Probiotic-rich Lifeway Kefir tends to your inner garden known as the microbiome, contributing healthy bacteria to support your digestive system and immune system. Just like worms help support the eco-system of an actual garden, Lifeway Kefir’s probiotics keep your body thriving and your gut filled with the right types of bacteria. We’ve created these Probiotic Worms in Dirt Cups for you to enjoy during the Halloween season as a fun treat that embodies this idea perfectly.
Made with better ingredients compared traditional worms in dirt cup recipes, ours is packed with natural protein, live and active probiotics, and contains calcium and vitamin D from Lifeway Kefir.
Plus, our worms in dirt cups are filled with fiber from avocados used in the base of the pudding to keep you fuller longer and support steady blood sugar levels—just like Lifeway Kefir. Avocados in pudding? Yes! Believe it or not, avocados make a delicious pudding ingredient due to their rich flavor and thick, creamy texture. They’re also packed with prebiotic fiber, healthy fats, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, and several B vitamins. Combined with real cacao powder, they’re pure magic in snack and dessert recipes like this one.
So gather the ingredients, and whip up a batch of our Probiotic Worms in Dirt Cups for your next Halloween party. This is also a fun recipe to make with children and a great way to explain the benefits of nourishing their inner garden with healthy foods like Lifeway Kefir!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 10 minutes, plus time to set Servings: 4-6 cupsIngredients
For the Pudding:
- 3 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
- 3/4 cup Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 6 tbsp. unsweetened cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
- 6 tbsp. pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract/flavoring (use alcohol-free for the best flavor)
For the Chocolate Swirl:
- 1/4-1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
For the Topping:
- 1 1/2 cups crushed, organic gluten-free chocolate cookies (like Simple Mills)
- organic low-sugar gummy worms (like Lily's)
You will also need:
4-6 small pudding size cups or glass/ceramic ramekins or glasses
Directions
- Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and let them cool for at least 15-20 minutes.
- Prepare the pudding: Combine all the ingredients for the pudding in a food processor, and blend until thick and creamy. Make sure all the avocado is completely incorporated and no chunks remain.
- Add the melted chocolate chips into the pudding in the food processor and process again. This helps add sweetness and a rich, chocolate swirl.
- Fill your cups half-way with the prepared pudding in each one.
- In each cup, add a layer of crushed organic gluten-free chocolate cookies (like Simple Mills). You can crush the cookies by hand or in a food processor before use.
- Top each cup with the remaining pudding recipe until all the cups are filled to the top. Sprinkle the rest of your cookie crumbs on top of each one and then add your gummy worms however you like them decorated.
- Set these in the fridge at least 45 minutes to an hour to set, or up to 4 days if you want to make them ahead.* Serve with spoons and enjoy!
- *If making these ahead: It's best to make the pudding ahead of time and store it separately in an airtight container, then assemble them in the cups right before use with the other ingredients. This helps keep the cookies from getting too soft.
- If you want this sweeter, you can experiment with adding more maple syrup, or you can turn this into a chocolate banana pudding and add bananas into the pudding recipe when you blend everything together; they blend perfectly with avocados and add natural sweetness!
