An updated Halloween classic

I’ve eaten Ghosts in the Graveyard almost every Halloween of my life. My mom made it at all of my Halloween parties and I continue the tradition today. It just wouldn’t be Halloween without it! I’ve updated the classic dirt pudding dish with freshly whipped cream instead of the whipped topping alternative, dark chocolate Milano cookies, and Godiva Dark Chocolate pudding.

I know, right? Since when does Godiva make instant pudding? I stopped in my tracks when I saw the package on the shelf. It makes a huge difference if you’re a dark chocolate lover like me. I meant to take a photo of the package with you but alas, I forgot, and now there’s hardly any Ghosts in the Graveyard left. This dish takes just minutes to come together, even with hand whipping cream. I’d say the prep time is about five minutes. Crush your cookies, whip your cream, whisk the pudding with milk, then fold in the cookies and whipped cream. That’s it!

I made this for my annual Sweatpants Sunday: Halloween Edition with my friend Kat. We watched Hocus Pocus and Dracula Untold and enjoyed some ham and cheese hand pie shaped like pumpkins, my Cauldron Queso (episode coming soon!), and Ghosts in the Graveyard.

My mom ate a bowlful of leftover Ghosts in the Graveyard with me tonight and said, “This really does taste like an elevated version of the classic dirt pudding.” So there you go!

Decorate this dish with Milano cookies as tombstone, whipped cream ghosts, and gummy worms for a fun, spooky graveyard. Bonus: kids will love decorating this dish! And who knows, maybe they’ll grow up to bring you dessert on a weekly basis.

Ghosts in the Graveyard
1 package regular Oreos
3 1/2 cups cold milk
2 packages Godiva Dark Chocolate instant pudding
1 1/2 cups cold whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
To decorate: dark chocolate Milano cookies by Pepperidge Farms, gummy worms, whipped cream for ghosts

1. Crush chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor.
2. Beat whipping cream with handheld mixer until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until firm.
3. Pour milk into large bowl. Add instant pudding to milk and whisk for two minutes. Stir in half of the crushed cookies. Gently fold whipped cream into pudding mixture until thoroughly incorporated.
4. Pour mixture into 9×13″ pan. Spread remaining cookie crumbs on top. Refrigerate for a least one hour. Decorate with Milano cookie “tombstones”, gummy worms, and whipped cream ghosts. Best enjoyed while watching Hocus Pocus and other Halloween classics.

10/28/21 Update
Whipped Cream Ghosts
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Beat whipping cream in a chilled metal bowl with a metal whisk until soft peaks form.
2. Whisk in almond extract and powdered sugar. You want it nice and pillowy; don’t over whip it.
3. Spoon into ghost shapes on Ghosts in the Graveyard. Use mini chocolate chips, round sprinkles, or food gel to add eyes.

Happy Halloween,

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