How about some Dirt Cake complete with worms?

Dirt for Dessert: Pudding, milk and crushed chocolate cookies for a grimy Halloween treat or Fall-wormy delight; gummy worms are optional.

Dirt Cake, 1970s

• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 ½ cups whole milk
• 2 (3 ½) oz. packages instant vanilla pudding
• 1 (12 oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (16 oz.) package chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed

Gummy worms

Rocks:  chocolate or peanut butter chips, chopped peanuts or combination

Serving bowl ideas: clear glass or plastic bowls, purchased plastic pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns that have been cleaned, or use a real pumpkin with insides removed, cleaned and lined with paper or plastic wrap.

Crush cookies: place in a plastic bag and crush with rolling pin; this is a good child’s helper project but a food processor is faster.

Cream butter or margarine, cream cheese & powdered sugar. In another bowl mix milk, pudding and whipped topping. Combine both mixtures.

Place 1/3 of the cookie crumbs in the bottom of a bowl. Add half of the filling mixture followed by another layer of cookies, and then the remainder of the filling. Top with remaining cookies. Refrigerate overnight.

Before serving, decorate with gummy worms, spiders and candy pumpkins.

Serves 10-12

Notes: Buy two packages of cookies, one for the recipe and one for snacking.

Substitute 1 package chocolate pudding for 1 package of vanilla pudding

Crushed vanilla sandwich cookies work for a sand theme.

Kitchen Hints from the 80s: Empty salt cartons with spouts make dandy containers for bread crumbs. A funnel is used for the getting the crumbs into the carton. To remove coffee or tea stains and cigarette burns from fine china, rub with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda Treasured Recipes, San Antonio MCO

Here’s an interesting version using packaged graham cracker crust.

Dirt Pie: Chocolate Lovers Cookbook, Children’s Hospital Volunteer Services

• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 package chocolate pudding mix
• 3 ½ cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 20 chocolate sandwich cookies crushed
• 1 ½ cups rocks: granola chunks, chocolate or peanut butter chips or combination

1 packaged graham cracker crust.

Pour milk into medium bowl. Add pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk until well blended, 1-2 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Stir 1 cup of cookie and “rocks” into the pudding mixture. Spoon into piecrust. Sprinkle with remaining cookies. Freeze until firms, about 4 hours.

Dirt cups: 1980s, Carla

Easier version, good to use with large groups of children or if you need a quick, fun treat.

• 1 16 oz. package of chocolate sandwich cookies
• 1 package (4 serving size) instant chocolate pudding
• 1 8 oz. package tub of whipping cream or whipped topping, thawed
• 8-10 seven ounce plastic or paper cups
• Gummy worms, frogs, chopped peanuts, chocolate chips, etc.

Crush cookies in a plastic bag with rolling pin or use food processor.

Pour milk into a large bowl and add pudding mix.

Beat by hand for 2 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Stir in whipped cream and half of crushed cookies.

Put one tablespoon or crushed cookies in each cup.

Fill cups ¾ full pudding mixture. Top with remaining crushed cookies. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Decorate with worms etc. as desired.

This dessert is a reminder of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band which debuted in the late 60s in Long Beach, California. Hey! Mr. Bojangles, this dessert will make you want  to dance.