Dirt and Worms Cake

A delicious childhood throwback, this nature themed desert is perfect for earth day celebrations, or even just for nostalgia. Although this recipe holds the integrity of the classic favorite, I’ve stepped it up using chocolate mousse instead of pudding and homemade chocolate cake. 

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350. Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl. Whisk to combine. Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to the flour mixture and mix together until well combined. Carefully add boiling water to the cake batter. Distribute batter evenly between two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. 

Chocolate Mousse

3 1/2 ounces of dark chocolate (bar)

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

2 large egg yolks

1 tablespoon white sugar

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (or premade cool whip)

Break up or chop chocolate into small pieces and set aside with butter. Add egg yolks, sugar, water, and salt to a metal mixing bowl or small pot. Cook, whisking, directly over medium-low heat until the mixture is thick, foamy, and hot to the touch. Once the mixture is thick and hot, add chocolate and butter, and whisk until all chocolate is melted. Let rest for a few minutes off heat, whisking occasionally to further cool. The chocolate mixture shouldn’t go into the whipped cream while still warm. Whisk cold cream until medium stiff peaks form (or use premade). Transfer about 1/3 of chocolate mixture into whipped cream, and fold with a spatula until almost incorporated. Gently fold in remaining chocolate, trying to keep as much air in the mixture as possible.

After both the mousse and cake are prepared, take your cooled cakes and crush with your hands (add small amounts of milk or whipped cream if cake is too dry) until completely crumbled. Then into a jar or cup, layer cake, then mousse, intermittently, until the jar is filled. Top with gummy worms or any preferred gummy organism and enjoy!