Creepy-Cute Graveyard Pudding Cookie Cups for Halloween Fun!

Graveyard Pudding Cookie Cups have saved my Halloween party-planning sanity, seriously. Trying to keep things fun (and actually tasty) for a crowd of kids plus adults? Not always simple. These little cups look absolutely adorable and come together with maybe five minutes of actual effort—okay, maybe ten if you get chatty, like me. If you’re a fan of fast, festive desserts, these are even more fun than these Halloween Pinwheel Sugar Cookies I made last year, and my niece still talks about them. Bonus: you can totally play around with toppings, so the kids can make their own “creepy” graveyards. Oh, and for those of you who love using cute cups for treats, check this out: Can You Use Foil Cups for Creme Brulee?—it’ll answer every quirky serving question you’ve got.

Halloween Treats

Alright, I never met a Halloween treat I didn’t want to try. The thing with these Graveyard Pudding Cookie Cups? They check every box for me. They’re just the right amount of eerie (in a cutesy way), they can be made ahead, and they totally blow store-bought stuff out of the water. Kids lose their minds for them. Adults pretend they don’t want one—until you see their empty cup in the trash later, trust me. Every year there’s that ONE person that’s all “is there any more pudding?” (I smile every time.) If you’re looking for more unique Halloween snacks, peek at these Pastel Halloween Potion Jello Cups for a witchy twist, or check out my real-deal Spooktacular Bat Oreo Cookie Balls for a different spin on spooky sweets.

I say: The messier the “graveyard,” the better. Tombstones crooked? Perfect. Gummy worms escaping? Even better. Makes it weirdly more lifelike, you know? I even had my neighbor’s kid scream (okay, shriek-laugh) at a cookie tombstone once because it “looked haunted.” That’s five-star restaurant feedback, if you ask me.

“I’m not usually into pudding, but those spooky cups were legit the first thing gone at our neighborhood potluck! Each one looked a little different, too—which somehow made them cooler.” – Ellie M.

Ingredient	Quantity	Purpose
Chocolate Pudding Mix	1 box (3.9 oz)	Base for the dessert
Milk	2 cups	To prepare pudding
Crushed Cookies	1 cup	Top layer for texture
Gummy Worms	1 pack	Decoration for effect
Milano Cookies	1 pack	Tombstones for decoration
Whipped Topping	1 can	Optional fluff topping
Clear Plastic Cups	As needed	Servings for presentation
Sprinkles/Colored Sugar	As desired	For additional decoration

Ingredients For Your Shopping List

You don’t need fancy stuff for Graveyard Pudding Cookie Cups. Literally nothing weird; it’s all right in the snack aisle if you get lucky.

• Chocolate pudding mix (Instant pudding is your best buddy. I always buy one extra box to be safe.)
• Milk (Whatever kind works for pudding—read your box.)
• Crushed chocolate sandwich cookies (Oreos, but any kind will do in a pinch.)
• Gummy worms (For that wriggly graveyard vibe.)
• Milano cookies or similar for tombstones (You can write “RIP” on them. Or draw a silly face. Nobody cares.)
• Whipped topping (from a can or the tub, both work. Optional but fun)
• Clear plastic cups or fun little jars
• Sprinkles or colored sugar, if you like drama

If you’re feeling wild, throw in edible bones, candy eyes, or those jelly pumpkins. Last year, my cousin brought Cucumber and Mango Chamoy Cups for “spooky” vibes but these pudding cups? Hands down the bigger hit.

How To Make Graveyard Dirt Cups

Here’s what you do. Grab your cups, and whisk up the chocolate pudding like the box says. (Don’t overthink it—it’s pudding, not rocket science.) Spoon the pudding into each cup, fill ‘em up around three-quarters—kids always wish they were fuller, but otherwise they spill every time. Toss on a solid crunch of crushed cookies. Don’t be stingy. They should cover the top so it’s extra “dirt”-y.

Now’s the fun part. Stick a Milano cookie (or whatever you scrounged up for a tombstone) into each cup, but don’t push it all the way down. If you want, scribble “RIP” or a spooky name on the cookies first (use food-safe markers or frosting). Toss in a gummy worm or two—if you half-bury them, they look like they’re crawling out. If you want whipped topping, pipe some next to the tombstone. Sprinkle more “dirt.” And that’s really it. I let everyone do their own decorating at parties. Total crowd-pleaser.

If you want even more Halloween dessert fun with dirt cups, you might love my fave Fall Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups, too.

Tips and Tricks for Perfecting Your Recipe

Let’s get picky for a sec. If the pudding seems runny, just chill it a little longer—thicker is always better. Want the “dirt” crunchier? Don’t crush the cookies to dust; chunks are good! For writing on the tombstones, edible gel pens are, um, way easier than icing. (My first try with icing looked like an actual horror show.)

Big tip: if you’re prepping these for later, add the cookies and gummies right before serving, or they’ll get soggy and depressing. Oh—and don’t skimp on the worm-to-pudding ratio! At least one per cup or it’s not a real graveyard. Did this all get a bit out of hand? Maybe. But your guests will remember.

If you ever want a twist on this idea for Christmas or Thanksgiving, swap the pudding flavor or topping shapes—so versatile. Also, I’ve had total success turning these into “mummy” cups with white chocolate and edible eyes. Endless possibilities!

How Far In Advance Can I Make These?

People ask me this basically every time—probably because, let’s be honest, last-minute desserts are a Halloween tradition. You can make the chocolate pudding and crush the cookies the night before. Just don’t do the full assembly ahead. If you stick cookies or gummies in too early, they start to absorb moisture. Ick.

Pudding stays great in the fridge for 2-3 days, tightly covered. Same with the cookie “dirt”, just pop it in a bag. I’d say, if you want full flavor and texture, assemble everything an hour or two before serving. If not—don’t worry! Kids are not dessert snobs anyway. They’ll eat it, soggy or not.

I promise you: Graveyard Pudding Cookie Cups are low-stress, even if you’re throwing the world’s weirdest school party.

Common Questions

1. Can I use homemade pudding instead of instant?
Absolutely! Just make sure it’s chilled and thick, or else it won’t hold up well under all those cookies.

2. What if I don’t have clear cups?
Any small cup works—plastic, glass, or even those foil dessert things everyone saves “just in case.” (Imagine this with recycled baby food jars for extra cuteness.)

3. Can I make these gluten-free or dairy-free?
Sure thing! Pick gluten-free cookies and dairy-free pudding and everyone’s happy.

4. Is there a way to make these look even spookier?
Totally. Add candy bones, candy “blood,” or try candy eyeballs. Kids will vote you “Best Halloween Snack Parent—officially awesome.”

5. Any tips to keep it less messy for little kids?
Use a big tray and let them decorate at the table, or assemble most of the cup and let the kids just add the worms.

Ready for the Cutest Halloween Graveyard Around?

So that’s it. These Graveyard Pudding Cookie Cups will steal the show at your next bash, I swear. They’re cheap, wild-looking, and frankly—you’ll get more compliments than you ever wanted. Plus you can sneak a taste before anyone arrives, just to be extra sure. If you want other spooky treats, I always recommend checking out Halloween baking ideas for fresh inspiration. Ready to get your hands “dirty”? Grab that pudding, and start hatching your own edible graveyard. Happy haunting!

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