Our Earth Day Dessert: Cup of Dirt

Happy Earth Day! This is easily one of our favorite days of the year. We are always game for a reason to spend time outside, go on a bike ride, feel the sunshine, plant a flower, and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer us. It’s also a good time to reflect on any changes we can make that will keep our planet beautiful and our air and water clean.

If we’re being honest, every day is Earth Day for us. We love it! Whatever the Earth Day equivalent of the elves in Santa’s workshop are, that’s us. Year-round we are constantly thinking of ways to reduce trash, food waste, and how to live more sustainably. So how do we make Earth Day EXTRA special? Apart from spending as much time in nature as possible and cleaning up any litter we see (tbh that is the goal just about every day), you can count on one thing for sure happening… Cup of Dirt for dessert!

Scott (Kim’s husband) may or may not roll his eyes every year at this dessert, but that doesn’t stop Kim from making it every year :). It’s so fun, the rest of us always look forward to it! Kids love it, as do most adults (excluding Scott). We still love him.

If you did not have this in your elementary school lunch on Earth Day and have no idea what Cup of Dirt is, it’s quite simple and looks just as it sounds: chocolate pudding, gummy worms, and usually crushed Oreos on top. It’s pretty magical and super easy. We hope this becomes part of one of your Earth Day traditions!

Our only word of advice is to make it in a way that is sustainable and celebrates Earth! Buying snack packs in individual plastic cups, Oreos with all their crinkly plastic packaging, and gummy worms in a plastic bag are not exactly Earth-friendly. In case you haven’t noticed we kind of hate plastic, especially single-use plastic. Starting with easy homemade chocolate pudding, here’s how we make it with minimal waste:

Cup of Dirt

Chocolate Pudding:

• 1/4 c. light brown sugar

• 3 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder

• 3 Tbs. cornstarch

• 1/4 tsp. salt

• 2 3/4 c. whole milk

• 1/4 c. heavy cream

• 1 cup milk chocolate chips, or 6 ounces bar milk chocolate chopped

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Other Ingredients:

• Chocolate bar of your choice (we like the Pound Plus bar from TJs), grated, to taste

• Gummy worms purchased from a refill bulk store, to taste. We use 3-4 worms per cup

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Whisk together. Then add the milk and cream to the sugar mixture and whisk until it is smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally. Once the mixture is at a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is thickened and large bubbles pop at the surface, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

2. Transfer the pudding to a large bowl and cover. Using beeswax wrap, press it directly onto the surface of the pudding to prevent skin from forming. Refrigerate the pudding until it is completely cool, at least 4 hours but up to 3 days.

3. Once the pudding is set, grab some small glass bowls or small jars so you can see the worms. Fill with chocolate pudding and throw gummy worms in the mix. Put one at the bottom, one in the middle, and one or two poking out at the top.

4. Top with grated chocolate from your chocolate bar. If using the Pound Plus bar from Trader Joe’s, just start with a couple of grated squares and go from there if you need more.

5. Enjoy!

Recipe source: adapted from melskitchencafe.com