Chocolate Pudding Dirt Cups

Chocolate pudding dirt cups topped with cookie crumb ‘dirt’ and strawberry ‘carrots’ – a fun, easy Easter dessert that both kids and adults will love!

Spring brings us gorgeous, juicy strawberries. They’re one of the first harvests of the season and often come at a great price. I couldn’t resist grabbing a pint (or two) at the grocery store. I’m definitely an impulse buyer when it comes to fruit (). All too often I don’t have a solid plan for using them – aside from just eating them. That’s part of how I decided to make these funny dessert cups.

With Easter coming up, I’ve also been brainstorming some fun and easy desserts to serve that both kids and grown-ups would love. I decided to try some ‘carrot patch’ pudding cups using those beautiful berries. I’d seen some cute versions on Pinterest, and wanted to try it for myself. They’re ridiculously cute, super simple, and they start with my favorite scratch-made chocolate pudding that’s made with pantry staples. The buttery cookie crumb ‘dirt’ is just the right amount of sweet crunch. And those dipped strawberry carrots? They’re not fooling anyone! But they’re so funny and adorable it doesn’t even matter.

Make the Chocolate Pudding

This pudding is SO EASY, and you may have everything on hand to make it. Whisk together the cornstarch, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Then gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to keep it smooth. Pop it on medium-high heat and keep whisking. Soon you’ll notice the mixture is thickening and your whisk will start leaving trails.

Bring to a Bubble

Once it’s bubbling, let it cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, whisking vigorously. Then take it off the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. The butter adds richness and the vanilla really rounds out the flavor. That’s the magic touch for a creamy, dreamy finish.

Divide Between Dessert Cups

I used cute little ice cream cups that look like mini flower pots (10/10 recommend for the full gardening vibe.) It’s nice that they are clear so you can see the pudding and dirt layers. Just spoon the pudding right in, or if you’re a stickler for neatness (raises hand) pipe it in for a cleaner look. Fill them about three-quarters full to save room for the dirt.

Top with Cookie Crumb “Dirt”

In a small bowl, mix chocolate cookie crumbs with melted butter until everything is evenly coated. The butter gives the crumbs flavor and that slightly clumpy, glossy texture that looks just like fresh soil. I recommend using the cookie parts of cookies (without the cream filling) for the dirt. Or you can just of ready-made chocolate cookie crumbs.

Spoon a generous layer of the crumb mixture over each pudding cup, making sure to cover the top completely. Don’t worry about making it perfect. A little unevenness just adds to the garden effect!

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Skewer Strawberries for Easy Dipping

Wash the strawberries well, and make sure to pat them super dry (wet berries and candy melts do not mix). Stick a toothpick or skewer into the top, right into leafy stem. This makes dipping way easier. And more importantly, you’re less likely to lose the leafy greens. They sometimes detach during dipping and we just can’t have that! They are essential to the carrot appearance.

Dip in Orange Melted Candy

Melt the orange candy wafers in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between until smooth. Dip each strawberry in, covering it all the way up to the stem. Let any extra drip off before placing it on parchment paper to set.

Add Details and ‘Plant’ the Carrots

Once the coating is firm, put the rest of the melted candy into a piping bag. Snip a tiny hole and drizzle some lines over the strawberries for that classic carrot-y look. Then pop a strawberry carrot right into each pudding cup, pushing it gently into the cookie crumb dirt. Instant cuteness!

These chocolate pudding dirt cups with strawberry carrots are easy to switch up for other occasions. Swap out the carrots for gummy worms for a fun kid’s birthday treat. Or, for a garden party, insert mint sprigs into the dirt for a sprouted plant effect. You could even add some green coconut grass and mini robin’s egg candies for a slightly different Easter treat.

These little cups are perfect for Easter brunch, garden parties, or even a spring birthday bash. Honestly, they’d be a hit at any kid-friendly event, but adults will totally love them too. Bonus points if you serve them with for the full gardening effect. Be sure to watch the video below to see these little potted carrots come to life!

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Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/SprinkleBakes