Cottage Cheese Dirt Cups (High-Protein)
These cottage cheese dirt cups are a high-protein twist on classic dirt and worms. The creamy chocolate pudding is made from blended cottage cheese, so it’s silky smooth. It packs about 16g of protein per serving and is a fun and festive treat.
Quick Look: Cottage Cheese Dirt Cups
Total Time: 12 minutes.
Ingredients: (cottage cheese, unsweetened cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, Oreos, gummy worms).
Equipment Needed: Immersion blender or regular blender, zip-top bag, rolling pin, and serving cups.
Top Tip: Add the Oreo dirt and gummy worms right before serving so they stay crunchy and chewy.
The classic dirt cup is a nostalgic favorite, and there’s nothing wrong with a box of instant pudding. But some days I want a treat that actually provides some protein and keeps my family full. Blending cottage cheese into a chocolate pudding is my favorite trick for that.
I am an absolute chocolate lover and have a huge sweet tooth. That’s why I love making healthier versions of treats just like my High-Protein Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding.
I tested this with both an immersion blender and a regular blender. The immersion blender was by far the easiest, since I could blend right in the bowl and be done in a minute or two. The regular blender worked too, but I had to stop and scrape down the sides about 3 times to get every lump of cottage cheese smooth.
One heads-up: cottage cheese can vary in thickness depending on what kind you buy. If your mixture gets too thick to blend, add 1 tablespoon of milk or water at a time until it moves freely again. Keep blending until you can’t see a single curd, because that’s what makes it taste like real pudding.
Note from Lexi: Why This Recipe Works
Cottage cheese might sound like a strange start for chocolate pudding, but once it’s blended, it turns completely smooth and creamy, with a mild tang that the cocoa mostly covers. It gives the pudding a thick, spoonable body without any eggs, cornstarch, or cooking, and it adds a nice boost of protein. Maple syrup sweetens it naturally, the vanilla rounds out the chocolate, and a tiny pinch of salt makes the cocoa taste richer instead of bitter. The Oreos and gummy worms keep all the fun of the original dirt cup.
– Lexi with Our Slice of Home
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Regular cottage cheese: The base of the pudding and where the protein comes from. I used full-fat in this recipe, but you can also use low-fat; it just needs to be blended until completely smooth.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Gives the pudding its rich chocolate flavor and that dark “dirt” color.
- Maple syrup: Sweetens the pudding. Honey works as an alternative as well.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the chocolate and softens the tang of the cottage cheese.
- Salt: Just a pinch makes the chocolate taste deeper and less bitter.
- Oreos: Crushed into crumbs to make the “dirt.” Any chocolate sandwich cookie works.
- Gummy worms: The classic topping. Use whatever gummy candy your family likes best.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Dirt Cups
Start by adding the cottage cheese, unsweetened cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to a large bowl. Then grab your immersion blender and start blending right in the bowl. It will look lumpy and streaky at first, and that’s totally normal.
Keep blending for 1 to 2 minutes, until the pudding is completely smooth and creamy with no curds left, like you see here. Using a regular blender? Stop and scrape down the sides a few times as you go. If the mixture gets too thick to blend, add 1 tablespoon of milk or water to loosen it up.
Set the pudding aside and place the Oreos in a zip-top bag. Roll over them with a rolling pin until they break into small, dirt-like crumbs.
Spoon the chocolate pudding into individual cups, sprinkle the Oreo dirt over the top, and finish each one with a gummy worm peeking out. For a fun layered look, alternate dirt and pudding (dirt, pudding, dirt, pudding, dirt) before adding the worms.
FAQ
Not really. I will say it does taste a little different from typical pudding because it has a slight tang. But you mostly taste the cocoa powder and maple syrup. The key is blending until there are no curds left, so the texture is smooth like pudding.
Yes! If you are new around here, my entire blog is egg-free. The pudding gets its creamy texture from blended cottage cheese, so there are no eggs anywhere in this recipe and no cooking either.
No. An immersion blender is the easiest option that I’ve found, but a regular blender works too. You’ll just need to stop and scrape down the sides a few times.
You can make the pudding up to 2 days ahead and keep it in the refrigerator. Wait to add the Oreo dirt and gummy worms until right before serving, or they’ll turn soft.
Absolutely. Use any gummy candy your family loves.
Equipment Needed
Allergy-Friendly Swaps
Gluten-free: Swap the Oreos for gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies, and double-check that your gummy candy is gluten-free too.
Dairy-Free: Since cottage cheese is the base of the pudding, there’s no easy swap. For a dairy-free version, use your favorite dairy-free chocolate pudding instead.
How to Store
These are best served right away, while the Oreo dirt is still crunchy.
If you want to make ahead, store the cottage cheese pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The crushed Oreos and gummy worms turn soft and mushy in the fridge, so store the pudding on its own and add the dirt and worms right before serving.
Tips for Success
-Blend until there are zero curds. A fully smooth base is best, and you will likely need to blend longer than you think.
-Too thick to blend? Add 1 tablespoon of milk or water at a time until it moves freely.
-Top right before serving so the Oreos stay crunchy and the gummy worms stay chewy.
-Allow kids to assemble their own. It’s the most fun!
More Fall Snacks
Looking for more fall and Halloween themed snacks? Try one of these:
- Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds
- Pumpkin Chai Tea Latte (Hot and Iced)
- Pumpkin Pie Applesauce
- Eggless Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Sourdough Discard Muffins
If you made this recipe, I’d be so grateful if you left a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a quick comment sharing how it turned out. And if you haven’t already, follow along here:
– Lexi with Our Slice of Home
Cottage Cheese Dirt Cups (High-Protein)
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 8 Oreos crushed
- 8 gummy worms to top
Instructions
- Make the pudding: In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, unsweetened cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
- Blend: Use an immersion blender to blend for 1 to 2 minutes, or until very smooth and creamy. If the mixture becomes too thick to blend, add 1 tablespoon of milk or water.
- Make the dirt: Set the pudding aside. Place the Oreos in a zip-top bag and use a rolling pin to crush them into small, dirt-like pieces.
- Assemble: Spoon the chocolate pudding into individual cups. Top with the crushed Oreos and gummy worms. Serve immediately for the best texture.
Notes
Nutrition
