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No-Bake Dirt Cake Pudding Cups (Malted, Won’t Go Watery)

Individual no-bake dirt cake cups with malted cookie crumbs and a cream cheese-stabilized chocolate pudding that stays thick for days.

  • Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes (includes chilling)
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 package (14 oz) chocolate sandwich cookies (about 36 cookies)
  • 3 tbsp malted milk powder
  • Pinch of fine sea salt
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 boxes (3.4 oz each) instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 3 cups cold whole milk
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks
  • Gummy worms, for topping

Instructions

  1. Pulse the cookies (with filling) in a food processor to fine crumbs. Reserve 1 cup of crumbs for topping.
  2. Stir the malted milk powder and salt into the remaining crumbs, then mix in the melted butter. Press a spoonful into the bottom of each cup and chill while you make the filling.
  3. Whisk the pudding mix with the cold milk for 2 minutes, then refrigerate for 5 minutes until fully set.
  4. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.
  5. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, then gently fold that into the set pudding until no streaks remain. Do not stir vigorously or the filling will deflate.
  6. Spoon the filling over the chilled crumb layer in each cup. Repeat with another layer of crumbs and filling if your cups allow.
  7. Top with the reserved crumbs and a gummy worm or two. Chill at least 2 hours, or up to 3 days, before serving.

Notes

Fold, don’t stir, once the cream cheese mixture meets the pudding — that’s what keeps the texture light instead of dense. These hold their structure in the fridge for up to 3 days, making them a genuinely good make-ahead party dessert instead of a same-day-only one. For a dairy-free swap, use a plant-based cream cheese and coconut whipped cream; the malt flavor still comes through.

  • Author: Ella Whitley
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Method: No-Bake
  • Cuisine: American