Easy Halloween Dessert Jello Worm Cups

These worm Jello cups were a blast at my family’s annual leaf hike, which happens the week before Halloween!  When I put them out on the dessert table, family members gathered around and commented on how real the worms looked.  They even had ridges, thanks to the straws I made them with!  Plus, I had the kids believing the worms were real for a while, and I even got a few “ewwws” when I picked one up and popped it in my mouth!

If you want a Halloween dessert with some shock value, make sure to try out this realistic recipe.  The worms will keep everyone entertained, especially if you bring a few extra on a sheet of wax paper for people to gross each other out with!  Make sure to check out some of our other Halloween Party Ideas that would go great with this unique recipe (which is easier than it looks).

 

Materials

Jello Worms

• 2 packages raspberry Jello (3 ounces)
• 1 packet unflavored gelatin
• Green food coloring
• 1 package of 100-120 straws
• 3 cups boiling water
• ¾ heavy whipping cream
• 1 large ball jar 
• Wax paper

Pudding Cups

• 10-12 single serving cups
• Cool Whip
• 2 packages chocolate pudding
• 4 cups milk
• Nilla Wafers (or other cookies)

Directions (makes 100-120 worms and 10-12 pudding cups)

1. In a bowl, mix boiling water, raspberry Jello mix, and unflavored gelatin.  Allow the mixture to cool in the fridge until it is room temperature (about 20-25 minutes).
2. Remove the mixture from the fridge, and add 15-18 drops of green food coloring and heavy
   whipping cream.  Set mixture off to the side.
3. Fill a large ball jar with straws until it is tightly packed.  Make sure to stretch out the bendy part of
   the straw, so this feature shows up in your worms. (Note: I ended up using a taller ball jar than the one pictured below.) 
   
4. Pour the Jello mixture into the straws until the ball jar is filled to the top.  Refrigerate for four hours.
5. Next, set up a workstation on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper.  Remove the ball jar from the fridge, and pull the straws out of the jar, setting them aside. (Don’t worry, the worms will stay in the straws).
6. Hold a few straws at a time under warm water for about 3-4 seconds to loosen the Jello.  Then, holding one end of a straw firmly on the cookie sheet, slide your finger along the straw, pushing the Jello out onto the wax paper. 
   
7. Do this until the cookie sheet is full, and refrigerate the worms for another hour until firm. Make sure the worms are separated on the cookie sheet when they are cooled, so they do not stick together.
   
   
   
8. While they are cooling, make the chocolate pudding (uses 4 cups milk), and layer the pudding and Cool Whip in the cups. 
9. Crush Nilla Wafers (or other cookies) in a bowl, and sprinkle the crumbs on top of each cup.  Add 6-7 worms, and you have a realistic (and delicious) Halloween dessert for the kiddos!