If you're looking for a fun and unique treat to make with the kids, these Realistic Jello Worms and Dirt Cups are the answer! As a cake decorator, I've always loved making food look lifelike, even if the result is a bit 'gross.' While most recipes use store-bought gummies, these worms are made from scratch using a flexible straw hack.
They look incredibly real, but don't let that fool you-they are made with delicious raspberry Jello and cream. Paired with a simple 'dirt cup' made of chocolate cake, chocolate baking crumbs, and pistachio pudding, it's a delicious treat that is perfect for Earth Day, school events, or a spooky Halloween party.
Recipe Overview:
- Ready In: 8 Hours 30 Minutes (30 mins prep + 8 hours chilling)
- Serves: 6 cups
- Calories: 430 kcal (per serving)
- Main Ingredients: Raspberry Jello, unflavored gelatin, whipping cream, Oreo crumbs, chocolate cake, instant pudding.
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian
- Difficulty: Easy (but requires patience!).
- Why You'll Love It: This is the most realistic "Worms and Dirt" recipe on the internet! It's a fun, hands-on kitchen experiment that turns simple pantry staples into an incredible holiday centerpiece.
Summarize and Save this Content on:
Jump to:
- Recipe Overview:
- Summarize and Save this Content on:
- 🥘Ingredient Notes
- 📖Variations & Substitutions
- What is Earth Day?
- 🔪 Step-by-Step: How to Make Jello Worms and Dirt
- 🎥 Videos
- Expert Recipe Tips
- 🍽Equipment
- 👪 Serving Size
- 🌡️Storage
- ❔Recipe FAQs
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- 📋 Worms and Dirt Cup Recipe
- Expert Recipe Tips
In fact, my husband thought they looked so gross that 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! And the dirt cups in the planter are also a super easy dessert to make with store-bought cake, instant pudding, Oreo cookie crumbs, and topped with mint leaves.
Looking for more Earth Day nature recipes? Give my Flower Pot Cupcakes, my Earth Day Sheet Pan Pancakes, or my Bagel Toad in a Hole Breakfast (it's a bagel that looks like a flower!)
🥘Ingredient Notes
- Raspberry Jello & Unflavored Gelatin: The combination of both is essential. The flavored Jello provides the taste, while the extra unflavored gelatin ensures the worms are firm enough to be squeezed out of the straws without breaking.
- Whipping Cream (Liquid): This is the secret to realism. Adding cream makes the Jello opaque rather than see-through, which is what gives the worms their lifelike look.
- Green Food Coloring: When you mix green dye with the red raspberry Jello and white cream, it creates that perfect, murky "earthworm brownish pink" color.
- Flexible Straws: You must use the "bendy" kind! The ridges in the flexible part of the straw are what create the realistic "rings" on the body of the Jello worms.
- Chocolate Baking Crumbs: These are the ultimate time-saver. No need to scrape filling out of cookies-just pour and serve for instant "dirt."
- Chocolate Cake: I use a store-bought chocolate loaf cake to make this a quick assembly. It adds a lovely "muddy" texture to the bottom of the cups.
📖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.
- Chocolate Baking 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 use liquid whipped cream/heavy cream for the worms)
What is Earth Day?
First celebrated in 1970 following a devastating oil spill in California, Earth Day has grown from a U.S. movement into the world's largest secular observance, now celebrated in over 192 countries every April 22. This global event serves as a powerful call to action for environmental protection and the preservation of clean habitats worldwide. As we mark the 54th anniversary of this historic push for a safer living environment, you can dive deeper into its origins and massive scale by reading more about how Earth Day began HERE and how it's become large-scale HERE.
🔪 Step-by-Step: How to Make Jello Worms and Dirt
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 the 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 the 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-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).
Expert Recipe Tips
- Don't be afraid to play with the color: To get the right 'worm' color, try adding more green food coloring (I use Wilton gel food coloring) and/or adding more whipping cream (liquid) to get the color right, as they will still set.
- The "Tight Fit" Rule: When placing your bundled straws into the glass, make sure they are packed in tightly. If there is too much wiggle room, the Jello will leak out of the bottom of the straws too quickly.
- Don't Over-Heat the Straws: When you run the straws under hot water to release the worms (Step 9), only do it for 2-3 seconds. If the water is too hot or you hold them too long, the outside of the worm will melt, and you'll lose the "ring" detail.
- The Squeeze Technique: To get the worms out, use a rolling pin or the side of a finger to "milk" the straw from the empty end toward the filled end. It is incredibly satisfying!
- Wait for the Chill: I know it's hard to wait, but these really do need a full 8 hours (or overnight) to set. If you try to squeeze them out too early, they will just come out as liquid.
I made Halloween Jello Worms for my Halloween trifle a couple of years ago and thought, at the time, they'd make a really cool spring dessert too! And since earthworms were really fitting for Earth Day, I made them into a treat. And I think they turned out even better this time!
🍽Equipment
For these dessert cups, you will need mixing bowls, a tall glass, plastic wrap, masking tape, a pourable measuring cup (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 the size of the 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 these 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.
❔Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can make the worms up to 2 days in advance and keep them in the straws in the fridge. However, don't assemble the "dirt cups" until the day you plan to serve them, or the Oreo crumbs will lose their crunch and the mint will wilt.
While there are reusable silicone straws, they often don't have the "bendy" ridges that create the realistic worm rings. If you use plastic, make sure to wash and reuse them for your next batch of worms
The secret is the green food coloring! Add it one drop at a time to the raspberry and cream mixture. The green neutralizes the red, turning it into a realistic brownish color.
Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
Ask AI to answer based on this specific recipe
Whether you're celebrating Earth Day or looking for the perfect "creepy" dessert for a Halloween buffet, these Realistic Jello Worms and Dirt Cups are a guaranteed winner. They prove that with a few simple pantry staples and a little imagination, you can create a holiday memory that your family will talk about for years. Give them a squeeze this holiday and enjoy the delicious side of nature!
And here are some more Earth Day Snack Ideas!
Did your family❤️this recipe? 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 using the hashtag #foodmeanderings or tagging @foodmeanderings !
📋 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 Chocolate 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'.
Notes
Expert Recipe Tips
- Don't be afraid to play with the color: To get the right 'worm' color, try adding more green food coloring (I use Wilton gel food coloring) and/or adding more whipping cream (liquid) to get the color right, as they will still set.
- The "Tight Fit" Rule: When placing your bundled straws into the glass, make sure they are packed in tightly. If there is too much wiggle room, the Jello will leak out of the bottom of the straws too quickly.
- Don't Over-Heat the Straws: When you run the straws under hot water to release the worms (Step 9), only do it for 2-3 seconds. If the water is too hot or you hold them too long, the outside of the worm will melt, and you'll lose the "ring" detail.
- The Squeeze Technique: To get the worms out, use a rolling pin or the side of a finger to "milk" the straw from the empty end toward the filled end. It is incredibly satisfying!
- Wait for the Chill: I know it's hard to wait, but these really do need a full 8 hours (or overnight) to set. If you try to squeeze them out too early, they will just come out as liquid.
Terri Gilson says
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 says
Good one Terri. I never thought of using straws for worms. Great idea.
Gail
Terri Gilson says
Thanks, Gail! It's really fun!