Recipe for Worms and Dirt – Worms and Dirt are a classic Halloween treat for kids. Most of these types of desserts, however, are filled with refined-sugar, dairy, gluten, and a long list of ingredients. Because of this, I decided to revamp the recipe, and make a healthy Recipe for Worms and Dirt that the whole family will love!
Made with only clean ingredients, and filled with chocolatey flavor, this is one recipe you don’t want to miss out on this fall season. Want more details? Keep reading!
Recipe for Worms and Dirt
Worms and dirt start with a layer of chocolate pudding (mud), topped with crumbled chocolate cookies (dirt), and finished off with gummy worms (the worms). It’s a sugar-filled and tasty treat, with such a fun theme! Not only do kids love eating this dessert, but they love to make it too. It really is just as fun to make as it is to eat!
While the three components of this recipe may seem simple, it’s important to acknowledge that each layer of this sweet treat carry their own extensive lists of ingredients, making for one not-so-healthy dessert.
Luckily, making this recipe from home is quite easy, and really only requires a few ingredients for each layer. Make extra, and you can have easy assembly for additional Worms and Dirt cups as needed!
How to Make Worms and Dirt Healthy
Like stated earlier, worms and dirt can easily be made healthy by simply revamping each layer into simple ingredient, healthy alternatives. So how exactly do we go about doing this?
Swap Conventional Chocolate Pudding for Avocado Chocolate Pudding
Chocolate pudding is easy peasy to make healthy. Most chocolate pudding has a base of milk or cream to achieve a smooth and creamy texture. It is then thickened up with starches or gelatin. You can easily skip the milk and need for thickeners by simply opting for avocados instead!
Avocados are a creamy, neutral base, easily used to cream up smoothies or desserts. From here, all you need is some cacao powder and maple, and you’re good to go! Personally, we don’t even taste the difference! If you’ve been counting, our entire chocolate pudding recipe requires only 3, simple and clean ingredients. That’s it!
Swap Oreos for Healthier Options
Most worms and dirt recipes use Oreos to crumble on top. While Oreo’s now offers a gluten free option, the ingredients most certainly do not align with clean eating. We have found that any chocolate cookie works perfectly, and totally replicates the dirt-like texture sought after when using unhealthy options.
Have some extra time in the kitchen? We love using our Recipe for Chocolate Cookies, or Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies! Short on time? Brands like Simple Mills offers some really great healthy options.
Swap Gummy Worms for Homemade Gummy Worms
Most gummy worms are loaded with artificial colors and processed sugars. Good thing they’re easy to make from home! Homemade Gummy Bears or Worms require just 3 ingredients, and are a breeze to make from home. This is one kitchen activity the kids will really love getting involved in!
If you still don’t want to go through the effort of making homemade, we get it! There are better-for-you brands like Surf Sweets, Black Forest, and Smart Sweets that make this recipe even quicker!
Tips for Making the BEST Worms and Dirt
Now that you have the ingredients for our healthy Recipe for Worms and Dirt, next, we want to give you our best tips for really taking this recipe over the top!
#1: Enjoy Immediately
With healthy, whole foods comes quicker expiration dates. And while in general, most healthy recipes here on Clean Cuisine will last at least a few days, this is an exception to the rule. Due to the avocado in this recipe, this is an “enjoy immediately” type of dish.
If you’ve ever opened an avocado and left it out for a few minutes, you know just how quickly it browns. And if you’ve ever had old/browned avocado, you know just how distinctly terrible this taste is. The moral of this point is, enjoy this Recipe for Worms and Dirt Immediately! This takes me to my next tip…
#2: Use Ripe and Perfectly Green Avocados
A ripe avocado should be a darker green color, and should slightly give when pressed gently. If an avocado is too ripe, the inside will be covered in brown spots. If it is not yet ripe enough, it will be difficult to cut open, and hard to mash. Choosing perfectly ripe avocados is key to making the pudding in this recipe smooth, creamy, and filled with great flavor!
#3: Blend Well
It’s important to blend the pudding with a high speed blender or blender stick until smooth, creamy, and free of chunks. Otherwise, you can expect avocado pieces or chunks of cacao that will be sure to negatively altar the flavor.
#4: Use Organic Cacao instead of Cocoa
While using cocoa instead of cacao may not make a huge or noticeable difference in flavor, it most definitely will in nutrient density! While cocoa isn’t necessarily bad, many of it’s nutrients are lost in the high level of processing. Cacao, on the other hand, is minimally processed, and filled with nutrients and health benefits! When given the choice, cacao is the clear winner.
Implement all of these tips, and you’ll be sure to have the richest, creamiest, and most delicious Recipe for Worms and Dirt possible!
More Kid-Friendly Fall Recipes
If you’re just recently switching to clean eating, getting the whole family on board, especially the kids, can be a challenge. Our suggestion? Continuing making all of their favorite things, just in healthier ways! It’s much more difficult to entice someone (especially children) to swap their pizza for broccoli and grilled chicken breast than it is for pizza with a couple alternative ingredients. This holds true for desserts as well! Don’t cut out ice cream for dessert. Simply swap it for healthier brands or homemade!
Below, you’ll find some of our favorite “kid-friendly” fall recipes for the family transitioning to a healthier diet, or even one who is already there!
Recipe for Gluten Free Brownies: Recipe for gluten free brownies are moist, chewy and SO delicious. Made with cassava flour, naturally sweetened and nutritious.
Caramel Sauce Recipe: This two-ingredient Caramel Sauce Recipe is a delicious addition to top any dessert, ice cream, iced coffee, or even to dip fruit in!
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese is a perfect comfort food. Our recipe uses gluten free pasta and a dairy free creamy sauce.
Gluten Free Apple Crisp with Cranberries: Even if you enjoy cooking as I do you still need a few go-to dishes such as a basic easy gluten free apple crisp recipe with cranberries. And seriously, who doesn’t love a great recipe for apple crisp?
Instant Pot Chili Recipe: Instant Pot Chili Recipe is perfect with tortilla chips or warm cornbread muffins. The flavor of this instant pot recipe is perfect.
Homemade Apple Cider: This healthy Apple Cider Recipe is made with minimal ingredients, and no added sugar! Warm, delicious, and perfect for fall.
Ready to assemble this tasty treat from home? Let’s get into the recipe!
Kitchen Favorites
Recipe for Worms and Dirt
With clean ingredients, and filled with chocolatey flavor, this Recipe for Worms with Dirt is one treat you don’t want to miss out on this fall season.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 70 minutes
- Yield: 2 large servings, or 4 small servings 1x
Ingredients
AVOCADO CHOCOLATE PUDDING (“Mud”)
- 4 ripe avocados
- 6 tablespoons cacao powder
- 6–8 tablespoons maple syrup, to preferred sweetness
RECIPE FOR CHOCOLATE COOKIES (“Dirt”)
- Coconut oil for greasing
- 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 cup raw pecans
- 1/2 cup prunes
- 3 tablespoons date sugar
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
GUMMY WORMS (“Worms”)
- 1 cup fruit juice of choice
- 1/3 cup high quality gelatin
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- Gummy worm molds
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients for avocado pudding in a large mixing bowl.
- Blend until smooth with a high-speed blender, or stick blender.
- Scoop desired amount into cups.
- Bake chocolate cookies (or use store bought) and allow to cool. Crumble desired amount on top of pudding.
- Make gummy worms (or use store bought), and place desired amount on top of “dirt”/crumbled cookies.
- Serve immediately, and enjoy!
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Keywords: Recipe for Worms and Dirt
