this beloved dessert a little healthier without sacrificing texture and flavor. I kept the other two ingredients, Oreo crumbs and gummy candies, the same (but used a vegan version of gummies).
Overall, this sweet treat is totally satisfying. In my opinion, you can’t tell the difference between the tofu mousse and regular chocolate pudding. If you’re looking for a slightly better-for-you version of a classic and/or want to make a dessert with some extra nutrition during Halloween (for yourself or your kids), give this recipe a try!
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Ingredients and Substitutions
- Protein Chocolate Mousse: This is made with dark chocolate, silken tofu, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. It makes enough for about 4 dirt cups, but it’s easy to double or triple the recipe if you need more. You can substitute my Avocado Chocolate Mousse if you’re looking for another option!
- Oreos: You can use regular Oreos or a similar brand. Chocolate wafer cookies or chocolate Graham crackers also work.
- Gummy worms or candies: Traditional dirt pudding is made with gummy worms. However, I recently stumbled upon Yum Earth Halloween gummies and decided to use those instead of classic gummy worms. This brand is vegan and allergy-friendly, so I figured they would be perfect to keep the recipe vegan in case someone was specifically looking for that! Keep in mind that the gummies are allergen-free, but the rest of the dirt cup components have common allergens (soy and wheat, for example).
Equipment
Individual healthy dirt cups look best when served in transparent containers. I like to use 6-ounce glass mason or pudding jars, but of course plastic cups are an option too. How many dirt cups you can get out of the recipe will depend on the size of cup you use.
Instructions
The full recipe card, including ingredient quantities, is at the end of the post. Here’s a preview of the steps.
Melt the chocolate for the protein chocolate mousse. You can melt it in the microwave in 30-second intervals or on the stove using a double boiler.
Crush the Oreos into crumbs. I used a high-powered blender since I already had it out to make the chocolate mousse. You can also crush the Oreos in a plastic bag using the bottom of a drinking glass.
Blend the melted chocolate with the silken tofu, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Assemble the dirt cups. Start with a tablespoon of Oreo crumbs, followed by ¼ cup of chocolate mousse. Repeat until you have 3 layers of Oreo crumbs and 2 layers of mousse. Top the dirt cups with gummy worms/candies.
Storage
You can make healthy dirt cups ahead of time. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. On its own, the mousse will last 5 days in the fridge. So you can always make the mousse ahead of time and assemble the cups at a later time if that works better.
Serving
I love serving this fun dessert for Halloween parties or entertaining, alongside my Pumpkin Veggie Tray, Pumpkin Peanut Butter Balls (No Bake), and Sheet Pan Pumpkin Bars (Lightened Up). However, dirt cups aren’t just for Halloween! You can serve them for Easter using jellybeans or small chocolate eggs and Peeps instead of gummy worms. For other holidays, use whatever candy is in season!
More Desserts
- Almond Flour Chocolate Cupcakes (with sweet potato!)
- Avocado Chocolate Frosting
- Almond Flour Ginger Cookies
- Sweet Potato Cornbread
I’d love to hear how you like this recipe! Rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments, and follow the Veg World on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.
📖 Recipe
Healthy Dirt Cups
Equipment
- blender or food processor
- 4 6-ounce glass or plastic cups
Ingredients
- 10 Oreos - or a similar cookie; to yield 1 cup crumbs
- 6 ounces dark chocolate - 70% or more cocoa; about 1 cup when broken into squares
- 12 ounces silken tofu - drained
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 gummy candies
Instructions
- Crush the Oreos into crumbs. You can do this in a blender or food processor or by sealing them in a plastic bag and using the bottom of a drinking glass.
- Make the chocolate tofu pudding. First, melt the dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals on high. Stir the chocolate in between intervals. Add the melted dark chocolate, drained silken tofu, maple syrup, and vanilla extract to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. For more tips, see the full post on Protein Chocolate Mousse.
- Assemble the dirt cups. Start with a heaping tablespoon of Oreo crumbs on the bottom of a jar or cup. Add ¼ cup of the chocolate mousse. Add another spoonful of Oreo crumbs then another ¼ cup of mousse, and finish with a top layer of Oreo crumbs. Stick gummy candies or worms into the cups.
- Refrigerate until you're ready to serve them. Place them on a tray or plate and cover with plastic wrap. You can make them up to 2 days in advance. Enjoy!
- Leave a rating or review by tapping the stars on this recipe card (above) or in the comments section (at the end of the post)!
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