Dinosaur Dirt Cups Recipe

I made Dino Dirt Cups: silky chocolate pudding layered with crushed Oreo “dirt” and crowned with a kid-friendly dinosaur that begs a closer look for Dino Themed Snacks.

I love serving Dinosaur Dirt Cups when I want a dessert that feels playful but not fussy. I take instant chocolate pudding mix and layer it with crushed Oreo cookies so every bite is creamy then crunchy, like tiny chocolate caves.

Kids grin when they see a kid friendly dinosaur perched on the top, and adults always ask where I bought them. It works great for a Dino Birthday Party because it looks whimsical and almost too silly to be grown up food.

Honestly I never plan much, I just throw these together and watch them disappear.

Ingredients

• Instant chocolate pudding brings rich cocoa flavor, lots of sugar, little protein, it’s quick sweetness.
• Cold milk adds creaminess, calcium and some protein but it also adds carbs and lactose.
• Thawed whipped topping makes it fluffy, very sweet, mostly fat and sugar.
• Crushed Oreos give cookie crunch and chocolatey notes, mostly carbs and sugary goodness.
• Gummy dinosaurs add chewy bright sweetness, mostly sugar, almost no real nutrients.
• Plastic toy dinosaurs are fun decoration only not edible, dont forget to remove.
• Sweetened coconut gives grassy look and tropical flavor, high in sugar and fat.

Ingredient Quantities

• 2 (3.9 oz) packages instant chocolate pudding mix
• 4 cups cold milk
• 1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping thawed
• 20 to 24 Oreo cookies crushed into fine crumbs (about 2 cups)
• 1 cup gummy dinosaurs or gummy worms
• Plastic toy dinosaurs optional (non edible)
• Optional: 1/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut, tinted green for “grass”

How to Make this

1. Put 20 to 24 Oreo cookies in a resealable plastic bag and crush to fine crumbs with a rolling pin or pulse in a food processor; set aside about 1/4 cup crumbs for the tops.

2. In a medium bowl whisk together both packages of instant chocolate pudding mix with 4 cups cold milk for about 2 minutes until it starts to thicken, then let it sit 3 to 5 minutes to finish setting.

3. Gently fold in the thawed 8 ounce container of frozen whipped topping until the pudding is smooth and light; dont overmix or it will get dense.

4. If you want “grass” tint 1/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut by putting it in a small bowl or resealable bag with a few drops of green food coloring and mixing until evenly colored.

5. Layer the cups: spoon a tablespoon or two of Oreo crumbs into the bottom of each clear cup, add a generous spoonful of pudding, repeat for a second layer if your cups allow, finishing with a sprinkle of reserved Oreo crumbs on top.

6. Press a little of the green coconut around the top for grass if using, then add gummy dinosaurs or gummy worms on each cup, about 1/4 cup worth total across the batch or 1 to 3 gummies per cup depending on size.

7. If you want plastic toy dinosaurs, wash them and nestle one on each cup now or bring them out when serving; remember they are non edible.

8. Chill the assembled cups at least 30 minutes so everything firms and the cookie crumbs soften a bit; cover if making ahead and use within about 24 hours for best texture.

9. Before serving fluff the coconut a bit with a fork if needed and arrange extra gummies on top, then serve cold and enjoy.

Equipment Needed

1. Resealable plastic bag(s) for crushing the Oreos
2. Rolling pin or food processor to make fine crumbs
3. Medium mixing bowl for the pudding mix
4. Whisk (or a fork if you dont have one) to blend the pudding and milk
5. Rubber spatula or wooden spoon for gently folding in the whipped topping
6. Small bowl or extra resealable bag to tint the coconut green
7. Clear serving cups or small plastic cups for layering the parfaits
8. Tablespoons or small spoons for scooping and layering
9. Refrigerator to chill the assembled cups and set everything

FAQ

Dinosaur Dirt Cups Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Instant chocolate pudding mix, Substitute: use a cooked chocolate pudding (from cocoa, sugar, cornstarch and milk) or swap 2 packages instant vanilla plus 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder mixed in, they’ll both give a similar chocolate flavor though cooked pudding is a bit firmer.
• Cold milk, Substitute: unsweetened almond milk or oat milk, same volume as cow’s milk, texture may be slightly thinner but flavor works fine for instant pudding.
• Frozen whipped topping thawed, Substitute: freshly whipped heavy cream (whip to soft peaks, about 1 cup heavy cream per 8 oz topping) or mascarpone whipped with a little powdered sugar for richness, both give a fresher cream taste but fit the same role.
• Oreo cookies crushed into fine crumbs, Substitute: chocolate wafer cookies or crushed chocolate graham crackers, or use gluten free chocolate sandwich cookies if needed, use about the same volume (roughly 2 cups) for the “dirt” effect.

Pro Tips

– Keep the pudding light and airy by folding, not stirring, when you add the whipped topping. If you beat it or overmix it will get dense and kinda gluey, so stop when its uniform and still fluffy.

– For tidy layers use a zip top bag with a corner snipped or a piping bag to pipe the pudding into cups, it looks way cleaner than spooning and you wont make a mess. Press the bottom crumbs down a little with a spoon or the back of a small glass so the layers dont slide.

– If you want bright green “grass” use gel food coloring not regular liquid, gel gives stronger color with less moisture so the coconut wont clump or go soggy. Toasting the coconut lightly for a minute in a dry pan adds a bit of flavor, just watch it so it doesnt burn.

– Make ahead tips: assemble up to 24 hours ahead but dont add gummies or plastic toys until right before serving or theyll sink or get sticky. Wash and dry any plastic toys well and mention theyre non edible to anyone eating with kids, choking risk if younger kids are around.