Earth Day is coming and instead of the typical green and blue globe-shaped treat, I wanted to make something that was a little different and a really fun dessert to make with kids! These Jello Worms and dirt are perfect!
I am a cake decorator and I guess you could say that making things look realistic has always been my thing. But as a food blogger, making things look yummy is also my thing. So these jelly worms completely go against my grain as a food blogger because of how realistic (and gross, I'm told) they look. But fortunately, they are also super delicious -trust me!
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In fact, my husband thought they looked so gross he didn't even want to eat them. My kids, however, had no problem polishing them off because they thought they looked so cool!
A project like this is the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day and keep the kids occupied. My kids LOVED making and eating this Earth Day recipe. But the squeezing of these edible worms out of the straws is the most fun and satisfying part!
They take some time to set (overnight at minimum) but they are totally worth the wait! It's not like we're going anywhere right now anyway, right? And the dirt cups in the planter is also a super easy dessert to make with store-bought cake, instant pudding, Oreo cookie crumbs, and topped with mint leaves.
💭What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is the largest secular observance in the world. Celebrated annually on April 22, Earth Day is the day on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 192 countries each year. April 22, 2024 marks the 54th anniversary of Earth Day!
💭History of Earth Day
In 1970 the United States celebrated the first Earth day, which was spurred by Senator Gaylord in response to 1969's devastating oil spill in California. More than 20 million people around the U.S. gathered together holding rallies, demonstrations, and participating in activities to promote a clean and safe living environment. They also pushed for new legislation to protect the Earth on all levels of government. Then in 1990, the concept went global, paving the way for future projects like the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit. What began as a day of environment preservation in the U.S . is now a large-scale push for clean habitats around the world! You can read more You can read more about how Earth Day began HERE and how it's become large-scale HERE.
🔪 Instructions
HEADS UP: There is an 8 hour chilling time with this recipe!
How to make Jello worms with straws:
In a large mixing bowl, combine gelatin and raspberry jello powders.
Add boiling water; stir until gelatins completely dissolves. Chill the jello mixture until lukewarm in the fridge, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, gently pull the flexible part of the straws to extend to full length.
Wrap together with elastic and cover bottom of the straws with saran wrap/food safe wrap.
Then cover with masking tape.
Next, cover the masking tape with more saran wrap and wrap it with another elastic. Place in a tall glass (so it's a tight fit).
Blend cream and food coloring with the lukewarm gelatin mixture.
Add food coloring until you reach desired color
Pour jello into straw straw-filled container, filling straws. (SEE VIDEO: Jello worms being poured into straws in NOTES)
Keep filling until all of it is gone. Some will go down the sides of straws into the bottom of the glass, so don't worry, as long as the straws get filled up. *This is the very best way to do this!
Chill filled straws until gelatin is firm, at least 8 hours. You can cover the tops of the straws with plastic wrap and chill up to 2 days.
Pull straws from container and remove saran wrap and tape. Pull straws apart; run hot tap water on the sides of the straws for about 2 seconds, over 3 to 4 straws at a time (ensuring to keep water away from the inside). * You don't need longer than 2-3 seconds!
Starting at the empty ends, push worms from straws by gently pushing them out of the straw. (See VIDEO in NOTES for demonstration on how to push worms out of straws.)
Lay worms on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Then chill for 20 minutes and serve.
Make instant pudding mix with cold milk, as per package directions
Add cake to bottom of each cup (or mini planter), pot or whatever dish you are using, dividing cake by number of servings you have.
Then add pudding mixture.
Then top with pudding, dividing between all 6 cups (or depending on how many you make)
Then add Oreo cookie crumbs (or crushed Oreos) covering the top of the pudding and dividing between all 6 dirt pudding cups (or depending on how many you make).
I made Halloween Jello worms for a dessert a couple of years ago and thought, at the time, they'd make a really cool spring dessert too! And since earth worms were really fitting for Earth Day, I made them into a treat. And I think they turned out even better this time!
💭Top Tip
Don't be afraid to play with the color by adding more green food coloring (I use Wilton icing coloring) and adding more whipping cream (liquid) to get the color right, as they will still set.
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Pudding- you could use another flavor of pudding, such as chocolate, french vanilla pudding or butterscotch pudding. You could also use a homemade pudding instead of instant pudding.
- Jello -you could substitute strawberry Jello powder.
- Cake - alternatively, you could make a dirt cake instead of dirt cups and put the worms on that.
- Oreo Cookie crumbs - you can use Oreo cookies, chocolate sandwich cookies or some kind of chocolate cookies, instead of Oreo baking crumbs. Simply scrape off the filling (but this is not a deal breaker - you can keep the filling - it just won't have the same look) and put them in a resealable plastic bag. Then roll over the bag with a rolling pin and VOILA! You have Oreo crumbs. Or use a food processor to process the cookies into fine crumbs.
