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These Gummy Worm Dirt Cupcakes are super fun to make and delicious to eat! Easy to whip up using your favorite chocolate cake mix, topped with a chocolate cream cheese frosting, Oreo cookie crumbs, and any type of gummy worms.

The perfect sweet treat to whip up with kids and can be enjoyed for so many occasions – like Halloween party, a fun garden or bug-themed party, or anytime you get a craving for something chocolatey & sweet!

What more can you ask for delicious chocolate cupcakes & sprinkled with fun to boot?

Gummy worm dirt cupcakes with a white pumpkin in the background.

Growing up we always had bake sales and potlucks at church. Aunt Carol always made a fun dirt pudding cake. That recipe for Oreo dirt cake was served in a flower pot and had creamy chocolate pudding, a wonderful crunchy cookie topping, and gummy worms sticking out of the top (but never enough gummy worms to go around). It was always a big hit and always every bit of it was eaten up.

These cupcakes are just as delicious. Individual chocolate dirt cakes and no one has to fight to get a fun gummy worm!

Here’s what you will need!

Ingredient Notes

  • Chocolate Cake Mix: Plus the ingredients on the box (eggs, water or milk, and vegetable oil or butter). I used a chocolate fudge cake but use what you have on hand or love.
  • Chocolate Chips: For this recipe, I used milk chocolate. But you can certainly use semi-sweet chocolate as well
  • Butter: Real butter makes all the difference in icing. You can use salted or unsalted. I like to add a pinch of salt if I am using unsalted butter.
  • Cream Cheese: Full-fat block works best for smooth and creamy icing.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds another layer of flavor even when making chocolate desserts.
  • Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioners or icing sugar. Makes this nice and sweet and smooth.
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: I prefer Hershey’s or Ghiradelli as they both are of great quality.
  • Oreo Cookies: This will make the “dirt” crumbs!
  • Gummy Worms: Cause every good pile of dirt has some worms in it. Pick the ones everyone in your family love. Sweet, Sour, and they even make snail gummies too.
Image of ingredients needed to make gummy worm dirt cupcakes.

How to make Gummy Worm Dirt Cupcakes

✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!

Step 1 | Make Cupcake Batter, Bake, & Let Cool

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Mix together the chocolate cake mix according to package directions and fill a muffin tin with cupcake liners and pour in the cupcake batter. 

Bake cupcakes and cool completely.

Gummy worm dirt cupcake collage steps to make chocolate cupcakes.

Step 2 | Make Homemade Cream Cheese Icing

Melt the chocolate chips and set them aside.

With an electric mixer cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Then add the melted chocolate and mi. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until combined. You can add more sugar if you would like it to be sweeter.

Then add the cocoa powder and mix until it is fully incorporated. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix as needed.

Add in the vanilla extract and give it one more mix. Set aside.

Gummy worm dirt cupcake collage steps to make chocolate frosting.

Step 3 | Make Dirt Topping, Frost Cupcakes, & Decorate with Gummy Worms

Pulse Oreos in a food processor until you get fine crumbs (no need to remove the centers).

If you don’t have a food processor, place the cookies in a zip lock bag and crush it with a rolling pin until you get crumbs.

Frosting the top of the dirt cupcakes either using a piping bag or by spooning the frosting on.

Dip each cupcake into the bowl of crushed Oreo crumbs or sprinkle one or two spoonfuls of Oreo dirt on top.

Place a gummy worm on top of each. You can use whole worms or cut them in half and just stick the cut side into the frosting a bit so it sticks and looks as if they are coming out of the dirt.

Gummy worm dirt cupcake collage steps to top with frosting, dirt crumbs, and gummy worms.

Tips

  • Be sure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature so the frosting is smooth and lump-free.
  • If you want to skip the homemade frosting, you can buy already prepared frosting and make this even easier. The icing comes together really quickly however this can be a timesaving option.
  • You do not need a piping bag for the frosting – you may also put the chocolate icing in a plastic bag and cut one of the corners to pipe on or just use a spoon or knife to spread it on top of the cupcake. After all, it’s going to be covered in the dirt anyway!
  • All oven temperatures vary so be mindful the first time you bake. You want a wooden pick to come out with a few crumbs. Don’t overbake so that you will have a nice moist cupcake.

Step 4 | Enjoy this Fun Treat

Be creative and enjoy this fun dessert!

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Image of an upclose single gummy worm dirt cupcake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these be made gluten-free?

Yes, they can! Use Black Forest Gummy Worms or any gluten-free brand, a gluten-free chocolate cake mix, most chocolate chips are also gluten-free, just be sure to check your packaging.

Can this recipe be made sugar-free?

It is easy to swap out sugar substitute products in this recipe to make a sugar-free dessert. Use a sugar-free cake mix, cookies, and even gummy worms(Albanese gummy worms has a sugar-free version). Just grab sugar substitute powdered sugar as well.

overhead image of a batch of gummy worm dirt cupcakes set on parchment paper with scatter cookie crumbs on a white table.

