Earth Day Pudding Cups Recipe: A Creamy & Colorful Earth-Friendly Pudding Dessert by McCormick

Simple and fun to make (especially with the kids!), pudding cups are the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day. Using food coloring to tint pudding blue for water and green for earth, assemble in compostable plastic cups or reusable ramekins to really bring the eco-element full circle.

All you need for this easy earth-friendly pudding dessert is a package of vanilla pudding that's been prepared according to package directions with milk, crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, basic food coloring, neon food coloring and fresh mint leaves (optional). The pudding cups are easy and fun to assemble. Grab the kids and go!

Test Kitchen Tip: Use earth-friendly serving cups! Find compostable plastic cups at wholesale stores, party stores and online retailers like Amazon. If using recyclable plastic, make sure to rinse and toss it in the recycling instead of the trash! You can also use small glass ramekins, beverage glasses or food-safe glass jars to assemble your earth day pudding parfaits.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 package (6 servings/5.1 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix (about 3 cups prepared)
• 3 cups cold milk
• 2 cups coarsely crushed chocolate sandwich cookies (about 18 cookies)
• assorted food coloring
• neon food coloring
• fresh mint leaves, to garnish (optional)

Here's how to make it: 

1. Prepare pudding according to package directions. Allow to soft-set in the refrigerator for at least 5 minutes. Transfer 1/2 cup of the pudding to a separate small bowl. Tint remaining 2 cups pudding blue: Add 12 drops blue from Assorted Food Colors and 6 drops blue from Neon Food Colors, stirring to mix well. Tint reserved 1/2 cup pudding green: Add four drops green from neon food colors and 2 drops blue from Assorted Food Colors, stirring to mix well. Set aside.
2. Divide cookie crumbs evenly between six (9-ounce) clear cups (about 1/3 cup each). To assemble, tilt the cup and dollop 1 teaspoon of the green tinted pudding on the inside walls of each cup to resemble land masses, spreading slightly to adhere to the cup.
3. Divide blue pudding evenly between cups (about 1/3 cup each), using the back of a spoon or small spatula to spread evenly onto the inside wall of the cup, filling in the area around the green "land" with blue "water." Smooth the surface of the blue pudding with a spoon. Spoon three dollops of remaining green pudding overtop of blue "water" in each cup, spreading or swirling gently to connect the green "land masses." Cover cups with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Place a sprig of fresh mint in each cup to resemble trees when ready to serve.

Photo and recipe courtesy of McCormick.

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