- Whipped cream - you could substitute a whipped topping such as Cool Whip for topping the dirt cups (but you must you liquid whipped cream/heavy cream for the worms)
🍽Equipment
For these dessert cups, you will need mixing bowls, a tall glass, plastic wrap, masking tape, a pourable measuring cups (or a pitcher) and plastic straws (I know it's not exactly earth-friendly but you can wash them in the dishwasher and use them again). You will also need individual cups, jars or planters for the dirt cups (I bought mine at the dollar store). You could also use plastic cups. If the containers you buy are not food safe, simply line them with plastic wrap. *see recipe card for recommended equipment photos and links
👪 Serving Size
This Worms and Oreo Dirt dessert recipe makes about 50 worms. And you will get 3 large or 6 small cups, depending on what size of a container you use. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🌡️Storage
Store theses Oreo dirt cups in the fridge, separate from the jelly worms, in an airtight container. These can be made a day or two in advance.
These ingredients don't stand up to freezing.
These jelly worms really do taste delicious, if you can get past being grossed out about eating them. They also go really well with the cake, pudding, and cookie crumb dessert I serve them with.
I even added a little homemade whipped cream to top them off! So, if you're looking for a fun treat and entertaining project for Earth Day with the kids or Halloween party, making these jelly worms is a great way to celebrate. They are sure to be a big hit!
And here are some more Earth Day Snack Ideas!
⭐ COMMENTS & REVIEWS
Did you know that commenting and rating recipes is one of the best ways to support your favorite recipe creators? If you loved this recipe, please comment and rate it in the recipe card or share photos on social media
📋 Worms and Dirt Cup Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Jello worms
- 1 package raspberry gelatin powder 85 grams
- ½ envelope unflavored gelatin 14 grams
- 1 ½ cups boiling water
- ⅓ cup whipping cream * the liquid (NOT whipped) * you may need a little more
- 3 - 6 drops leaf green food coloring add until desired color appears * I use Wilton icing coloring
Supplies
- 50 flexible plastic straws
- tall slender 4 cup container same height as extended straws * I use a drinking glass
Dirt Cup
- 99 g pistachio dessert * or any flavor of pudding (1 box)
- 300 g chocolate pound or loaf cake store bought or homemade * or use a McCain's chocolate cake with the icing scraped off
- 1 ½ cup Oreo baking crumbs (or cookie crumbs)
- 6 sprigs mint
Instructions
- HEADS UP: There is an 8 hour chilling time with this recipe!
How to Make Jello Worms
- In a large bowl, combine gelatin and raspberry jello powders.
- Add boiling water; stir until gelatins completely dissolves. Chill jello mixture until lukewarm in fridge, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, gently pull the flexible part of the straws to extend to full length.
- Wrap together with elastic and cover bottom of the straws with saran wrap/food safe wrap and then cover with masking tape.
- Then cover masking tape with more saran wrap and wrap with another elastic. Place in tall glass (so it's a tight fit)
- Blend cream and food coloring with the lukewarm gelatin mixture.
- Add food coloring until you reach desired color
- Pour jello into straw filled container, filling straws. (SEE VIDEO: Jello worms being poured into straws in NOTES)
- Keep filling until all of it is gone. Some will go down sides of straws into the bottom of the glass, so don't worry, as long as the straws get filled up. *This is the very best way to do this!
- Chill filled straws until gelatin is firm, at least 8 hours. You can cover the tops of the straws with plastic wrap and chill up to 2 days.
- Pull straws from container and remove saran wrap and tape. Pull straws apart; run hot tap water on the sides of the straws for about 2 seconds, over 3 to 4 straws at a time (ensuring to keep water away from the inside). * You don't need longer than 2-3 seconds!
- Starting at the empty ends, push worms from straws by gently pushing them out of the straw. (See VIDEO in NOTES for demonstration on how to push worms out of straws.)
- Lay worms on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Then chill for 20 minutes and serve.
Dirt Cup
- Make pistachio pudding as per package directions
- Add cake to bottom of mini planter, pot or whatever dish you are using, dividing cake by number of servings you have.
- Then top with pudding, dividing between all 6 cups (or depending on how many you make)
- Add Oreo crumbs over the pudding layer, covering pudding and dividing between all 6 cups (or depending on how many you make)
- Dig a little hole in the middle and plant the 'mint'.
Terri Gilson
These Jello Worms and Dirt cups are such a fun Earth Day treat! I love how realistic the worms look - they're a bit gross but totally delicious. Making them with kids is a blast, especially squeezing them out of the straws. The dirt cups are quick to put together with store-bought ingredients, making this the perfect project for celebrating Earth Day or any time you want a creative, kid-friendly dessert.
Gail Benjamin
Good one Terri. I never thought of using straws for worms. Great idea.
Gail
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Gail! It's really fun!