Variations

  • Make yellow, white, or blue cupcakes, with blue frosting, crushed Golden Oreos (for beach sand), and use gummy sharks or bears. Place a cute mini umbrella and you have a beach-themed cupcake.
  • Find some plastic trees and use them with gummy bears for a forest theme.
  • It’s a Bugs Life – Add all kinds of bugs – like ants, spiders, or any plastic bugs to go along with your theme. You can find so many things today online or in the store.
  • In the summer/spring add ladybugs or bumble bees. Switch up the coloring to match your occasion.

Useful Kitchen Equipment

Storage Tips

Since this cupcake is made with cream cheese frosting I recommend keeping them in the refrigerator. They are freshest if eaten within 2 days but can be stored up to 4 days. They just tend to dry out a little after 48 hours.

Storage: Cover with foil or plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 days. A cupcake holder works well and keeps them fresher longer.

Make Ahead: If you want to make the cupcakes ahead you can keep them in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days. You can also wrap them tightly and freeze them for up to 3 months. Remove from freezer and let come to room temperature and frost and serve.

Freeze: Likewise, you can wrap and freeze the whole cupcake, just remove them the day before and defrost them in the fridge.

Two gummy worm dirt cupcakes held up by hands showing the overhead view of the cupcake.

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Upclose image of batch of chocolate cupcakes topped with homemade chocolate frosting, Oreo cookie crumbs, and sour gummy worms.
Recipe
5 from 12 votes

(click stars to rate)

Gummy Work Dirt Cupcakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 24 cupcakes
Author: Nikki Lee
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These Gummy Worm Dirt Cupcakes are super fun to make and delicious to eat! Easy to whip up using your favorite chocolate cake mix, topped with a chocolate cream cheese frosting, Oreo cookie crumbs, and your choice of gummy worms.

Ingredients 

Cupcakes

  • 1 box Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix, (plus ingredients needed on package: 3 Eggs, 1 ¼ cup water or milk, ½ vegetable oil)

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

  • ½ cup milk chocolate chips, melted
  • ½ cup butter (1 stick), softened – this can be salted or unsalted with ⅛ tsp salt added to recipe
  • 8 ounces cream cheese block , softened
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups powder sugar
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Toppings

  • 15 Oreo Cookies, crushed
  • 1-2 packs gummy worms of your choice

Instructions

Cupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two cupcake/muffin pans with paper liners. Then set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, prepare the cake mix as per box instructions, being careful not to overmix. You can use whole milk or even chocolate milk in place of water to make the cupcakes for even more flavor.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds. Stir with a spoon and place it back in the microwave for another 15 seconds if needed, stirring in between, until it is melted and smooth. Be careful not to overheat it as it will dry out the chocolate. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl using a stand or handheld mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Then add the melted chocolate and mix until it is well incorporated. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until combined. You can add more sugar if you would like it to be sweeter. Then add the cocoa powder and mix again until it is fully incorporated. Make sure to scrape down the sides and mix as needed. Add in the vanilla extract and give it one more mix. Set aside.

Oreo Topping

  • Place Oreos into the food processor and pulse until you get fine crumbs. No need to remove the centers. If you don’t have a food processor, place the cookies in a zip lock bag and crush it with a rolling pin until you get crumbs. Place into a bowl and set aside.
  • Once the cupcakes have cooled, you can decorate! You can spoon the frosting on top or use a piping bag. I used a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip. Dip each cupcake into the bowl of crushed Oreo crumbs or sprinkle one or two spoonfuls of Oreo dirt on top. Place a gummy worm on top of each. You can use whole worms or cut them in half and just stick the cut side into the frosting a bit so it sticks and looks as if they are coming out of the dirt.
  • Have fun and get creative with it. Enjoy!

Want to Save this Recipe?

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By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.

Video

Notes

  • Be sure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature so the frosting is smooth and lump-free.
  • If you want to skip the homemade frosting, you can buy already prepared frosting and make this even easier. The icing comes together really quickly however this can be a timesaving option.
  • You do not need a piping bag for the frosting – you may also put the chocolate icing in a plastic bag and cut one of the corners to pipe on or just use a spoon or knife to spread it on top of the cupcake. After all, it’s going to be covered in the dirt anyway!
  • All oven temperatures vary so be mindful the first time you bake. You want a wooden pick to come out with a few crumbs. Don’t overbake so that you will have a nice moist cupcake.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cupcake Calories: 172kcal (9%) Carbohydrates: 32g (11%) Protein: 3g (6%) Fat: 9g (14%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0.2g Cholesterol: 12mg (4%) Sodium: 276mg (12%) Potassium: 132mg (4%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 12g (13%) Vitamin A: 124IU (2%) Calcium: 65mg (7%) Iron: 2mg (11%)

Nutritional Disclaimer

Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

©️Soulfully Made

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Nikki Lee author of Soulfully Made in the kitchen serving cupcakes.

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Nikki Lee. Here at Soulfully Made you will find delicious, home-cooked, easy recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

5 from 12 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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14 Comments

  3. 5 stars
    Haha, these are too cute! I love how you can make them for both a kid party or adult gathering – they will be adored by everyone!

    Reply

  8. I made these for my granddaughter and she loved telling her mother that her Nonna made her eat dirt and worms lol. Now she is always asking me to make her dirt and worm cupcakes.

    Reply