When I think camp, I also have an association to the beach. It is just a weird thing for me, I suppose, but what I also love is easy recipes that I can see myself making at camp. Pudding is easy. You add in some mix and tah-dah! This recipe just gives it an extra bit of POW with a spin on the classic Dirt Cake. These are Sandy Beach Pudding Cups.

Sandy Beach Pudding Cups

Total Time: 40 minutes (including setting pudding and decorating)

Serving Size: 12

Ingredients

  • 2 small boxes of Vanilla instant pudding mix (I used Sugar-Free)
  • 3 cups of milk (required for making the pudding)
  • 8 oz pack of cream cheese, softened
  • 12 oz container of Whipped Cream
  • 1 package vanilla sandwich cookies (Golden Oreos)
  • 5 large graham crackers

Materials

  • Hand Mixer
  • Spatula
  • Spoon
  • Rolling pin & large Ziploc or Food Processor
  • 12 plastic cups (clear) – Size optional, but they’re individual

Decorations (Optional)

  • Teddy Grahams
  • Mini umbrellas
  • Jawbreakers or Gumballs
  • Goldfish
  • Swedish Fish

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, make the pudding according to the directions using the milk and pudding mix. Use the hand mixer to combine until starting to set.

2. Add in the 8 ozs of softened cream cheese and mix until combined.

3. Now use a spatula to fold in the 12 oz of whipped cream.

4. Put in the fridge to set.

5. While you’re waiting, make the sand by putting the whole package of cookies and the graham crackers into either a plastic Ziploc or into a food processor. The food processor will give you really fine sand, while the Ziploc and rolling pin with give you a more chunky and varied texture to your sand. We went the Ziploc route, because beating cookies with a rolling pin is very therapeutic. (WARNING! Beware of tiny monsters taking your cookies!)

6. Once the cookies are crumbled and the pudding is set, it is time to construct the cup.

7. Spoon some sand on the bottom of the cup and then layer cookie-pudding-cookie-pudding-etc until you end with cookie on top.

8. Once you have assembled the cups, then decorate. Use the materials you have available to create amazing beach scenes. Don’t knock the goldfish, they actually tasted amazing!

These sandy beach pudding cups were an absolute delight to make and, dare we say, tasted more delicious than the classic dirt cake? Okay, we won’t say that, but boy was it a delicious treat. We learned that camp counselors and camp bus drivers love it.