20--- Adult Dirt Cake

It was my birthday last week. My ultimate favorite birthday dessert is dirt cake.....you know, chocolate pudding mixed with Cool Whip layered with crushed Oreos and gummy worms. But I have now reached an age where my palate has refined a bit (a little bit) and I was wanting something less processed with a bit (a little bit) of an adult feel.

This fit the bill! Happy birthday to me.



Adult Dirt Cake
Serves ~6

2 Tbsp Dutch unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup sugar
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 cups half & half
1 cup skim milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
6 oz dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 tsp mint extract
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, chopped
12 chocolate wafer cookies (please do not use sugar free)
1 tsp black sea salt (Hawaiian sea salt)
6 gummy worms


Combine sugar, cornstarch, and cocoa in a nonstick saucepan. Whisk together half & half, milk, and vanilla in a smaller bowl.

Pour milk mixture into sugar mixture, and whisk until cornstarch is dissolved. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, and cook until thick, 3-5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add chocolate and stir until chocolate melts, about 1 minute.

Remove from heat and add mint extract and butter, and whisk until butter melts. Quickly divide pudding, stirring constantly to prevent sides from setting up, among six 4-ounce glasses. Leave 1/2 inch of space at the top of each. Refrigerate until set, 1-2 hours.

Just before serving, place a gummy worm onto pudding. Place cookies in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Stir in sea salt, then scoop 2-3 Tbsp of cookie crumbs onto the top of each pudding cup and serve.