Graveyard Dirt and Worms Dip Charcuterie Board Recipe

When I want a treat that’s both fun and a little spooky for a party, I go for my Graveyard Dirt and Worms Dip Charcuterie Board.

This easy recipe gives you a dessert board with chocolate cookie “dirt,” gummy worms, and a creamy dip everyone seems to love.

It looks playful and tastes way better than you’d expect, honestly—perfect for Halloween or any themed get-together.

I like how quick it is to set up, and guests can just dig right in for a sweet snack.

The mix of smooth dip, crunchy cookies, and chewy candy worms means every bite feels a little different.

My family always asks for this one when it’s time for a celebration, no matter the season.

Why I Love Them

I keep coming back to this Graveyard Dirt and Worms Dip Charcuterie Board because it’s fun and simple to put together.

Doesn’t matter if I’m short on time—I can still make it look cute and festive.

The spooky theme always gets a smile out of my friends, honestly.

I enjoy seeing everyone get excited to dig into the cookie “dirt” and those wiggly gummy “worms.”

I also like that you can mix it up.

Sometimes I use chocolate cookies, sometimes I’ll toss in graham crackers or even some fruit just to see what happens.

• It’s perfect for Halloween parties.
• Kids and adults both go for it.
• I can swap snacks for different tastes or moods.

I appreciate how easy cleanup is at the end.

Most of the time, everything gets eaten, so there’s not much left to deal with—love that.

The dip itself is tasty but doesn’t go overboard on sweetness, so it actually works well with cookies and crackers.

The board looks creative, but I don’t need to be some kind of pro baker to pull it off.

Trying new toppings or candies lets me get a little creative, which keeps things interesting for me and everyone else!

Equipment

To make my Graveyard Dirt and Worms Dip Charcuterie Board, I just use a few basic kitchen tools.

Here’s what I usually have ready:

• Large serving board or tray (about 18×12 inches)
• Small bowls (2-4, for dips and toppings)
• Butter knife (for spreading dips)
• Spoon (for scooping ingredients)
• Cutting board and small knife (for slicing fruits or candy)

I also like to line the tray with a parchment paper sheet.

It keeps everything neat and makes cleanup way faster.

Sometimes I’ll use decorative toothpicks or mini tongs—makes picking up food easier and keeps things tidy.

If I want to shape gravestones out of cookies, I grab a food-safe marker or use a little melted chocolate in a piping bag.

I keep these tools close by so building and serving the charcuterie board stays fun and simple—no stress.

Ingredients

Here’s what I use for my Graveyard Dirt and Worms Dip Charcuterie Board.

I like to grab everything before I start, so I’m not running around mid-recipe.

Main Dip:

• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions

Graveyard “Dirt”:

• 12 chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos), crushed
• 1/2 cup black bean chips, crushed (optional if you want a salty twist)

Gummy Worms & Decorations:

• 1 bag (7 oz) gummy worms
• 6-8 rectangular chocolate cookies (for “tombstones”)
• Edible marker or icing gel (to write on tombstones)
• 1 cup baby carrots

For Dipping:

Here’s what I like to use for dipping:

• 1 cup pretzel sticks
• 1 cup celery sticks
• 1 cup cucumber slices
• 1 cup pita chips

I try to keep the board fun and balanced—sweet treats mixed with savory snacks.

That way, everyone can pick and dip what they actually want.

Instructions

First, I crush the chocolate sandwich cookies in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin.

I want them pretty fine, like dirt, so I pour those crumbs into a shallow bowl and set them aside.

Next, I make the dip.

In a big bowl, I blend 1 package (8 oz) of cream cheese, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until it’s smooth.

Then I fold in 1 container (8 oz) of whipped topping until everything’s mixed up nicely.

I spread the creamy dip in the center of my charcuterie board.

Then I sprinkle a ton of my cookie “dirt” crumbs over the top, covering the whole surface—looks like a fresh graveyard plot.

Now for the fun part: gummy worms.

I press them into the “dirt” so a few are peeking out and a few are kind of hidden.

Add as many as you want, honestly.

To finish, I arrange graham crackers, chocolate cookies, and mini breadsticks around the dip for scooping up the “dirt” dip.

I’ll usually scatter a few extra gummy worms around the edge for a little extra spookiness.

I always serve the board right away, so the cookies stay crunchy.

And, yeah, keep extra napkins handy—it does get a bit messy!

Substitute

If I don’t have chocolate wafer cookies for the “graveyard dirt,” I just use crushed chocolate sandwich cookies instead.

About 1 cup of crushed cookies does the trick. Graham crackers with a little cocoa powder can work for a lighter color too.

Sometimes, I can’t find gummy worms, so I’ll swap in sour gummy strips, gummy bears, or even fruit snacks.

Using about 15-20 pieces fills up the board nicely.

Instead of cream cheese in the dip, I’ve tried plain Greek yogurt or whipped topping—8 ounces for the same creamy texture. Makes the dip a bit lighter, which is nice sometimes.

Here’s a quick table of swaps:

Original	Substitute
1 cup chocolate wafers	1 cup chocolate sandwich cookies or cocoa grahams
15 gummy worms	15 gummy bears, strip gummies, or fruit snacks
8 oz cream cheese	8 oz Greek yogurt or whipped topping

If someone has a nut allergy, I skip nut toppings and use crushed pretzels or seeds instead.

Always check the labels—better safe than sorry.

For dairy-free, I use plant-based cream cheese and skip any milk chocolate candies.

It still ends up tasting sweet and fun, just a little different.

What Can Go Wrong?

Sometimes my cookies and crackers get soggy if I add the dip too early. I’ve learned to wait until guests are almost at the door before setting everything up—no one wants a limp cookie, right?

If I don’t crush the chocolate cookies well, the “dirt” layer just looks chunky instead of smooth. I usually grab a rolling pin and smash them in a zip-top bag, hoping for that perfect crumbly look.

When I try to pile on too many gummy worms, the board gets crowded and honestly, a bit chaotic. I stick to a few on top, maybe a couple hanging off the side for effect.

Here’s a table with some common mistakes and how I fix them:

Problem	Fix I Use
Soggy cookies	Add dip last minute
Chunky “dirt”	Crush cookies finer
Lost gummy worms	Don’t bury them in the dip
Messy board	Arrange ingredients neatly

If I use cheese that’s too strong, it ends up overpowering the sweet stuff. I just keep the cheese choices simple—nothing fancy, just mild and easy.

Sometimes I forget to double-check allergies, which is never good. I always try to ask if anyone needs gluten-free or nut-free options, just in case.

I also try to remember to set out enough little spoons or scoops. That way, nobody has to use their hands in the dip, and things stay at least a little bit tidy.

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