Ghosts in the Graveyard Dessert
If you need a quick and easy dessert that’s spooky for Halloween this Ghosts in the Graveyard Dessert is just what you are looking for. The kids will flip for it. It starts with a layer of fluffy chocolate pudding that’s topped with crushed Oreo cookies and decorated with Halloween candy and treats!
Make these dirt cups as a fun treat for the family or make them for your Halloween party with the kiddos! If you love dirt pie, you will love these graveyard dirt cups, too!
Easy No Bake Ghosts in the Graveyard Dirt Cups
This is such an easy no bake dessert! Creamy chocolate pudding topped with cookie “dirt”, chocolate trees, graham cracker gravestones, and cute little ghosts – these Oreo dirt cups are so spooky cute!
I love this recipe because you can make parts of it ahead to make it easy to pull it all together for a party. The individual cups are easy to serve and eat!
It’s also a great recipe for the kids to help with – they can help make the pudding and decorate the cups with all the fun treats. They’ll love it!
If you’ve been looking for fun Halloween desserts, these chocolate pudding dirt cups are a great one to try.
Ingredients for Halloween Oreo Dirt Cups
- Instant chocolate pudding mix – You will need two boxes for this recipe. Be sure to buy instant pudding!
- Cold milk – This is used to make the creamy chocolate pudding. Whole milk or 2% milk work great.
- Whipped topping – You will need two tubs which are used for the pudding and for making the ghosts.
- Oreo cookie crumbs – Crush them in a food processor or in a bag with a rolling pin.
- Milano cookies and Chocolate covered graham crackers – These are for the headstones. You can do a mix of both or just use one type of cookie.
- Gummy worms – If you’re going to make dirt pudding, you’ll need some creepy worms!
- Chocolate Almond Bark – This is used to make trees, which is optional!
- Black writing gel and White writing gel – These are used to write on the cookie headstones!
- Candy eyes – These are for the Cool Whip ghosts.
Tip: Can’t find edible writing gel? You can make a thin frosting instead! Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of the post – it has all the details.
Helpful Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Disposable decorating bags
- Parchment paper
- Individual plastic cups
How to Make Dirt Cups for Halloween
Make the pudding: Whisk the milk and pudding mixes in a large bowl. Chill the pudding for ten minutes or until it’s set. Once set, fold in the whipped topping and then refrigerate the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes.
Assemble the Cups: Spoon the pudding into individual cups. Sprinkle the cookie crumbs over the top of each one.
Decorate! We use several Halloween treats to decorate these dirt cups. You can use all of these ideas or pick your favorites!
- Trees: Melt chocolate almond bark and then transfer it to a disposable decorating bag. Snip off one corner and pipe the chocolate onto parchment paper in the shape of trees. Allow them to set for 10 to 15 minutes before removing them.
- Tombstones: Place the Milano cookies and chocolate grahams on parchment. Use the writing gel to add dates or RIP on each one.
- Ghosts: Place whipped topping in a piping bag. Pipe it onto the top of the dirt cups in the shape of a ghost. Add the candy eyes to finish them off.
- Other candy decorations: Add the gummy worms or you can use pumpkin candies or candy corn!
Can you make a graveyard dirt cake instead of individual cups?
Yes, you can spread the pudding in a 9×13″ dish and sprinkle the crushed Oreos over the top. Decorate the top with all the candy and cookies and use a large spoon to dish out scoops serving!
Can you make this dessert ahead?
You can make the pudding dirt cups without the decorations a day ahead. Keep them covered with plastic wrap. You can also make the trees and decorate the tombstone cookies – just keep them in separate containers at room temperature. Add all of the decorations just before serving!
Have fun making this ghosts in the graveyard dessert – it’s so easy and everyone will love it!
More Halloween Fun!
- Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups are another fun Halloween dessert that’s no bake and easy to make!
- Short on time? Make my super easy Mummy Brownies! You can use boxed mix or pick up some brownies at the store. They’re perfect when you need a last minute treat.
- Dracula Dentures are fun cookies with teeth that are so fun for Halloween.
- Another recipe I love to make with my kids is Halloween Bark! They love to add all of the cute decorations and it’s great for gifting.
If you take a picture and share them Instagram make sure to #kidsactivityzone or tag us @kidsactivityzoneblog so we can see them!
Ghosts in the Graveyard Dessert
Ingredients
Dessert
- 2 boxes 3.9 oz instant chocolate pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk
- 2 tubs 8 oz each whipped topping, thawed – part of one for decorations
- Oreo Cookies crumbs
Decorations
- Milano cookies
- Chocolate covered graham crackers
- Gummy worms
- Chocolate Almond Bark – to make trees optional
- Black writing gel
- White writing gel or powdered sugar and milk **see instructions
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk until smooth. Place bowl in refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes.
- Remove from refrigerator and fold in whipped topping. Place back in refrigerator to chill about 10-15 minutes (longer is fine).
- Create decorations while pudding mixture is chilling **instructions below
- Divide pudding mixture into serving dishes or 13×9 glass dish **see notes
- Add 6-8 Oreo cookies to food processor and crush into crumbs. Sprinkle cookie crumbs over pudding mixture.
- Add decorations (directions below) and gummy worms to pudding mixture.
Tree Decorations
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add 2-3 blocks of Almond Bark to microwave safe bowl.
- Heat in the microwave for 1 minute, remove and stir. Continue cooking for 10-20 seconds at a time until chocolate is almost melted. Stir until completely melted and smooth.
- Transfer chocolate to plastic decorator bag or resealable bag and snip off a very small amount of end of bag.
- Create trees by piping melted chocolate onto parchment paper.
- Let set for 10-15 minutes until hard
Tombstones- For white frosting for writing, mix together 1 cup powdered sugar and about 1-2 teaspoons of milk until smooth. You need the frosting to be very thick so begin with a very small amount of milk and gradually add a tiny bit at a time until consistency is good for writing.
- Write years and/or RIP on Milano cookies or chocolate covered graham cracker.
