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Simple Sugar Cookie Cups will induce giggles when you fill them with worms and dirt. This easy recipe starts with a store-bought sugar cookie dough (though you could use a homemade recipe or a mix), but turns them into a fun mini dessert with just five ingredients. Oreo dirt, gummy worms, and chocolate ganache make these a tasty but gross treat the kids will love.
Originally published on Sep 22, 2017
Ages and ages ago I saw these Flower Pot Cookies from The Gunny Sack. As adorable as they are, with my little boys who 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 little boy wouldn’t love to eat “worms and dirt”. And I know plenty of little girls who would get a kick out of it, as well.
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 make and eat something fun with the kids. They are so easy that even the littles ones can definitely help.
So let’s get the kids in the kitchen…
Worms and Dirt Sugar Cookie Cups
You won’t believe it’s so easy it is to make these mini desserts! You really only need four ingredients for the simplest version possible, though I will give you some alternatives, and even gluten free recommendations below.
What do you need to make cookie cups?
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookie dough – the easiest way to make these is to use a refrigerated pre-made sugar cookie dough. The ones that are already separated into squares are the simplest because you can just plop them in, but you can divide the dough from a tube into twenty-four equal balls. You can also use a sugar cookie mix or make them from scratch.
- Chocolate chips
- Heavy cream
- Oreos – place in a plastic bag and crush until it resembles dirt. A rolling pin is helpful for this.
- Gummy worms – cut in half.
How to make sugar cookie cups with worms and dirt:
- Preheat your oven (temperature may vary depending on whether you use storebought or homemade dough) and spray your mini muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
PRO TIP: Make sure your mini muffin tin is well coated. Another option is to get a silicone muffin pan to pop out the cookie cups easily.
- Divide cookie dough between the cups in the muffin pan and bake per instructions (for the pre-made dough, it’s about 11-13 minutes).
- Take the pan out of the oven and cool completely. Remove the cookie cups from the pan.
PRO TIP: Use the tip of a butter knife or small offset spatula to pop them out.
- Heat the heavy cream in a pan until it just starts to bubble, then pour over the chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl and stir until smooth.
- Fill the cups with the chocolate ganache.
PRO TIP: pour the ganache into a heavy-duty plastic storage bag and cut off the tip to pipe it in. You may end up with a bit extra.
- Top each cup with the crushed Oreos, and place the cut end of a gummy worm into the dirt. Cover with a bit more crushed Oreos, if needed.
Can you make gluten free sugar cookie cups?
Yes, but you will need to make some substitutions.
- For the cookie cups – try this recipe for gluten free sugar cookie cups, but bake in in the mini muffin pan. You can also try using a gluten free sugar cookie mix. I have not yet tested this, but when I do, I will report back. If you try it, let me know.
- For the Oreos – there are many brands of gluten free chocolate cream sandwich cookies on the market, such as Glutino, Goodie Girl, and even Trader Joe’s has a gluten free version of their Joe-Joe’s.
- For the gummy worms – be aware that not all brands are gluten free, as some 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.
Please take some time to check out all the amazing recipes we made for our friend Angie’s virtual baby shower!
Beverages:
Baby Blue Punch from Or Whatever You Do.
Easy Fall Party Punch from Miss in the Kitchen.
Simple & Fun Mimosa Bar from My Life Well Loved.
Simple Southern Sweet Tea from Love and Confections.
Appetizers & Salads:
Creamy Grape Salad with Toasted Pecans from Unsophisticook.
Mini Chicken and Waffles from Sweet Beginnings.
Pimento Cheese Stuffed Buttermilk Biscuits from It’s Yummi.
Spicy Southern Deviled Eggs from This Gal Cooks.
Entrees:
American Pierogi Casserole from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen.
Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Butter Sauce from Culinary Adventures with Camilla.
Pimento Cheese Tomato Ham Sliders from Honey and Birch.
Desserts:
Banana Pudding Layered Dessert from High Heels and Grills.
Brookies from Baked Bree.
Caramel Corn from The Redhead Baker.
Caramel Pecan Cheesecake from Cooking with Carlee.
Chocolate Chip Clouds from All Day I Dream About Food.
Lemon Donuts with Raspberry Glaze from Ashlee Marie
Low Carb Chocolate Peanut Butter Stuffed Cupcakes from Sugar-Free Mom.
Mickey Mouse Candy Pops from The Decorated Cookie.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownie Bars from The Bitter Side of Sweet.
Classic Yellow Butter Cake with Fudgy Chocolate Icing from That Skinny Chick Can Bake.
Yellow Cupcakes with Peach Cream Cheese Frosting from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt.
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Check out more of my most popular dessert recipes…
- Classic White Cake with Whipped Cream and Strawberries (or you can make it with this Gluten Free Cake)
- Mini Pumpkin Custards
- Orange Cream Jello Mold
- Reese’s Cake
More fun and easy treats to make with kids…
- Count Chocula Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cereal Treats
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes
- Flourless Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Rainbow Sherbet Sparkling Cider Floats
- Rainbow Jello Parfaits
Worms and Dirt Cookie Cups Recipe
Transform simple sugar cookie dough into a little dessert that’s as much fun to make as it is to eat. So easy that even the kids can help, and they will especially love eating these adorable treats. Because what is more fun than a cookie cup filled with chocolate ganache, Oreo dirt, and gummy worms?!
Worms and Dirt Cookie Cups
Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Sugar Cookie Dough to make 24 cookies, separate into squares (See note*)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 8 Oreo Cookies or about 24 mini Oreos, crushed
- 12 gummy worms cut in half
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F, and spray a mini muffin tin with nonstick coking spray
- Place one of the Pillsbury sugar cookie dough pieces in each cup.
- Bake at 375°F for 11-13 minutes, until golden brown.
- Cool cookies completely in the pan before removing carefully with a small offset spatula or butter knife.
- Place the chocolate chips in a small heat-safe bowl.
- In a pan on the stove or in the microwave, heat the heavy cream until it just barely starts to bubble, then immediately pour over the chips.
- Stir until smooth.
- Fill the cups with the chocolate ganache, top with the crushed Oreos, and place the cut end of a gummy worm into the dirt. Cover with a bit more crushed Oreos, if needed.
Notes
Did you make this?
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Enjoy!
Yum!! We call these “Kansas dirt” and used to eat them all the time when my kids were little.
I’m sure your kids loved them! My boys thought they were the best!