Graveyard Pudding Cups: A Fun and Spooky Halloween Treat

These Halloween Graveyard Pudding Cups made with chocolate pudding, chocolate cookie dirt, and graham cracker tombstones are an easy fun and festive Halloween dessert to make with the kids!

What’s more fun than playing in the dirt? Making these Halloween Graveyard Pudding Dirt Cups! This recipe is naturally vegan, easy, and so much fun to make with the kids.

I’ve been an elementary school teacher for years! Fortunately, our school allows us to have Halloween celebrations in the classroom.

Each year with the help of a few parents I put together Halloween centers for the kids to rotate through. We have crafts, games, songs, and a make your own treat center!

These Halloween dirt cups came to fruition many years ago as one of our centers.

When making treats in the classroom I have to be careful when it comes to allergies. Dairy and nuts are common allergens. In order to ensure all kids can make, eat, and enjoy these pudding cups, I came up with a dairy-free vegan version.

With dairy free chocolate pudding, vegan chocolate cookies, and vegan graham crackers these Halloween treats are nut and dairy free, and a fun plant-based dessert! They can also be made gluten-free by purchasing gluten-free graham crackers and chocolate cookies.

These Halloween treats are not only a fun activity for the classroom, but they also make a festive weekend activity to do with your kids at home!

Not sure which Halloween candy is vegan? Check out my Essential Guide to Vegan Halloween Candy!

Why you’ll love these Graveyard Pudding Cups…

• Allergy friendly (dairy and nut free)
• Gluten-free option
• Easy and quick to make
• A fun Halloween activity to do with the kids
• Modify the decorations to suit your taste
• Creamy vegan chocolate pudding
• Crunchy cookie dirt topping
• Simple tombstone decoration

Ingredients You Need

• Cornstarch
• Unsweetened Soy Milk
• Vanilla Extract
• Organic cane sugar
• Cacao powder
• Vegan chocolate cookies-I used these Back to Nature Chocolate cookies. They are a healthier version of Oreos, but feel free to use whatever you like.

• Vegan graham crackers-These graham crackers do not use honey making them suitable for vegans, but if this is not a concern for you feel free to use any type of graham cracker you like.

• Black decorating gel-This is used to create the writing on the tombstones. You can also melt dairy free chocolate, transfer to a piping bag, and use that to create the writing.

Tools and Equipment

• A large saucepan to heat the pudding.
• A whisk to stir the pudding as it is heating.
• Small individual plastic cups to fill when the pudding has cooled.
• A food processor to crush the cookies.

How to Make Graveyard Pudding Cups

Make the Vegan Chocolate Pudding:

Step 1: Whisk together cornstarch and water to form a paste in a small bowl.

Step 2: In a large saucepan over medium heat combine cornstarch paste, soy milk, vanilla extract, sugar, and cacao powder. Stir consistently until it comes to a boil.

Step 3: Reduce heat and continue to cook and stir until pudding thickens.

Step 4: Remove from heat. Pudding will continue to thicken as it cools. Allow to cool at room temperature for 5 minutes, then place in the refrigerator to cool completely.

Make the Cookie Dirt:

While the pudding is cooling, remove the cream filling from the chocolate cookies. Place them in the food processor and pulse until crumbly.

Make the Graham Cracker Tombstone:

Break each graham cracker into four separate pieces. Shave off the top using a butter knife to round the edges. With a black gel decorating pen, carefully write the letters RIP, or whatever other message you like.

Assemble the Graveyard Pudding Cups

Once the pudding has cooled, spoon into individual cups. Top with chocolate cookie dirt, graham cracker tombstone, and any other additional decorations you’d like.

Top Tips for Making the Best Graveyard Pudding Cups

• Make the pudding ahead of time! If you’re planning this activity for a classroom or larger group of kids, make the pudding ahead of time, and keep refrigerated until you’re ready to assemble your pudding cups.
• This recipe makes 6-8 servings depending on the size of your cups. To make for a larger group, simply double the recipe, or make two batches.
• Use smaller cups for little kids. These can be pretty big servings!
• Keep pudding cups refrigerated until you’re ready to serve and eat.

How do you make these pudding cups gluten-free?

To make these gluten free, simply use gluten free and vegan chocolate cookies for the dirt and gluten-free vegan graham crackers. I suggest Smoreables and Glutino Chocolate Cream Cookies.

Variations

• If you don’t have allergies to worry about, you can cut some corners by buying store bought chocolate pudding cups.
• To make this a touch healthier use raw organic unrefined sugar for the pudding.
• You can also add your own creative decorations to the tombstones. I placed a few fresh flowers (not edible) and some candy pumpkins.

How to Store and Keep

Decorated pudding cups will keep in the refrigerator overnight. The chocolate pudding will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Cover pudding with saran wrap, or store in an air tight container.

Looking for more fun and festive Halloween recipes? Give these a try!

• Vegan Halloween Cupcakes: Ghosts, Monsters, and Bats
• Candy Corn Parfait
• Vegan Pumpkin Brownies
• Pumpkin Fruit Tray
• Halloween Vegan Trail Mix
• Pumkin Veggie Tray
• Jack-O-Lantern Vegan Pumpkin Smoothie
• Pumpkin Fluff Dip
• Rice Cake Healthy Vegan Halloween Snacks
• Fun and Festive Vegan Halloween Recipes
• Vegan Halloween Sugar Cookies by Salt and Lavender