These 4th of July Dirt Cups are a fun patriotic treat! This summer, skip the complicated cakes and fussy pies and embrace the fun and simplicity of this fun dessert.
These patriotic treats are a fun twist on the classic dirt cup recipe. With layers of Oreos and red, white, and blue pudding, they’re sure to be a hit at any Independence Day gathering.
Plus, they’re incredibly easy to make. With just a few simple ingredients and creative layering, you can whip up a batch of these in no time.
Even the littlest hands can help assemble this layered treat, making it a fun family activity that gets everyone involved. So grab some sprinkles and create a delicious and entertaining dessert.
In this post, I’ll share my step-by-step recipe for this fun treat, along with some expert tips and serving ideas. I’ll also answer some frequently asked questions so you can feel confident making these treats at home.
Looking for more red, white, and blue dishes for summer? Try American flag bean dip, 4th of July Rice Krispie treats, or Patriotic cheesecake parfaits.
🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- A pack of chocolate sandwich cookies: I used the classic Oreos, but feel free to experiment with different flavors!
- Cold milk
- Instant white chocolate pudding mix: Vanilla or cheesecake flavors work great, too.
- Whipped topping: Like Cool Whip, and make sure it is thawed.
- Festive sprinkles and gummy stars
- Red and blue food coloring
- Cups: I used 9-ounce disposable cups, but you can adjust the size based on your preference.
🥣How to Make 4th of July Dirt Cups
- Crush up all your cookies. You can use a food processor or put them in a zip-lock bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
- Whisk together the milk and white chocolate pudding in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Separate the pudding mixture equally into three bowls. Now comes the patriotic part—use food coloring to dye one bowl red and one bowl blue, leaving the third bowl white.
- Divide the whipped topping equally among the 3 bowls and stir to combine. The colors should be vibrant and fun.
- Time to layer! Start with a layer of cookie crumbs in your cups, followed by the blue pudding, more cookie crumbs, white pudding, cookie crumbs again, red pudding, and finally, a last layer of cookie crumbs.
- Top your dirt cups with festive sprinkles and gummy stars. The more, the merrier!
- Put your dirt cups in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill, and let the pudding set.
🍴Serving Ideas
Now that you’ve got your Red, White, and Blue Dirt Cups ready, it’s time to consider how to serve them in style! Here are a few ideas:
Patriotic Platter: Arrange your dirt cups on a large red, white, and blue platter. For a festive touch, scatter extra sprinkles and gummy stars around the cups.
Cupcake Liner Wraps: Place each dirt cup in a festive cupcake liner. During the summer months, you can find red, white, and blue liners at most stores.
Trifle Bowl Twist: Instead of individual cups, layer your dirt cup ingredients in a large trifle bowl. This creates a stunning centerpiece for your dessert table and allows guests to scoop out their own servings.
💭How to Store
Any leftover dirt cups should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator. They’ll keep well for up to three days.
If you want to prep the components, you can store the cookie crumbs, pudding layers, and whipped topping separately in the fridge. When ready to serve, assemble the dirt cups as directed. This is an excellent option if you need more time or want to involve the kids in the assembly process.
If you plan to store your dirt cups for over a day, I recommend waiting to add the gummy stars until just before serving. Over time, the gummies can start to dissolve and get a bit gooey, affecting the overall texture of your dirt cups.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- While it might be tempting to save a few bucks by buying generic brands, I’ve found that using high-quality ingredients makes a difference in the final product. Spring for the name-brand Oreos and pudding mix!
- Let the pudding set: Before layering your dirt cups, let the mixture set for about 5 minutes. This will help it thicken up and make it easier to layer with the cookie crumbs.
- While the classic Oreo and white chocolate pudding combo is delicious, don’t be afraid to mix it up with other flavors. Try using golden Oreos, or swap out the white chocolate pudding for cheesecake or vanilla. You can even add in some fresh fruit layers for a burst of flavor and color.
📝Reader Questions
Absolutely! You can make these dirt cups up to 24 hours in advance. Just store them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Wait to add the gummy stars and sprinkles until just before serving.
Yes, you can definitely make these dirt cups larger. Adjust the ingredients accordingly and use larger cups or even mason jars for serving.
If you prefer not to use food coloring, leave it out. You could also use natural food coloring alternatives like beet or blueberry juice. Or add patriotic sprinkles on top.
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4th of July Dirt Cups Recipe
Ingredients
- 13.9 ounce oreos
- 4 cups cold milk
- 3.4 ounce instant white chocolate pudding mix two boxes
- 8 ounces whipped topping one container , thawed
- red, white & blue sprinkles
- gummy stars
- red and blue food coloring
- 5 disposable cups 9 ounces each
Instructions
- Crush the Oreos using a food processor or crush them in a ziploc bag.13.9 ounce oreos
- Whisk together the milk and white chocolate pudding in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.4 cups cold milk, 3.4 ounce instant white chocolate pudding mix
- Separate the pudding mixture equally into 3 bowls.
- Dye: 1 bowl red and 1 bowl blue. Leave the third bowl white.red and blue food coloring
- Divide the whipped topping equally between the 3 bowls and stir to combine.8 ounces whipped topping
- In 9-ounce disposable cups, layer the cookie crumbs, blue pudding, cookie crumbs, white pudding, cookie crumbs, red pudding, and a final layer of cookie crumbs.5 disposable cups
- Top with the sprinkles and gummy stars.red, white & blue sprinkles, gummy stars
Notes
- Before layering your dirt cups, let the mixture set for about 5 minutes. This will help it thicken up and make it easier to layer with the cookie crumbs.
- While the classic Oreo and white chocolate pudding combo is delicious, try different flavors, like Golden Oreos or vanilla pudding.
- You can make these dirt cups up to 24 hours in advance. Just store them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Wait to add the gummy stars and sprinkles until just before serving.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
