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Healthy Dirt Cups

Healthy Dirt Cups are a delicious sweet treat, loved by kids! This healthy dirt cup recipe is made with my Greek chocolate yogurt as the base – no added sugar and high in protein!

healthy dirt cup recipe

These Healthy Dirt Cups are a healthy*ish twist on the classic sweet treat. It still has a creamy, chocolatey base topped with crushed chocolate cookie pieces, but with a few swaps to make it lower in sugar and higher in protein.

Try this healthy dirt cup recipe for a more nutrient-dense twist on the childhood classic. And for more higher protein dessert recipes, try this Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream, high protein Acai Ice Cream, and Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip.

Why This Healthy Dirt Cup Recipe is SO Good:

  • This childhood treat brings so much nostalgia!
  • No cooking required
  • Made in less than 10 minutes
  • Simple, with just a handful of ingredients
  • Higher in protein and lower in sugar than the traditional recipe
  • It’s delicious!
  • Totally kid-approved!

Ingredients Needed

For a full ingredient list with quantities, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

ingredients to make healthy dirt cups
  • Greek Yogurt: in lieu of pudding and cool whip, this healthier dirt cup recipe uses Greek yogurt as the base. Specifically a fat free, no added sugar, vanilla Greek yogurt – sweet and delicious, but no added sugar and high in protein.
  • Cocoa Powder: whisk into the yogurt to create a rich, chocolate Greek yogurt, perfect for this healthy dirt cup base.
  • Chocolate Sandwich Cookies: You can use traditional Oreo cookies here, or look for options more nutrient-dense or suitable for different dietary lifestyles. Try these Simple Mills Cocoa Cashew Crème Sandwich Cookies or Catalina Crunch Chocolate Vanilla Keto Sandwich Cookies.
  • Gummy Worms: I’m all about balance, and with only a couple gummy worms used in each dirt cup, you can just use regular gummy worms (we like these Albanese gummy worms). But for alternatives, try these Black Forest gummy worms made with real fruit juice, or these low sugar, low calorie Smart Sweets gummy worms.

Step-by-Step Directions

For complete instructions, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

steps to make healthy dirt cups
  1. Make the chocolate Greek yogurt base.
  2. Crush cookies.
  3. Assemble!

Expert Tips, Substitutions, & Variations

  • Keep whisking the yogurt until it’s very smooth – you don’t want any cocoa clumps!
  • If you’re using unsweetened or plain yogurt, add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and sweeten to taste.
  • Make adjustments for your dietary lifestyle. You can use a plant-based Greek-style “yogurt” in lieu of Greek yogurt, gluten-free cookies, or low carb/ high protein sandwich cookie alternatives.
  • Make them festive for special occasions! I love these Graveyard Dirt Cups for Halloween!
healthier dirt cup recipe

Storage

These healthy dirt cups can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Please note, though, that the cookie crumbs will soften against the yogurt the longer that they stay uneaten.

If you’re going to make ahead, I highly recommend making the yogurt base ahead of time, crushing the cookie pieces, and then keeping all parts separate until you’re ready to eat – then assemble.

Supplies You’ll Need

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  • Small whisk – this helps smoothly combine the cocoa into the yogurt
  • Meat mallet – for crushing cookie pieces!
healthy dirt cups

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healthy dirt cup recipe

Healthy Dirt Cups

Healthy Dirt Cups are a delicious sweet treat, loved by kids! This healthy dirt cup recipe is made with high protein Greek chocolate yogurt.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dirt and worms sundae, dirt cups without cool whip, gluten free dirt cups, healthy dirt cup recipe, healthy dirt cups, oreo dirt cup recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Author: Lindsey Janeiro

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt vanilla, fat free, no added sugar
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 chocolate sandwich cookies
  • 6 gummy worms

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder into the Greek yogurt until smooth.
    1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Place sandwich cookies in a small bag, then use a meat mallet to smash the cookies until completely crushed.
    4 chocolate sandwich cookies
  • Fill two small jars or bowls with the chocolate yogurt base, then top with the crushed cookie pieces. Place 2-3 gummy worms on top of each dessert cup, then serve immediately and enjoy.
    6 gummy worms
Recipe Rating