Worms and Dirt Cookie Cups

Worms and Dirt Cookies – Kids Love Them!

Ages and ages ago, I saw these Flower Pot Cookies from The Gunny Sack. As adorable as they are, with my little boys who wouldn’t (and still don’t) want to go near anything ruffly or princessy or “girly”, I knew that flower-adorned cookies would be a no-go in my house. So I had this idea to take that cookie cup recipe and swap out the flowers for gummy worms. I mean, what kid wouldn’t love to eat worms and dirt, especially when it’s a cookie cup filled with chocolate ganache, Oreo dirt, and gummy worms?!

It’s such an easy way to transform simple sugar cookie dough into something a little silly and lots more fun. Here’s why these Dirt Cookies are sure to be a hit…

• Few ingredients. For the simplest version, you only need five ingredients if you use pre-made cookie dough. Though I do share some semi-homemade and from-scratch options.
• Simple to make. This is definitely an easy recipe that you can get the kids involved in making. In fact, this is a case where the messier, the better!
• Perfect for many occasions. These can be a creepy treat for Halloween or the perfect way to celebrate the arrival of spring. Heck, you could just make them any time you want to put big smiles on some little faces.
• Gluten free option. Yes, you can use gluten free cookie dough and Oreos, as well as a brand of gluten free gummy worms. I’ve got all the info you need below!

What You’ll Need

Here’s a rundown of the ingredients for these Dirt Cookies, complete with worms and all! I’ve also got the info you’ll need to make them gluten free. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full amounts and detailed instructions.

• Sugar cookie dough. The easiest way to make these is to use a refrigerated pre-made and pre-portioned sugar cookie dough, like Pillsbury or Sweet Loren’s for a gluten free option. You can also use a sugar cookie mix or make them from scratch, or try this recipe for gluten free sugar cookie cups.
• Chocolate chips and heavy cream. To make the ganache.
• Oreos. Place them in a plastic bag and crush them until they resemble dirt. A rolling pin is helpful for this. You can use Gluten Free Oreos or another brand of gluten free chocolate sandwich cookies, such as Glutino, Goodie Girl, and even Trader Joe’s. Or try just the cookies from my Gluten Free Oreos recipe.
• Gummy worms. Cut them in half. If you are making these gluten free, be aware that some brands use a wheat-based syrup as a sweetener. Always be sure you check up-to-date labels, but as of the time this is published, you can get gluten free gummy worms from Surf Sweets by Wholesome and Black Forest.

Quick Tips

A few suggestions for when you whip up a batch of Dirt Cookies!

• Don’t let them stick. If using a metal pan, make sure it is well coated with cooking spray, though silicone muffin pans are a better option to pop out the cookie cups easily. Use the tip of a butter knife or small offset spatula to pop them out of metal pans.
• Pipe it in. To minimize making a mess, pour the ganache into a piping bag or a heavy-duty plastic storage bag, then cut off the tip to pipe it in. You may end up with a bit extra. Feel free to drizzle it on some chocolate chip ice cream.
• Change it up. Instead of sugar cookies, try my Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups or use the batter for my Gluten Free Brownies to make brownie cups.

More Kid-Favorite Desserts

• Gluten Free Oreo Cupcakes
• Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats
• Rainbow Jello
• Flourless Reese’s Cookies
• Funky Monkey Cupcakes
• S’Mores Cookie Cups